May is one of the warmer months of the year in Salem, with average highs near 40.8°C and lows around 22.9°C (mean 31.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 76 mm of rainfall and 60% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Salem. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Salem was 1991 — when the month averaged 34°C — while the coldest was 2015 at 28.3°C. Typical May days reach 40.8°C with nights near 22.9°C. The long-term trend is cooling, about 0.3°C per decade.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 32.2°C | 32.2°C | 32.1°C | 31.3°C | 31.5°C | -0.7°C |
| Avg High | 41.2°C | 41.5°C | 41.2°C | 40.0°C | 40.0°C | -1.2°C |
| Avg Low | 23.2°C | 23.0°C | 23.0°C | 22.6°C | 22.9°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 42 mm | 56 mm | 81 mm | 89 mm | 131 mm | +90 mm |
May temperatures in Salem have fallen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 19.6°C (2015) to a record high of 43.1°C (2024).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 76 mm, with a wettest year of 238 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs fell about 0.4°C per decade while lows fell 0.1°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Salem
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and December tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Salem. That said, May — with days averaging 40.8°C and nights around 22.9°C (mean 31.9°C) and moderate rainfall (76 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the warmth, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38.2°C | 22.8°C | 30.5°C | 153 mm | 69% | 2.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2024 | 43.1°C | 23.0°C | 33.1°C | 174 mm | 67% | 1.9 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2023 | 39.6°C | 22.7°C | 31.2°C | 115 mm | 69% | 1.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2022 | 39.1°C | 21.6°C | 30.4°C | 119 mm | 68% | 2.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2021 | 38.0°C | 22.1°C | 30.0°C | 199 mm | 69% | 2.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 42.2°C | 25.0°C | 33.6°C | 29 mm | 51% | 2.3 m/s | 6 |
| 2019 | 41.6°C | 23.7°C | 32.6°C | 59 mm | 55% | 1.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2018 | 37.3°C | 22.3°C | 29.8°C | 128 mm | 71% | 1.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2017 | 40.1°C | 21.7°C | 30.9°C | 114 mm | 65% | 1.9 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2016 | 42.6°C | 23.5°C | 33.1°C | 107 mm | 61% | 2.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2015 ❄️ | 37.0°C | 19.6°C | 28.3°C | 135 mm | 71% | 1.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2014 | 39.6°C | 22.4°C | 31.0°C | 115 mm | 65% | 2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2013 | 42.0°C | 23.9°C | 32.9°C | 38 mm | 52% | 2.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2012 | 40.4°C | 23.3°C | 31.9°C | 63 mm | 66% | 2.1 m/s | 6 |
| 2011 | 38.6°C | 22.4°C | 30.5°C | 32 mm | 63% | 1.9 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2010 | 40.7°C | 23.6°C | 32.2°C | 96 mm | 64% | 2.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2009 | 43.0°C | 23.3°C | 33.1°C | 49 mm | 58% | 2.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2008 | 40.7°C | 22.8°C | 31.8°C | 60 mm | 60% | 2.3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2007 | 41.1°C | 23.1°C | 32.1°C | 49 mm | 59% | 2.2 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2006 | 42.0°C | 22.9°C | 32.4°C | 82 mm | 61% | 2.4 m/s | 6 |
| 2005 | 40.8°C | 23.4°C | 32.1°C | 68 mm | 64% | 1.6 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 39.9°C | 21.8°C | 30.9°C | 238 mm | 77% | 2.2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2003 | 41.3°C | 23.8°C | 32.5°C | 81 mm | 60% | 2.6 m/s | 6 |
| 2002 | 41.7°C | 23.3°C | 32.5°C | 74 mm | 62% | 2.6 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2001 | 39.9°C | 22.6°C | 31.2°C | 44 mm | 63% | 2.5 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2000 | 41.5°C | 23.0°C | 32.2°C | 66 mm | 55% | 2.4 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1999 | 38.8°C | 21.9°C | 30.3°C | 83 mm | 68% | 2.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1998 | 42.0°C | 22.5°C | 32.3°C | 58 mm | 55% | 2.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1997 | 41.8°C | 23.3°C | 32.6°C | 41 mm | 53% | 2.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1996 | 42.2°C | 22.8°C | 32.5°C | 29 mm | 56% | 2.1 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1995 | 40.8°C | 22.4°C | 31.6°C | 123 mm | 65% | 2.3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1994 | 41.4°C | 23.3°C | 32.3°C | 69 mm | 61% | 2.1 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1993 | 42.6°C | 23.2°C | 32.9°C | 43 mm | 53% | 2.1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1992 | 41.7°C | 22.6°C | 32.1°C | 35 mm | 50% | 2.3 m/s | 6 |
| 1991 🔥 | 42.8°C | 25.1°C | 34.0°C | 1 mm | 44% | 2.1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1990 | 40.9°C | 22.7°C | 31.8°C | 80 mm | 59% | 2.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1989 | 41.7°C | 22.0°C | 31.8°C | 30 mm | 50% | 2.9 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1988 | 41.2°C | 21.6°C | 31.4°C | 54 mm | 58% | 2.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1987 | 41.0°C | 22.9°C | 32.0°C | 19 mm | 47% | 1.9 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1986 | 43.0°C | 24.4°C | 33.7°C | 23 mm | 49% | 2.8 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1985 | 42.4°C | 23.2°C | 32.8°C | 18 mm | 48% | 2.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1984 | 41.6°C | 24.3°C | 32.9°C | 12 mm | 49% | 2.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1983 | 42.1°C | 24.1°C | 33.1°C | 56 mm | 53% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 39.0°C | 23.0°C | 31.0°C | 67 mm | 59% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 39.1°C | 23.0°C | 31.0°C | 100 mm | 64% | 2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 40.8°C with lows near 22.9°C (mean 31.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 76 mm of rainfall in Salem, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 238 mm in 2004.
The hottest May reached 43.1°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to 19.6°C in 2015.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have fallen by about 1.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 40.8°C to 39.6°C and overnight lows from 23.5°C to 22.4°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Salem and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 40.8°C daytime highs and 22.9°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 12th coolest month in Salem, averaging 31.9°C.
For May in Salem, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 40.8°C and lows of 22.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 60% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 2.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 2.9 m/s (1989).
The wettest May on record was 2004 with 238 mm. On average, May sees 76 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 Salem 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.
