Charleston, WV weather in May
Expect mild weather with frequent rain in Charleston in May, with highs near 76°F and lows near 53°F. Rain falls on about 14 days.
- Normal high
- 76°F
- Normal low
- 53°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 4.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 2
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 74°F | 79°F |
| Normal low | 49°F | 57°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 47% | 43% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:29 am / 8:17 pm | 6:04 am / 8:43 pm |
| Daylight | 13.8 h | 14.6 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 am55°Fdew point 52°F
- 9 am64°Fdew point 54°F
- Noon71°Fdew point 54°F
- 3 pm73°Fdew point 53°F
- 6 pm71°Fdew point 53°F
- 9 pm64°Fdew point 55°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Charleston Yeager Airport (3 mi away); average wind 4 mph; clear or few clouds in 48% 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°F13 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 snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in9 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 4.9 in; a dry May brings about 3.1 in and a wet one about 6.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202018: average high 84°F
- Coolest May2003: average high 71°F
- Wettest May2020: 8.9 in
- Driest May1991: 1.5 in
- Highest reading94°F (May 31, 2011)
- Lowest reading30°F (May 22, 2002)
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 | 69°F | 76°F | 83°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 53°F | 62°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 14 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 13 | 5 |
| Daylight | 13.2 h | 14.3 h | 14.8 h |
Highs change by +7°F from April and +7°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Concord, NC211 mi · high 81°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Greensboro, NC187 mi · high 78°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Cleveland, OH218 mi · high 71°F · 13 wet days
How Charleston ranks in May
- Normal high179th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in West Virginia
- Wet days367th driest of 378
- Comfortable days176th most of 339
What to pack for Charleston in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 14 days
- Sunglasses and sunscreen – about 14.3 hours of daylight and highs near 76°F
Heating and cooling
May has 104 heating degree days and 94 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Charleston in May?
The normal high is 76°F and the normal low is 53°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 94°F (May 31, 2011).
Does it rain a lot in Charleston in May?
About 14 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.9 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2020 (8.9 in); the driest was in 1991 (1.5 in).
Is May a good time to visit Charleston?
May ranks 2nd of 12 months on our comfort score for Charleston (66 out of 100). It has about 13 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Charleston Yeager Airport (USW00013866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 910 ft (314 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Huntington Tri State Airport (USW00003860), 50 mi W of the city center, 824 ft (228 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Yeager Airport (724140-13866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 912 ft (316 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.