Albany, NY weather in May
Albany is mild in May, with frequent rain: highs average 71°F and nights drop to about 48°F. Rain falls on about 13 days.
- Normal high
- 71°F
- Normal low
- 48°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.4 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 75°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 53°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:49 am / 7:54 pm | 5:20 am / 8:25 pm |
| Daylight | 14.1 h | 15.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am52°Fdew point 45°F
- 9 am59°Fdew point 46°F
- Noon65°Fdew point 46°F
- 3 pm68°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm65°Fdew point 45°F
- 9 pm59°Fdew point 46°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Albany Airport (7 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F16 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 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below1 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 3.4 in; a dry May brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 4.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202015: average high 78°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 64°F
- Wettest May2013: 6.7 in
- Driest May2015: 1.1 in
- Highest reading94°F (May 18, 2017)
- Lowest reading28°F (May 1, 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 | 59°F | 71°F | 79°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 48°F | 57°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 16 | 13 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.6 h | 15.3 h |
Highs change by +12°F from April and +8°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY113 mi · high 62°F · 15 wet days
How Albany ranks in May
- Normal high247th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 10 in New York
- Wet days317th driest of 378
- Comfortable days69th most of 339
What to pack for Albany in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 204 heating degree days and 39 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Albany in May?
The normal high is 71°F and the normal low is 48°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 94°F (most recently on May 18, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Albany in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.4 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (6.7 in); the driest was in 2015 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Albany in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.1 in.
Is May a good time to visit Albany?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Albany (73 out of 100). It has about 16 comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Albany Airport (USW00014735), 6.8 mi NNW of the city center, 312 ft (169 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Albany International Airport (725180-14735), 6.9 mi NNW of the city center, 280 ft (137 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).