May is one of the warmer months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie, with average highs near 13.9°C and lows around 3.8°C (mean 8.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 72 mm of rainfall and 80% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Sault Ste. Marie was 1998 — when the month averaged 11.2°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 5.4°C. Typical May days reach 13.9°C with nights near 3.8°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Sault Ste. Marie, averaging 72 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1983 with 126 mm, while the driest was 1996 at 28 mm.
Relative humidity in Sault Ste. Marie during May averages 80%. The most humid May was 2014 at 85%, and the least humid was 2007 at 74%.
May receives about 5.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Sault Ste. Marie. The sunniest May was 2010 at 6.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1993 at 4.6.
Average wind speed in Sault Ste. Marie during May is 1.4 m/s. The windiest May was 2009 at 1.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2014, 2018 and 2023, among others at 1.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.1°C | 8.6°C | 8.4°C | 9.1°C | 9.4°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg High | 14.2°C | 13.7°C | 13.1°C | 14.2°C | 14.4°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 3.9°C | 3.4°C | 3.7°C | 4.1°C | 4.5°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 64 mm | 72 mm | 85 mm | 69 mm | 65 mm | +1 mm |
May temperatures in Sault Ste. Marie have risen by about 1.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -4.2°C (1989) to a record high of 26.5°C (2006).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 72 mm, with a wettest year of 126 mm.
A good time to visit Sault Ste. Marie
May is a good time to visit Sault Ste. Marie, with days averaging 13.9°C and nights around 3.8°C (mean 8.9°C, warmer than Sault Ste. Marie's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. August and July 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 | 13.9°C | 9.1°C | 4.2°C | 20.9°C | -3.3°C | 54 mm | 80% | 1.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2024 | 15.8°C | 10.7°C | 5.6°C | 23.1°C | 2.3°C | 76 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2023 | 15.6°C | 10.1°C | 4.6°C | 24.8°C | -1.2°C | 70 mm | 77% | 1.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2022 | 14.6°C | 9.6°C | 4.7°C | 23.1°C | -0.2°C | 91 mm | 82% | 1.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2021 | 14.2°C | 9.3°C | 4.5°C | 22.2°C | -1.0°C | 43 mm | 79% | 1.4 m/s | 6 |
| 2020 | 12.5°C | 7.8°C | 3.1°C | 23.4°C | -3.0°C | 56 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2019 | 11.3°C | 6.6°C | 2.0°C | 16.7°C | -1.9°C | 108 mm | 83% | 1.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2018 | 15.7°C | 9.9°C | 4.2°C | 20.2°C | -1.8°C | 78 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2017 | 12.8°C | 8.3°C | 3.8°C | 20.1°C | -2.3°C | 83 mm | 82% | 1.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2016 | 14.5°C | 9.3°C | 4.1°C | 21.4°C | -1.1°C | 48 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2015 | 13.7°C | 8.6°C | 3.5°C | 19.6°C | -1.4°C | 81 mm | 84% | 1.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2014 | 12.5°C | 7.9°C | 3.3°C | 22.6°C | -2.3°C | 83 mm | 85% | 1.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2013 | 14.5°C | 9.4°C | 4.3°C | 22.2°C | -0.7°C | 70 mm | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2012 | 16.0°C | 10.6°C | 5.2°C | 21.5°C | 1.3°C | 41 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | 6 |
