May is one of the warmer months of the year in Iqaluit, with average highs near -2.4°C and lows around -9.5°C (mean -5.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 56 mm of rainfall and 92% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Iqaluit. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Iqaluit was 2019 — when the month averaged -0.7°C — while the coldest was 2018 at -10°C. Typical May days reach -2.4°C with nights near -9.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Iqaluit, averaging 56 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2003 with 100 mm, while the driest was 2000 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Iqaluit during May averages 92%. The most humid May was 2025 at 94%, and the least humid was 2008 at 88%.
May receives about 5.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Iqaluit. The sunniest May was 2024 at 6.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2003 at 4.
Average wind speed in Iqaluit during May is 3.9 m/s. The windiest May was 2006 at 4.7 m/s, while the calmest was 2024 at 2.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -7.1°C | -5.8°C | -5.1°C | -5.6°C | -6.5°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg High | -3.4°C | -2.3°C | -1.7°C | -2.2°C | -2.7°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Low | -10.8°C | -9.4°C | -8.4°C | -9.1°C | -10.3°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 59 mm | 59 mm | 55 mm | 50 mm | 57 mm | -1 mm |
May temperatures in Iqaluit have stayed relatively stable across the record.
May has ranged from a record low of -21.7°C (1983) to a record high of 11.5°C (2019).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 56 mm, with a wettest year of 100 mm.
A good time to visit Iqaluit
May is a good time to visit Iqaluit, with days averaging -2.4°C and nights around -9.5°C (mean -5.9°C, warmer than Iqaluit's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. July and August 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 | -4.0°C | -7.7°C | -11.4°C | 0.5°C | -19.0°C | 94 mm | 94% | 4.4 m/s | 6 |
| 2024 | -2.0°C | -6.0°C | -9.9°C | 0.0°C | -19.5°C | 28 mm | 92% | 2.8 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2023 | -2.3°C | -6.1°C | -10.0°C | 1.1°C | -16.5°C | 55 mm | 91% | 3.8 m/s | 6 |
| 2022 | -3.0°C | -7.0°C | -11.0°C | 0.8°C | -17.4°C | 73 mm | 93% | 4.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2021 | -2.2°C | -5.7°C | -9.1°C | 1.3°C | -16.5°C | 46 mm | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2020 | -2.5°C | -6.3°C | -10.2°C | 0.9°C | -17.5°C | 48 mm | 90% | 4.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2019 🔥 | 2.3°C | -0.7°C | -3.8°C | 11.5°C | -12.0°C | 25 mm | 89% | 3.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2018 ❄️ | -6.3°C | -10.0°C | -13.7°C | -0.4°C | -20.7°C | 47 mm | 93% | 4.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2017 | -2.0°C | -5.3°C | -8.7°C | 2.7°C | -20.7°C | 42 mm | 91% | 3.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2016 | -1.5°C | -4.5°C | -7.5°C | 2.9°C | -12.7°C | 45 mm | 92% | 4.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2015 | -3.1°C | -6.8°C | -10.6°C | 0.4°C | -16.6°C | 90 mm | 93% | 4.5 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2014 | -0.1°C | -3.4°C | -6.8°C | 6.6°C | -11.3°C | 38 mm | 92% | 3.5 m/s | 6 |
| 2013 | -4.5°C | -8.7°C | -12.9°C | 0.6°C | -21.2°C | 69 mm | 91% | 3.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2012 | -1.0°C | -4.2°C | -7.4°C | 1.8°C | -11.4°C | 41 mm | 90% | 4 m/s | 5 |
| 2011 | -4.4°C | -8.2°C | -12.0°C | 0.1°C | -20.0°C | 38 mm | 91% | 3.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2010 | -1.0°C | -4.3°C | -7.5°C | 4.5°C | -15.9°C | 64 mm | 91% | 3.3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2009 | -4.5°C | -7.7°C | -11.0°C | 1.0°C | -17.7°C | 70 mm | 93% | 3.9 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2008 | 2.3°C | -1.0°C | -4.2°C | 6.6°C | -11.3°C | 26 mm | 88% | 4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2007 | -4.8°C | -8.9°C | -12.9°C | -0.5°C | -17.5°C | 51 mm | 93% | 3.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2006 | -1.0°C | -3.7°C | -6.4°C | 2.0°C | -16.5°C | 68 mm | 93% | 4.7 m/s | 5 |
