Syracuse, NY weather in May
Syracuse is mild in May, with frequent rain: highs average 69°F and nights drop to about 47°F. Rain falls on about 13 days.
- Normal high
- 69°F
- Normal low
- 47°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.4 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 64°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 42°F | 52°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 45% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:58 am / 8:05 pm | 5:28 am / 8:36 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 am51°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 am60°Fdew point 47°F
- Noon65°Fdew point 46°F
- 3 pm66°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm64°Fdew point 45°F
- 9 pm57°Fdew point 46°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport (5 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F15 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more1 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 2.3 in and a wet one about 3.9 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 77°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 62°F
- Wettest May2004: 7.8 in
- Driest May2005: 0.6 in
- Highest reading93°F (May 26, 2020)
- 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 | 56°F | 69°F | 77°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 47°F | 57°F |
| Wet days | 15 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 15 | 13 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.7 h | 15.3 h |
Highs change by +13°F from April and +8°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Philadelphia, PA220 mi · high 74°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY138 mi · high 62°F · 15 wet days
How Syracuse ranks in May
- Normal high285th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 10 in New York
- Wet days346th driest of 378
- Comfortable days102nd most of 339
What to pack for Syracuse in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 243 heating degree days and 34 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Syracuse in May?
The normal high is 69°F and the normal low is 47°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 28°F (May 1, 2008).
Does it rain a lot in Syracuse 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 2004 (7.8 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Syracuse in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.1 in.
Is May a good time to visit Syracuse?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Syracuse (72 out of 100). It has about 15 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport (USW00014771), 4.9 mi NNE of the city center, 413 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Syracuse Hancock International Airport (725190-14771), 4.9 mi NNE of the city center, 410 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).