| 2011 | 14.3°C | 9.3°C | 4.2°C | 23.3°C | -1.7°C | 67 mm | 81% | 1.3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2010 | 16.3°C | 11.1°C | 5.9°C | 25.5°C | -1.3°C | 37 mm | 76% | 1.4 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2009 | 12.1°C | 7.2°C | 2.3°C | 19.1°C | -1.6°C | 91 mm | 77% | 1.7 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2008 | 11.4°C | 6.7°C | 2.1°C | 16.8°C | -1.2°C | 90 mm | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2007 | 16.4°C | 10.9°C | 5.4°C | 25.3°C | 0.0°C | 41 mm | 74% | 1.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2006 | 15.7°C | 11.0°C | 6.3°C | 26.5°C | -0.2°C | 93 mm | 82% | 1.5 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2005 | 13.3°C | 8.4°C | 3.6°C | 21.9°C | -4.0°C | 52 mm | 79% | 1.3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2004 | 11.1°C | 6.8°C | 2.6°C | 17.3°C | -1.2°C | 124 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2003 | 13.5°C | 8.8°C | 4.0°C | 18.5°C | -1.5°C | 63 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2002 | 10.3°C | 5.8°C | 1.3°C | 17.7°C | -2.2°C | 105 mm | 82% | 1.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2001 | 13.9°C | 9.2°C | 4.5°C | 19.9°C | -0.1°C | 114 mm | 82% | 1.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2000 | 13.6°C | 9.0°C | 4.4°C | 19.7°C | -1.1°C | 82 mm | 82% | 1.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1999 | 15.0°C | 9.9°C | 4.8°C | 22.0°C | 0.7°C | 77 mm | 80% | 1.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1998 🔥 | 16.4°C | 11.2°C | 5.9°C | 20.4°C | 1.6°C | 61 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 9.6°C | 5.4°C | 1.1°C | 19.4°C | -2.3°C | 89 mm | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1996 | 12.4°C | 7.2°C | 2.0°C | 20.0°C | -2.9°C | 28 mm | 78% | 1.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1995 | 13.3°C | 8.2°C | 3.2°C | 22.1°C | 0.0°C | 88 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1994 | 13.7°C | 8.2°C | 2.7°C | 21.4°C | -2.0°C | 76 mm | 79% | 1.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1993 | 12.1°C | 7.5°C | 2.9°C | 24.2°C | -1.4°C | 106 mm | 83% | 1.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1992 | 14.8°C | 8.8°C | 2.8°C | 22.0°C | -3.1°C | 33 mm | 76% | 1.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1991 | 16.2°C | 11.1°C | 6.0°C | 22.9°C | -1.0°C | 75 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | 5 |
| 1990 | 13.4°C | 8.2°C | 3.0°C | 20.0°C | -3.2°C | 91 mm | 77% | 1.3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1989 | 14.6°C | 9.2°C | 3.8°C | 22.6°C | -4.2°C | 72 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1988 | 16.4°C | 10.5°C | 4.6°C | 26.0°C | -2.5°C | 48 mm | 78% | 1.2 m/s | 6 |
| 1987 | 15.5°C | 10.1°C | 4.7°C | 23.6°C | -3.5°C | 62 mm | 78% | 1.2 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1986 | 15.4°C | 10.6°C | 5.7°C | 23.9°C | -3.2°C | 52 mm | 81% | 1.3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1985 | 13.5°C | 8.8°C | 4.1°C | 19.4°C | -0.6°C | 99 mm | 84% | 1.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1984 | 11.5°C | 6.8°C | 2.1°C | 19.5°C | -3.0°C | 43 mm | 80% | 1.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 11.0°C | 6.2°C | 1.4°C | 17.4°C | -3.9°C | 126 mm | 80% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 16.5°C | 11.1°C | 5.7°C | 21.5°C | -0.1°C | 45 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 13.7°C | 8.3°C | 2.9°C | 21.5°C | -3.5°C | 33 mm | 77% | 1.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 13.9°C with lows near 3.8°C (mean 8.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 72 mm of rainfall in Sault Ste. Marie, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 126 mm in 1983.
The hottest May reached 26.5°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to -4.2°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 13.2°C to 14.8°C and overnight lows from 3.2°C to 4.7°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 13.9°C daytime highs and 3.8°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Sault Ste. Marie, averaging 8.9°C.
For May in Sault Ste. Marie, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 13.9°C and lows of 3.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 80% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1.4 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 1.7 m/s (2009).
The wettest May on record was 1983 with 126 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 Sault Ste. Marie 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.