| 2005 | -2.0°C | -4.8°C | -7.7°C | 3.6°C | -16.4°C | 56 mm | 93% | 3.3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2004 | -1.2°C | -4.2°C | -7.1°C | 1.6°C | -17.6°C | 65 mm | 92% | 3.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2003 🌧️ | -0.9°C | -3.9°C | -6.9°C | 2.1°C | -13.1°C | 100 mm | 93% | 4.5 m/s | 4 |
| 2002 | -2.0°C | -5.7°C | -9.3°C | 1.4°C | -17.0°C | 40 mm | 91% | 3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2001 | -1.5°C | -5.4°C | -9.2°C | 1.2°C | -19.6°C | 47 mm | 92% | 4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2000 | -1.9°C | -5.5°C | -9.1°C | 1.7°C | -16.4°C | 25 mm | 92% | 3.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1999 | -3.1°C | -6.9°C | -10.8°C | 1.8°C | -20.5°C | 88 mm | 93% | 3.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1998 | -1.3°C | -4.7°C | -8.0°C | 1.4°C | -14.9°C | 60 mm | 93% | 4.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1997 | -0.5°C | -3.4°C | -6.3°C | 3.1°C | -12.0°C | 74 mm | 91% | 4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1996 | -2.5°C | -5.8°C | -9.1°C | 0.5°C | -17.8°C | 60 mm | 92% | 4.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1995 | 0.7°C | -3.1°C | -6.8°C | 8.4°C | -16.2°C | 53 mm | 89% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1994 | -1.5°C | -5.0°C | -8.5°C | 1.5°C | -15.9°C | 44 mm | 91% | 4.3 m/s | 5 |
| 1993 | -1.6°C | -5.1°C | -8.5°C | 9.0°C | -21.4°C | 32 mm | 92% | 4.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1992 | -5.2°C | -9.1°C | -13.0°C | 0.2°C | -19.1°C | 53 mm | 92% | 4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1991 | -3.8°C | -7.8°C | -11.8°C | 1.3°C | -17.2°C | 55 mm | 93% | 3.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1990 | -3.7°C | -7.3°C | -10.9°C | 1.6°C | -17.3°C | 74 mm | 92% | 4.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1989 | -5.2°C | -9.1°C | -13.0°C | 1.1°C | -21.6°C | 38 mm | 92% | 4.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1988 | -3.4°C | -7.2°C | -11.0°C | 0.5°C | -19.9°C | 96 mm | 92% | 4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1987 | -5.4°C | -9.3°C | -13.2°C | 0.0°C | -17.7°C | 74 mm | 92% | 4.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1986 | -2.3°C | -5.8°C | -9.3°C | 0.3°C | -16.3°C | 61 mm | 93% | 4.3 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1985 | -1.1°C | -4.2°C | -7.4°C | 3.8°C | -17.0°C | 36 mm | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1984 | -1.9°C | -5.5°C | -9.2°C | 1.1°C | -14.0°C | 51 mm | 90% | 4.1 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1983 | -3.9°C | -7.9°C | -12.0°C | 2.6°C | -21.7°C | 72 mm | 92% | 3.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -3.8°C | -7.7°C | -11.6°C | -0.3°C | -17.3°C | 43 mm | 92% | 4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -3.7°C | -7.2°C | -10.8°C | -0.2°C | -13.9°C | 56 mm | 91% | 3.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around -2.4°C with lows near -9.5°C (mean -5.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 56 mm of rainfall in Iqaluit, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 100 mm in 2003.
The hottest May reached 11.5°C in 2019. The coldest dipped to -21.7°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have held steady by about 0°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Daytime highs rose from -2.9°C to -2.7°C while overnight lows fell from -10.2°C to -10.3°C, widening the gap between day and night.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Iqaluit and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -2.4°C daytime highs and -9.5°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Iqaluit, averaging -5.9°C.
For May in Iqaluit, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -2.4°C and lows of -9.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 92% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.9 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.7 m/s (2006).
The wettest May on record was 2003 with 100 mm. On average, May sees 56 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 Iqaluit 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.
