Taos, NM weather in May
Taos is mild and mostly dry in May: highs average 70°F and nights drop to about 35°F. Rain or snow falls on about 5 days. Snowfall averages about 0.7 in. A great month for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 70°F
- Normal low
- 35°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.7 in
- normal snowfall
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 75°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 16% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:08 am / 7:49 pm | 5:46 am / 8:13 pm |
| Daylight | 13.7 h | 14.5 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°F23 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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below11 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 and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 1.1 in; a dry May brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 1.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.7 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202000: average high 78°F
- Coolest May1995: average high 63°F
- Wettest May1995: 3.6 in
- Driest May1996: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading95°F (May 31, 2002)
- Lowest reading11°F (May 2, 2008)
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 | 62°F | 70°F | 80°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 35°F | 44°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 23 | – |
| Daylight | 13.1 h | 14.1 h | 14.6 h |
Highs change by +8°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Albuquerque, NM110 mi · high 80°F · 4 wet days
- Cooler: Telluride, CO162 mi · high 60°F · 9 wet days
How Taos ranks in May
- Normal high270th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days83rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days17th most of 339
What to pack for Taos in May
- A warm jacket – lows near 35°F, highs near 70°F
- Layers – afternoons near 70°F but nights near 35°F
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 19; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 31. All frost dates for Taos.
Heating and cooling
May has 391 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Taos in May?
The normal high is 70°F and the normal low is 35°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 95°F (May 31, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Taos in May?
About 5 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.1 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1995 (3.6 in); the driest was in 1996, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Taos in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.7 in.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Cerro (USC00291630), 23 mi N of the city center, 7,650 ft (681 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Taos (USC00298668), 1.4 mi SSW of the city center, 6,965 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Las Vegas Municipal Arpt (723677-23054), 57 mi SSE of the city center, 6,870 ft (99 ft lower 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).