Vancouver, WA weather in May
May in Vancouver: mild, with frequent rain. Highs 69°F, lows 49°F, about 13 wet days.
- Normal high
- 69°F
- Normal low
- 49°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 2.5 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 72°F |
| Normal low | 46°F | 52°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 49% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:58 am / 8:17 pm | 5:25 am / 8:51 pm |
| Daylight | 14.3 h | 15.4 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am52°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 am57°Fdew point 47°F
- Noon63°Fdew point 47°F
- 3 pm67°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm65°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 pm59°Fdew point 47°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Portland Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 7 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 more0 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 in7 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 2.5 in; a dry May brings about 1.6 in and a wet one about 3.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20201992: average high 77°F
- Coolest May1991: average high 62°F
- Wettest May1998: 5.5 in
- Driest May1992: 0.1 in
- Highest reading95°F (May 17, 2008)
- Lowest reading37°F (May 10, 2012)
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 | 69°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 44°F | 49°F | 54°F |
| Wet days | 17 | 13 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 15 | 19 |
| Daylight | 13.6 h | 14.9 h | 15.6 h |
Highs change by +7°F from April and +5°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Drier: Bend, OR128 mi · high 66°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Cannon Beach, OR65 mi · high 61°F · 14 wet days
How Vancouver ranks in May
- Normal high282nd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 9 in Washington
- Wet days338th driest of 378
- Comfortable days105th most of 339
What to pack for Vancouver in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 196 heating degree days and 21 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Vancouver in May?
The normal high is 69°F and the normal low is 49°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 37°F (most recently on May 10, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Vancouver in May?
About 13 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 1998 (5.6 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.1 in).
Is May a good time to visit Vancouver?
May ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Vancouver (73 out of 100). It has about 15 comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Portland Intl Airport (USW00024229), 4.4 mi SE of the city center, 19 ft (172 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Portland International Airport (726980-24229), 3.9 mi SE of the city center, 22 ft (169 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).