Madison, WI weather in May
In May, Madison sees highs around 69°F and lows around 47°F: mild, with frequent rain. Rain falls on about 13 days.
- Normal high
- 69°F
- Normal low
- 47°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.1 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 63°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 42°F | 53°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:51 am / 7:58 pm | 5:21 am / 8:29 pm |
| Daylight | 14.1 h | 15.1 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 am52°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 am60°Fdew point 47°F
- Noon65°Fdew point 47°F
- 3 pm67°Fdew point 47°F
- 6 pm65°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 pm57°Fdew point 47°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 8 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 more1 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 below2 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 4.1 in; a dry May brings about 2.6 in and a wet one about 4.5 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, 1991-20202018: average high 75°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 63°F
- Wettest May2004: 10.8 in
- Driest May1992: 1.1 in
- Highest reading95°F (May 27, 2018)
- Lowest reading25°F (May 9, 2020)
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 | 57°F | 69°F | 79°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 47°F | 57°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 15 | 12 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.7 h | 15.3 h |
Highs change by +12°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Peoria, IL165 mi · high 74°F · 13 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI185 mi · high 59°F · 11 wet days
How Madison ranks in May
- Normal high288th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 5 in Wisconsin
- Wet days320th driest of 378
- Comfortable days86th most of 339
What to pack for Madison in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 1; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 16. All frost dates for Madison.
Heating and cooling
May has 252 heating degree days and 36 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Madison in May?
The normal high is 69°F and the normal low is 47°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 25°F (most recently on May 9, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Madison in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.1 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2004 (10.8 in); the driest was in 1992 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Madison in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.1 in.
Is May a good time to visit Madison?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Madison (73 out of 100). It has about 15 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (USW00014837), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 866 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Dane Co Regional-Truax Field Airport (726410-14837), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 859 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).