Big Sky, MT weather in May
Expect cool weather with frequent rain in Big Sky in May, with highs near 58°F and lows near 30°F. Rain falls on about 14 days.
- Normal high
- 58°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 2.8 in total
- Daylight
- 14.9 h
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 53°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 41% | 50% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:13 am / 8:31 pm | 5:41 am / 9:04 pm |
| Daylight | 14.3 h | 15.4 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)12 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in May
Normal precipitation is 2.8 in; a dry May brings about 2.3 in and a wet one about 3.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20201993: average high 69°F
- Coolest May2010: average high 50°F
- Highest reading84°F (May 29, 2003)
- Lowest reading8°F (May 5, 2010)
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 | 48°F | 58°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 30°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 14 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| Daylight | 13.5 h | 14.9 h | 15.6 h |
Highs change by +10°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Billings, MT143 mi · high 68°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Jackson, WY128 mi · high 60°F · 11 wet days
How Big Sky ranks in May
- Normal high370th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 6 in Montana
- Wet days365th driest of 378
What to pack for Big Sky in May
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 58°F
- Layers – afternoons near 58°F but nights near 30°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
May has 650 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Big Sky in May?
The normal high is 58°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 8°F (most recently on May 5, 2010).
Does it rain a lot in Big Sky in May?
About 14 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.8 in.
Is May a good time to visit Big Sky?
May ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Big Sky (69 out of 100). It has about 12 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June, July and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and rain: Big Sky 2WNW (USC00240775), 2.1 mi ESE of the city center, 6,590 ft (630 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).