Bismarck, ND weather in May
Expect mild weather with frequent rain in Bismarck in May, with highs near 68°F and lows near 42°F. Rain falls on about 10 days. Great for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 68°F
- Normal low
- 42°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.5 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 63°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 49°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:27 am / 8:52 pm | 5:53 am / 9:28 pm |
| Daylight | 14.4 h | 15.6 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am46°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 am55°Fdew point 43°F
- Noon63°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm66°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm64°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 pm56°Fdew point 42°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Bismarck (3 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 54% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 37%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F16 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below4 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 2.5 in; a dry May brings about 1.2 in and a wet one about 3.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.4 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202018: average high 76°F
- Coolest May1996: average high 63°F
- Wettest May2013: 7.4 in
- Driest May2017: 0.3 in
- Highest reading93°F (May 26, 2018)
- Lowest reading18°F (May 3, 2005)
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 | 68°F | 78°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 42°F | 53°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 16 | 14 |
| Daylight | 13.6 h | 15.1 h | 15.8 h |
Highs change by +12°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Keystone, SD238 mi · high 60°F · 13 wet days
How Bismarck ranks in May
- Normal high298th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 4 in North Dakota
- Wet days207th driest of 378
- Comfortable days66th most of 339
What to pack for Bismarck in May
- Layers – afternoons near 68°F but nights near 42°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 14; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 27. All frost dates for Bismarck.
Heating and cooling
May has 316 heating degree days and 17 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Bismarck in May?
The normal high is 68°F and the normal low is 42°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 18°F (May 3, 2005).
Does it rain a lot in Bismarck in May?
About 10 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.5 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (7.4 in); the driest was in 2017 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Bismarck in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.4 in.
Is May a good time to visit Bismarck?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Bismarck (76 out of 100). It has about 16 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Bismarck (USW00024011), 2.8 mi SSE of the city center, 1,658 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Bismarck Municipal Airport (727640-24011), 2.2 mi SE of the city center, 1,651 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.