West Yellowstone, MT weather in May
May in West Yellowstone: cool, with frequent rain. Highs 58°F, lows 32°F, about 13 days with rain or snow and about 1.2 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 58°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.2 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 52°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 44% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:14 am / 8:28 pm | 5:42 am / 9:01 pm |
| Daylight | 14.2 h | 15.3 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 and dew point under 60°F9 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in13 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below16 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 3.5 in; a dry May brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 4.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.2 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20201992: average high 66°F
- Coolest May2010: average high 50°F
- Wettest May2004: 6.6 in
- Driest May2007: 0.5 in
- Highest reading85°F (May 29, 2003)
- Lowest reading12°F (May 23, 2002)
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 | 47°F | 58°F | 68°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 32°F | 39°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 9 | 19 |
| Daylight | 13.5 h | 14.8 h | 15.5 h |
Highs change by +11°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Billings, MT148 mi · high 68°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Sun Valley, ID174 mi · high 62°F · 8 wet days
How West Yellowstone ranks in May
- Normal high368th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 6 in Montana
- Wet days336th driest of 378
- Comfortable days229th most of 339
What to pack for West Yellowstone in May
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 58°F
- Layers – afternoons near 58°F but nights near 32°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
- A hat and gloves – about 16 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
May has 609 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is West Yellowstone in May?
The normal high is 58°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 12°F (May 23, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in West Yellowstone in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2004 (6.6 in); the driest was in 2007 (0.5 in).
Does it snow in West Yellowstone in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 1.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is May a good time to visit West Yellowstone?
May ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for West Yellowstone (60 out of 100). It has about 9 comfortable days. The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Hebgen Dam (USC00244038), 18 mi NW of the city center, 6,489 ft (178 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain: Whiskey Creek (USS0011E30S), 4.2 mi SSW of the city center, 6,800 ft (133 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Yellowstone (726664-94173), 35 mi ESE of the city center, 7,782 ft (1,115 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).