May is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond, with average highs near 29.9°C and lows around 15.8°C (mean 22.9°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 14 mm of rainfall and 48% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Richmond was 2007 — when the month averaged 26.2°C — while the coldest was 2011 at 19.2°C. Typical May days reach 29.9°C with nights near 15.8°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is one of the drier months in Richmond, averaging 14 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1981 with 88 mm, while the driest were 2018, 2021 and 2023, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Richmond during May averages 48%. The most humid May was 1983 at 75%, and the least humid was 2001 at 30%.
May receives about 5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Richmond. The sunniest May was 2015 at 5.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2009 at 4.5.
Average wind speed in Richmond during May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest May was 2024 at 3.8 m/s, while the calmest were 1986 and 2001 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 22.9°C | 23.0°C | 22.5°C | 22.9°C | 22.9°C | 0°C |
| Avg High | 29.8°C | 30.1°C | 29.7°C | 30.1°C | 30.0°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 16.0°C | 16.0°C | 15.3°C | 15.7°C | 15.9°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 25 mm | 14 mm | 8 mm | 10 mm | 13 mm | -12 mm |
May temperatures in Richmond have risen by about 0.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 4.6°C (2012) to a record high of 38.2°C (2007).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 14 mm, with a wettest year of 88 mm.
One of the best times to visit Richmond
May is one of the best times to visit Richmond. Expect days averaging 29.9°C and nights around 15.8°C (mean 22.9°C) — cooler than Richmond's yearly average — with low rainfall (14 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29.3°C | 22.6°C | 16.0°C | 35.4°C | 9.3°C | 12 mm | 59% | 3.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2024 | 31.8°C | 25.0°C | 18.3°C | 33.7°C | 10.2°C | 1 mm | 45% | 3.8 m/s | 5 |
| 2023 | 30.0°C | 22.1°C | 14.2°C | 34.6°C | 8.0°C | 0 mm | 35% | 3.5 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2022 | 29.4°C | 23.0°C | 16.7°C | 33.3°C | 11.1°C | 42 mm | 65% | 3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2021 | 30.7°C | 22.9°C | 15.1°C | 33.3°C | 10.8°C | 0 mm | 39% | 3.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2020 | 28.9°C | 21.9°C | 14.8°C | 33.3°C | 6.3°C | 21 mm | 45% | 3.3 m/s | 5 |
| 2019 | 30.4°C | 23.4°C | 16.5°C | 35.0°C | 8.4°C | 0 mm | 45% | 3.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2018 | 30.1°C | 23.1°C | 16.2°C | 34.4°C | 10.5°C | 0 mm | 38% | 3.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2017 | 31.7°C | 24.6°C | 17.6°C | 34.5°C | 14.3°C | 1 mm | 44% | 3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2016 | 32.9°C | 26.1°C | 19.4°C | 37.8°C | 11.9°C | 4 mm | 42% | 2.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2015 | 31.0°C | 22.9°C | 14.7°C | 34.9°C | 6.9°C | 0 mm | 38% | 3.3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2014 | 30.9°C | 23.9°C | 16.9°C | 34.9°C | 10.2°C | 1 mm | 46% | 3.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2013 | 29.8°C | 22.9°C | 16.0°C | 34.2°C | 7.3°C | 14 mm | 52% | 3.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2012 | 27.3°C | 20.3°C | 13.4°C | 31.6°C | 4.6°C | 66 mm | 64% | 3.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2011 ❄️ | 27.1°C | 19.2°C | 11.4°C | 30.8°C | 5.8°C | 0 mm | 53% | 3.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2010 | 29.5°C | 22.5°C | 15.4°C | 34.3°C | 7.4°C | 9 mm | 55% | 3.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2009 | 28.0°C | 21.8°C | 15.5°C | 31.6°C | 9.1°C | 7 mm | 60% | 2.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2008 | 29.2°C | 21.8°C | 14.4°C | 32.6°C | 9.2°C | 0 mm | 44% | 3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2007 🔥 | 33.0°C | 26.2°C | 19.4°C | 38.2°C | 14.2°C | 1 mm | 42% | 3.1 m/s | 5 |
