Gettysburg, PA weather in May
In May, Gettysburg sees highs around 72°F and lows around 51°F: mild, with frequent rain. Rain falls on about 13 days.
- Normal high
- 72°F
- Normal low
- 51°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.4 in total
- Muggy days
- 2
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 76°F |
| Normal low | 46°F | 56°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:09 am / 8:02 pm | 5:43 am / 8:30 pm |
| Daylight | 13.9 h | 14.8 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 am54°Fdew point 50°F
- 9 am64°Fdew point 51°F
- Noon70°Fdew point 51°F
- 3 pm72°Fdew point 51°F
- 6 pm69°Fdew point 51°F
- 9 pm62°Fdew point 52°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Martinsburg E Wv Rgnl Airport (50 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 52% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 40%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F14 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more2 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 below0 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 in May
Normal precipitation is 4.4 in; a dry May brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 5.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20201991: average high 79°F
- Coolest May1992: average high 66°F
- Wettest May2003: 7.2 in
- Driest May1993: 1.6 in
- Highest reading94°F (May 21, 1996)
- Lowest reading28°F (May 14, 1996)
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 | 72°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 51°F | 60°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 10 | 14 | 9 |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 14.4 h | 14.9 h |
Highs change by +10°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Richmond, VA158 mi · high 78°F · 11 wet days
How Gettysburg ranks in May
- Normal high233rd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 4 in Pennsylvania
- Wet days342nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days151st most of 339
What to pack for Gettysburg in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 166 heating degree days and 58 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Gettysburg in May?
The normal high is 72°F and the normal low is 51°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 94°F (May 21, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Gettysburg in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.4 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2003 (7.2 in); the driest was in 1993 (1.6 in).
Is May a good time to visit Gettysburg?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Gettysburg (69 out of 100). It has about 14 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 and frost dates: Biglerville (USC00360656), 7.3 mi N of the city center, 720 ft (183 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Martinsburg E Wv Rgnl Airport (USW00013734), 50 mi SW of the city center, 534 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Capital City Airport (725118-14751), 33 mi NE of the city center, 335 ft (202 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.