May is one of the warmer months of the year in Anchorage, with average highs near 7.7°C and lows around 1.2°C (mean 4.5°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 93 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Anchorage. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Anchorage was 2016 — when the month averaged 8.3°C — while the coldest was 2001 at 0°C. Typical May days reach 7.7°C with nights near 1.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
May is one of the drier months in Anchorage, averaging 93 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1998 with 209 mm, while the driest was 2000 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Anchorage during May averages 81%. The most humid May was 1998 at 89%, and the least humid were 2009 and 2014 at 75%.
May receives about 4.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Anchorage. The sunniest May was 2022 at 5.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2019 at 4.
Average wind speed in Anchorage during May is 1.6 m/s. The windiest May was 2014 at 2.5 m/s, while the calmest were 1983, 1994 and 2024 at 1.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.4°C | 4.1°C | 4.4°C | 5.6°C | 4.8°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg High | 6.6°C | 7.4°C | 7.5°C | 9.2°C | 7.9°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Low | 0.2°C | 0.8°C | 1.2°C | 2.0°C | 1.7°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 84 mm | 112 mm | 64 mm | 105 mm | 100 mm | +16 mm |
May temperatures in Anchorage have risen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -12.2°C (2013) to a record high of 24.3°C (1993).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 93 mm, with a wettest year of 209 mm.
One of the best times to visit Anchorage
May is one of the best times to visit Anchorage. Expect days averaging 7.7°C and nights around 1.2°C (mean 4.5°C) — warmer than Anchorage's yearly average — with higher rainfall (93 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 | 6.8°C | 4.2°C | 1.6°C | 15.6°C | -2.0°C | 118 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2024 | 6.0°C | 3.4°C | 0.7°C | 14.7°C | -5.6°C | 136 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2023 | 6.7°C | 4.0°C | 1.3°C | 13.4°C | -3.0°C | 126 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2022 | 9.4°C | 5.8°C | 2.1°C | 21.4°C | -3.6°C | 26 mm | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2021 | 8.3°C | 4.8°C | 1.4°C | 21.8°C | -5.3°C | 101 mm | 81% | 1.3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2020 | 9.9°C | 6.4°C | 2.9°C | 21.5°C | -3.7°C | 91 mm | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2019 | 8.1°C | 5.0°C | 2.0°C | 16.2°C | -2.8°C | 143 mm | 83% | 1.4 m/s | 4 |
| 2018 | 7.6°C | 4.6°C | 1.6°C | 15.2°C | -4.8°C | 179 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2017 | 10.6°C | 6.5°C | 2.5°C | 17.4°C | -1.3°C | 114 mm | 77% | 1.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2016 🔥 | 12.2°C | 8.3°C | 4.5°C | 21.1°C | -1.7°C | 92 mm | 77% | 1.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2015 | 10.6°C | 6.9°C | 3.1°C | 22.7°C | -0.9°C | 81 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2014 | 11.6°C | 7.4°C | 3.2°C | 20.1°C | -2.1°C | 127 mm | 75% | 2.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2013 | 5.8°C | 2.3°C | -1.2°C | 23.7°C | -12.2°C | 71 mm | 82% | 1.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2012 | 8.2°C | 4.7°C | 1.3°C | 16.0°C | -11.3°C | 95 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2011 | 9.2°C | 5.3°C | 1.5°C | 22.8°C | -6.0°C | 49 mm | 77% | 1.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2010 | 8.6°C | 5.2°C | 1.7°C | 21.8°C | -8.0°C | 101 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2009 | 9.4°C | 5.7°C | 2.0°C | 21.7°C | -2.3°C | 45 mm | 75% | 2.2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2008 | 3.6°C | 1.4°C | -0.8°C | 12.9°C | -3.8°C | 47 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2007 | 10.5°C | 6.6°C | 2.7°C | 16.9°C | -0.9°C | 101 mm | 75% | 1.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2006 | 8.0°C | 4.9°C | 1.9°C | 22.1°C | -2.5°C | 74 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 5 |
| 2005 | 9.3°C | 6.2°C | 3.0°C | 18.5°C | -1.4°C | 98 mm | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2004 | 9.8°C | 6.6°C | 3.4°C | 17.5°C | -0.7°C | 73 mm | 83% | 1.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2003 | 7.8°C | 4.4°C | 1.1°C | 17.6°C | -2.9°C | 99 mm | 79% | 1.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2002 | 8.2°C | 4.7°C | 1.3°C | 22.4°C | -6.8°C | 41 mm | 82% | 1.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2001 ❄️ | 2.2°C | 0.0°C | -2.2°C | 7.9°C | -11.8°C | 38 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2000 | 6.4°C | 3.0°C | -0.4°C | 15.5°C | -5.5°C | 25 mm | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1999 | 6.4°C | 2.9°C | -0.5°C | 15.1°C | -7.6°C | 78 mm | 83% | 2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 4.6°C | 2.3°C | 0.1°C | 15.8°C | -4.4°C | 209 mm | 89% | 1.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1997 | 9.6°C | 5.7°C | 1.9°C | 20.6°C | -3.8°C | 77 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 5 |
| 1996 | 11.3°C | 6.6°C | 1.8°C | 20.5°C | -5.1°C | 47 mm | 76% | 2.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1995 | 6.4°C | 3.6°C | 0.9°C | 12.1°C | -3.2°C | 193 mm | 85% | 1.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1994 | 5.9°C | 3.4°C | 0.8°C | 16.5°C | -3.9°C | 145 mm | 85% | 1.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1993 | 9.5°C | 6.0°C | 2.4°C | 24.3°C | -3.7°C | 109 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1992 | 5.3°C | 1.6°C | -2.1°C | 17.3°C | -11.4°C | 55 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1991 | 6.6°C | 3.7°C | 0.8°C | 19.8°C | -4.2°C | 137 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1990 | 8.2°C | 5.0°C | 1.9°C | 17.5°C | -3.5°C | 67 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1989 | 7.0°C | 3.7°C | 0.5°C | 14.7°C | -3.7°C | 127 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1988 | 6.0°C | 3.2°C | 0.3°C | 15.5°C | -7.4°C | 73 mm | 84% | 1.3 m/s | 5 |
| 1987 | 6.1°C | 3.3°C | 0.4°C | 16.8°C | -5.1°C | 120 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1986 | 7.4°C | 3.9°C | 0.4°C | 17.4°C | -5.0°C | 59 mm | 79% | 1.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1985 | 3.8°C | 0.9°C | -1.9°C | 18.0°C | -7.9°C | 107 mm | 88% | 1.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1984 | 7.0°C | 3.6°C | 0.2°C | 15.9°C | -6.6°C | 35 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1983 | 7.2°C | 4.0°C | 0.8°C | 16.0°C | -5.1°C | 83 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.9°C | 2.4°C | -1.1°C | 16.5°C | -8.1°C | 56 mm | 80% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 8.7°C | 5.3°C | 2.0°C | 19.1°C | -3.3°C | 95 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 7.7°C with lows near 1.2°C (mean 4.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 93 mm of rainfall in Anchorage, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 209 mm in 1998.
The hottest May reached 24.3°C in 1993. The coldest dipped to -12.2°C in 2013.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 6.5°C to 7.4°C and overnight lows from 0°C to 1.4°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Anchorage and one of the drier months, so plan for around 7.7°C daytime highs and 1.2°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Anchorage, averaging 4.5°C.
For May in Anchorage, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 7.7°C and lows of 1.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1.6 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 2.5 m/s (2014).
The wettest May on record was 1998 with 209 mm. On average, May sees 93 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 Anchorage 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.