| 2006 | 27.2°C | 20.3°C | 13.4°C | 29.8°C | 6.6°C | 6 mm | 63% | 3.1 m/s | 5 |
| 2005 | 29.3°C | 21.7°C | 14.0°C | 34.3°C | 9.3°C | 21 mm | 43% | 3.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2004 | 31.0°C | 23.8°C | 16.6°C | 35.1°C | 11.2°C | 3 mm | 46% | 3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2003 | 30.5°C | 23.5°C | 16.5°C | 35.1°C | 11.0°C | 10 mm | 42% | 3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2002 | 30.9°C | 23.1°C | 15.3°C | 35.1°C | 7.8°C | 0 mm | 30% | 3.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2001 | 29.6°C | 21.4°C | 13.2°C | 35.0°C | 8.3°C | 0 mm | 30% | 2.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2000 | 27.8°C | 21.3°C | 14.9°C | 31.9°C | 5.1°C | 27 mm | 65% | 3.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1999 | 30.3°C | 23.0°C | 15.7°C | 34.1°C | 8.7°C | 0 mm | 48% | 3.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1998 | 30.5°C | 23.2°C | 15.9°C | 32.7°C | 9.7°C | 6 mm | 55% | 3.1 m/s | 5 |
| 1997 | 29.3°C | 22.1°C | 14.8°C | 33.7°C | 10.5°C | 6 mm | 47% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1996 | 30.6°C | 23.2°C | 15.9°C | 34.5°C | 10.4°C | 0 mm | 40% | 3.1 m/s | 5 |
| 1995 | 30.1°C | 23.3°C | 16.6°C | 35.4°C | 10.1°C | 23 mm | 48% | 2.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1994 | 30.6°C | 22.7°C | 14.9°C | 33.7°C | 9.6°C | 2 mm | 41% | 3.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1993 | 31.0°C | 24.3°C | 17.6°C | 33.8°C | 15.5°C | 2 mm | 45% | 3.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1992 | 30.1°C | 23.7°C | 17.3°C | 33.5°C | 10.9°C | 35 mm | 55% | 2.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1991 | 30.3°C | 23.1°C | 15.9°C | 32.6°C | 9.9°C | 1 mm | 47% | 3.3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1990 | 27.7°C | 21.3°C | 15.0°C | 33.1°C | 6.5°C | 69 mm | 70% | 3.3 m/s | 5 |
| 1989 | 30.6°C | 24.2°C | 17.8°C | 33.4°C | 10.7°C | 40 mm | 62% | 2.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1988 | 31.4°C | 24.0°C | 16.7°C | 35.8°C | 10.4°C | 4 mm | 42% | 3 m/s | 5 |
| 1987 | 30.3°C | 23.1°C | 16.0°C | 35.8°C | 6.7°C | 8 mm | 47% | 3.1 m/s | 5 |
| 1986 | 30.5°C | 23.4°C | 16.2°C | 35.2°C | 9.8°C | 20 mm | 52% | 2.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1985 | 29.8°C | 23.0°C | 16.2°C | 33.7°C | 8.0°C | 3 mm | 46% | 3.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1984 | 30.6°C | 23.2°C | 15.8°C | 33.4°C | 13.1°C | 0 mm | 42% | 3.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1983 | 26.6°C | 21.1°C | 15.6°C | 30.2°C | 8.8°C | 60 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 30.5°C | 22.5°C | 14.5°C | 32.7°C | 10.8°C | 2 mm | 36% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 🌧️ | 28.2°C | 21.6°C | 15.0°C | 32.7°C | 8.6°C | 88 mm | 54% | 3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 29.9°C with lows near 15.8°C (mean 22.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 14 mm of rainfall in Richmond, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 88 mm in 1981.
The hottest May reached 38.2°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to 4.6°C in 2012.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 29.1°C to 30.2°C and overnight lows from 15.4°C to 16.1°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond and one of the drier months, so plan for around 29.9°C daytime highs and 15.8°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 4th coolest month in Richmond, averaging 22.9°C.
For May in Richmond, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 29.9°C and lows of 15.8°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 48% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.8 m/s (2024).
The wettest May on record was 1981 with 88 mm. On average, May sees 14 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Richmond behaves each May, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for May specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
