Independence, MO weather in May
May in Independence: mild, with frequent rain. Highs 74°F, lows 54°F, rain on about 13 days.
- Normal high
- 74°F
- Normal low
- 54°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 6.0 in total
- Muggy days
- 3
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 79°F |
| Normal low | 48°F | 59°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:19 am / 8:10 pm | 5:53 am / 8:36 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 am60°Fdew point 53°F
- 9 am66°Fdew point 54°F
- Noon72°Fdew point 55°F
- 3 pm74°Fdew point 54°F
- 6 pm72°Fdew point 54°F
- 9 pm67°Fdew point 54°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Kansas City Downtown Airport (10 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 60% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 33%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F13 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more3 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 6.0 in; a dry May brings about 3.6 in and a wet one about 8.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202018: average high 83°F
- Coolest May1995: average high 67°F
- Wettest May2007: 13.2 in
- Driest May2014: 1.0 in
- Highest reading93°F (May 20, 2006)
- Lowest reading32°F (May 3, 2013)
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 | 65°F | 74°F | 83°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 54°F | 64°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 13 | 3 |
| Daylight | 13.2 h | 14.3 h | 14.9 h |
Highs change by +9°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Branson, MO181 mi · high 79°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Lee's Summit, MO13 mi · high 74°F · 10 wet days
How Independence ranks in May
- Normal high208th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days340th driest of 378
- Comfortable days162nd most of 339
What to pack for Independence in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 122 heating degree days and 85 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Independence in May?
The normal high is 74°F and the normal low is 54°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 93°F (May 20, 2006).
Does it rain a lot in Independence in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 6.0 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2007 (13.2 in); the driest was in 2014 (1.0 in).
Is May a good time to visit Independence?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Independence (68 out of 100). It has about 13 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Independence (USC00234154), 2.4 mi SE of the city center, 985 ft (50 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Kansas City Downtown Airport (USW00013988), 9.9 mi WNW of the city center, 742 ft (293 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: C.r. Wheeler Downtown Arpt (724463-13988), 9.6 mi WNW of the city center, 742 ft (293 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.