Sioux Falls, SD weather in May
May in Sioux Falls: mild, with frequent rain. Highs 71°F, lows 48°F, rain on about 12 days.
- Normal high
- 71°F
- Normal low
- 48°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 76°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 54°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:19 am / 8:28 pm | 5:48 am / 9:00 pm |
| Daylight | 14.2 h | 15.2 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 am50°Fdew point 45°F
- 9 am59°Fdew point 47°F
- Noon64°Fdew point 47°F
- 3 pm67°Fdew point 47°F
- 6 pm66°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 pm58°Fdew point 46°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Sioux Falls (3 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 43% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 44%.
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 more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 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 3.9 in; a dry May brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 5.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 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, 1991-20201994: average high 77°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 64°F
- Wettest May1993: 8.3 in
- Driest May2006: 1.0 in
- Highest reading95°F (May 27, 2018)
- Lowest reading20°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 | 59°F | 71°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 48°F | 59°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 9 | 15 | 11 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.7 h | 15.4 h |
Highs change by +12°F from April and +10°F into June.
How Sioux Falls ranks in May
- Normal high257th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days277th driest of 378
- Comfortable days94th most of 339
What to pack for Sioux Falls in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 12 days
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 1; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14. All frost dates for Sioux Falls.
Heating and cooling
May has 227 heating degree days and 45 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Sioux Falls in May?
The normal high is 71°F and the normal low is 48°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 95°F (most recently on May 27, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Sioux Falls in May?
About 12 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.9 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1993 (8.3 in); the driest was in 2006 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Sioux Falls in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.1 in.
Is May a good time to visit Sioux Falls?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Sioux Falls (73 out of 100). It has about 15 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: Sioux Falls (USW00014944), 3.0 mi NNW of the city center, 1,430 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Joe Foss Field Airport (726510-14944), 3.3 mi NW of the city center, 1,419 ft (54 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.