Columbia, MO weather in May
Columbia is mild in May, with frequent rain: highs average 76°F and nights drop to about 56°F. Expect about 13 wet days.
- Normal high
- 76°F
- Normal low
- 56°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 4
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 72°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 61°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 41% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:11 am / 8:01 pm | 5:46 am / 8:28 pm |
| Daylight | 13.8 h | 14.7 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am57°Fdew point 53°F
- 9 am66°Fdew point 55°F
- Noon71°Fdew point 55°F
- 3 pm73°Fdew point 55°F
- 6 pm70°Fdew point 55°F
- 9 pm63°Fdew point 55°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia Rgnl Airport (11 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 55% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 36%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F13 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more4 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in May
Normal precipitation is 4.8 in; a dry May brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 5.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202018: average high 85°F
- Coolest May1995: average high 70°F
- Wettest May1995: 12.3 in
- Driest May2012: 1.3 in
- Highest reading94°F (May 28, 2018)
- Lowest reading34°F (May 2, 2005)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
May compared with April and June
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 67°F | 76°F | 85°F |
| Normal low | 46°F | 56°F | 65°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 13 | 13 | 5 |
| Daylight | 13.2 h | 14.3 h | 14.8 h |
Highs change by +9°F from April and +9°F into June.
How Columbia ranks in May
- Normal high182nd warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days304th driest of 378
- Comfortable days165th most of 339
What to pack for Columbia in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
- Sunglasses and sunscreen – about 14.3 hours of daylight and highs near 76°F
Heating and cooling
May has 90 heating degree days and 114 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Columbia in May?
The normal high is 76°F and the normal low is 56°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 94°F (most recently on May 28, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.8 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1995 (12.3 in); the driest was in 2012 (1.3 in).
Is May a good time to visit Columbia?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (69 out of 100). It has about 13 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Columbia Rgnl Airport (USW00003945), 11 mi SE of the city center, 893 ft (186 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Columbia U Of M (USC00231801), 1.0 mi SE of the city center, 770 ft (63 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Columbia Regional Airport (724450-03945), 11 mi SE of the city center, 893 ft (186 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.