May is one of the cooler months of the year in Scottsdale, with average highs near 14.1°C and lows around 9.2°C (mean 11.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 72 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Scottsdale. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Scottsdale was 2007 — when the month averaged 13.2°C — while the coldest was 2006 at 10.2°C. Typical May days reach 14.1°C with nights near 9.2°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Scottsdale, averaging 72 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2007 with 166 mm, while the driest was 1991 at 15 mm.
Relative humidity in Scottsdale during May averages 84%. The most humid May was 1999 at 87%, and the least humid was 2002 at 80%.
May receives about 2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Scottsdale. The sunniest May was 2025 at 2.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1988 at 1.7.
Average wind speed in Scottsdale during May is 3.6 m/s. The windiest Mays were 1994 and 2016 at 5 m/s, while the calmest was 1991 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.7°C | 11.4°C | 11.8°C | 11.6°C | 11.8°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg High | 14.0°C | 13.8°C | 14.4°C | 14.1°C | 14.3°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 9.4°C | 9.0°C | 9.2°C | 9.1°C | 9.3°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 94 mm | 67 mm | 56 mm | 84 mm | 51 mm | -43 mm |
May temperatures in Scottsdale have risen by about 0.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 3.3°C (1987) to a record high of 20.4°C (2019).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 72 mm, with a wettest year of 166 mm.
A good time to visit Scottsdale
May is a good time to visit Scottsdale, with days averaging 14.1°C and nights around 9.2°C (mean 11.6°C, cooler than Scottsdale's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. February and January are marginally more temperate, but May still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15.5°C | 12.7°C | 9.9°C | 19.2°C | 3.8°C | 34 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2024 | 14.8°C | 12.2°C | 9.5°C | 17.0°C | 5.4°C | 54 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2023 | 13.8°C | 11.2°C | 8.5°C | 16.5°C | 4.9°C | 54 mm | 81% | 4.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2022 | 14.1°C | 12.2°C | 10.2°C | 17.2°C | 6.2°C | 82 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2021 | 14.2°C | 11.3°C | 8.5°C | 18.7°C | 4.1°C | 43 mm | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2020 | 13.3°C | 11.1°C | 9.0°C | 16.3°C | 4.9°C | 40 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2019 | 14.7°C | 12.2°C | 9.8°C | 20.4°C | 5.4°C | 83 mm | 84% | 3.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 14.3°C | 11.7°C | 9.2°C | 18.6°C | 5.4°C | 74 mm | 83% | 4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2017 | 14.6°C | 11.9°C | 9.2°C | 17.1°C | 5.3°C | 98 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2016 | 14.3°C | 11.9°C | 9.5°C | 17.5°C | 5.4°C | 121 mm | 83% | 5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2015 | 13.4°C | 11.1°C | 8.8°C | 16.5°C | 5.2°C | 105 mm | 84% | 4.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2014 | 14.7°C | 12.2°C | 9.6°C | 16.9°C | 5.1°C | 47 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2013 | 14.0°C | 11.4°C | 8.7°C | 19.9°C | 5.0°C | 83 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 14.0°C | 11.5°C | 9.0°C | 17.5°C | 5.0°C | 134 mm | 85% | 3.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2011 | 12.9°C | 10.3°C | 7.8°C | 16.0°C | 4.6°C | 36 mm | 84% | 2.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2010 | 14.2°C | 11.6°C | 9.1°C | 17.4°C | 4.1°C | 62 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2009 | 14.3°C | 11.7°C | 9.1°C | 16.8°C | 7.1°C | 24 mm | 83% | 3.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 14.4°C | 11.9°C | 9.5°C | 17.2°C | 4.9°C | 47 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2007 🔥 🌧️ | 15.4°C | 13.2°C | 11.0°C | 18.0°C | 6.6°C | 166 mm | 85% | 4.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2006 ❄️ | 13.0°C | 10.2°C | 7.5°C | 15.2°C | 5.0°C | 59 mm | 84% | 3.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2005 | 14.5°C | 11.7°C | 8.9°C | 19.0°C | 5.8°C | 21 mm | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2004 | 13.5°C | 10.9°C | 8.2°C | 16.7°C | 4.2°C | 62 mm | 83% | 4.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2003 | 15.0°C | 12.6°C | 10.2°C | 17.1°C | 4.1°C | 52 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2002 | 15.5°C | 12.4°C | 9.4°C | 19.9°C | 6.1°C | 28 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 14.1°C | 11.3°C | 8.5°C | 16.5°C | 5.1°C | 34 mm | 80% | 2.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2000 | 14.0°C | 11.9°C | 9.8°C | 16.8°C | 4.6°C | 68 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1999 | 14.8°C | 12.7°C | 10.6°C | 18.1°C | 6.0°C | 107 mm | 87% | 3.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1998 | 13.6°C | 11.2°C | 8.8°C | 15.9°C | 5.0°C | 31 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 13.7°C | 11.1°C | 8.6°C | 19.4°C | 4.5°C | 117 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1996 | 13.7°C | 11.2°C | 8.6°C | 17.3°C | 5.5°C | 25 mm | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 13.2°C | 10.8°C | 8.5°C | 16.6°C | 5.2°C | 64 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1994 | 13.3°C | 10.8°C | 8.3°C | 16.7°C | 3.9°C | 97 mm | 82% | 5 m/s | 2 |
| 1993 | 14.0°C | 11.6°C | 9.2°C | 17.8°C | 4.3°C | 63 mm | 84% | 3.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 13.6°C | 11.5°C | 9.3°C | 17.5°C | 5.0°C | 109 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 | 14.6°C | 11.9°C | 9.1°C | 16.4°C | 6.2°C | 15 mm | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1990 | 13.9°C | 11.3°C | 8.7°C | 17.6°C | 4.6°C | 40 mm | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1989 | 14.0°C | 11.6°C | 9.2°C | 16.9°C | 4.1°C | 98 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 2 |
| 1988 | 14.9°C | 12.9°C | 11.0°C | 19.4°C | 7.6°C | 117 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1987 | 14.0°C | 11.6°C | 9.3°C | 18.2°C | 3.3°C | 102 mm | 86% | 3.8 m/s | 2 |
| 1986 | 13.7°C | 11.3°C | 8.9°C | 18.4°C | 5.8°C | 137 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1985 | 14.2°C | 11.8°C | 9.4°C | 19.1°C | 5.2°C | 136 mm | 87% | 3.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1984 | 13.7°C | 11.4°C | 9.1°C | 17.2°C | 5.9°C | 42 mm | 87% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1983 | 13.7°C | 11.6°C | 9.4°C | 15.6°C | 5.2°C | 72 mm | 87% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 13.7°C | 11.4°C | 9.1°C | 17.5°C | 3.7°C | 86 mm | 84% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.1°C | 11.8°C | 9.4°C | 18.4°C | 3.9°C | 60 mm | 84% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 14.1°C with lows near 9.2°C (mean 11.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 72 mm of rainfall in Scottsdale, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 166 mm in 2007.
The hottest May reached 20.4°C in 2019. The coldest dipped to 3.3°C in 1987.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 13.9°C to 14.5°C and overnight lows from 9.3°C to 9.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Scottsdale and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 14.1°C daytime highs and 9.2°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 6th coolest month in Scottsdale, averaging 11.6°C.
For May in Scottsdale, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 14.1°C and lows of 9.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 84% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.6 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 5 m/s (1994).
The wettest May on record was 2007 with 166 mm. On average, May sees 72 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 Scottsdale 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.
