Newport, RI weather in May
Newport is mild in May, with frequent rain: highs average 70°F and nights drop to about 47°F. There are about 13 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 70°F
- Normal low
- 47°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 42°F | 51°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:42 am / 7:42 pm | 5:14 am / 8:11 pm |
| Daylight | 14.0 h | 15.0 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 am53°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 am61°Fdew point 46°F
- Noon65°Fdew point 46°F
- 3 pm66°Fdew point 47°F
- 6 pm62°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 pm56°Fdew point 47°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Providence T F Green Airport (17 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F18 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph3 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 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 in May
Normal precipitation is 3.8 in; a dry May brings about 2.8 in and a wet one about 5.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 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 75°F
- Coolest May2005: average high 63°F
- Wettest May2006: 7.8 in
- Driest May2015: 0.4 in
- Highest reading97°F (May 26, 2010)
- Lowest reading25°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 | 60°F | 70°F | 78°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 47°F | 56°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 18 | 14 |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 14.5 h | 15.1 h |
Highs change by +10°F from April and +8°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Montauk, NY46 mi · high 64°F · 12 wet days
How Newport ranks in May
- Normal high272nd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 2 in Rhode Island
- Wet days326th driest of 378
- Comfortable days30th most of 339
What to pack for Newport in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 232 heating degree days and 20 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Newport in May?
The normal high is 70°F and the normal low is 47°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 97°F (May 26, 2010).
Does it rain a lot in Newport in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.8 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (7.8 in); the driest was in 2015 (0.4 in).
Is May a good time to visit Newport?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Newport (76 out of 100). It has about 18 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Kingston (USC00374266), 12 mi W of the city center, 117 ft (89 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Newport State Airport (USW00014787), 3.4 mi NNE of the city center, 172 ft (144 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Providence T F Green Airport (USW00014765), 17 mi NNW of the city center, 60 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Theodore F Green State Airport (725070-14765), 17 mi NNW of the city center, 51 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).