May is one of the warmer months of the year in Fayetteville, with average highs near 24.2°C and lows around 13.6°C (mean 18.9°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 150 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Fayetteville. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Fayetteville was 2018 — when the month averaged 22.2°C — while the coldest was 1983 at 16.4°C. Typical May days reach 24.2°C with nights near 13.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
May is a relatively wet time of year in Fayetteville, averaging 150 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2015 with 307 mm, while the driest was 2012 at 26 mm.
Relative humidity in Fayetteville during May averages 79%. The most humid May was 2019 at 85%, and the least humid was 1988 at 68%.
May receives about 5.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Fayetteville. The sunniest May was 2012 at 6.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1995 at 4.5.
Average wind speed in Fayetteville during May is 0.6 m/s. The windiest May was 2011 at 0.8 m/s, while the calmest were 1994, 2018 and 2023, among others at 0.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 18.5°C | 18.6°C | 19.2°C | 19.2°C | 19.0°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg High | 23.9°C | 23.9°C | 24.5°C | 24.4°C | 24.0°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg Low | 13.1°C | 13.3°C | 13.8°C | 14.1°C | 13.9°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 141 mm | 148 mm | 137 mm | 162 mm | 170 mm | +29 mm |
May temperatures in Fayetteville have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 0.5°C (2013) to a record high of 35°C (2012).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 150 mm, with a wettest year of 307 mm.
One of the best times to visit Fayetteville
May is one of the best times to visit Fayetteville. Expect days averaging 24.2°C and nights around 13.6°C (mean 18.9°C) — warmer than Fayetteville's yearly average — with higher rainfall (150 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 | 23.6°C | 18.5°C | 13.3°C | 29.3°C | 5.6°C | 199 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2024 | 26.2°C | 21.0°C | 15.9°C | 30.6°C | 11.0°C | 144 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2023 | 24.8°C | 19.6°C | 14.4°C | 28.7°C | 3.2°C | 97 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | 6 |
| 2022 | 24.7°C | 19.6°C | 14.5°C | 30.7°C | 7.7°C | 215 mm | 83% | 0.7 m/s | 5 |
| 2021 | 22.2°C | 17.4°C | 12.7°C | 26.7°C | 4.6°C | 166 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2020 | 22.3°C | 17.6°C | 12.8°C | 27.1°C | 2.9°C | 199 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2019 | 24.1°C | 19.5°C | 14.9°C | 28.1°C | 6.4°C | 217 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2018 🔥 | 27.0°C | 22.2°C | 17.4°C | 32.0°C | 9.5°C | 119 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2017 | 23.7°C | 18.0°C | 12.4°C | 29.0°C | 4.1°C | 150 mm | 79% | 0.7 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2016 | 23.1°C | 18.1°C | 13.0°C | 32.4°C | 5.4°C | 120 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2015 🌧️ | 23.5°C | 19.0°C | 14.5°C | 27.5°C | 7.0°C | 307 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 5 |
| 2014 | 24.6°C | 18.9°C | 13.3°C | 29.9°C | 1.6°C | 117 mm | 75% | 0.7 m/s | 6 |
| 2013 | 22.9°C | 17.7°C | 12.5°C | 28.0°C | 0.5°C | 178 mm | 81% | 0.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2012 | 28.0°C | 21.9°C | 15.8°C | 35.0°C | 9.3°C | 26 mm | 69% | 0.6 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2011 | 22.6°C | 17.6°C | 12.7°C | 28.3°C | 2.9°C | 226 mm | 82% | 0.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2010 | 24.9°C | 19.6°C | 14.4°C | 29.2°C | 6.8°C | 156 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2009 | 22.7°C | 17.8°C | 12.8°C | 27.9°C | 6.5°C | 197 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2008 | 23.8°C | 18.6°C | 13.3°C | 28.4°C | 4.4°C | 140 mm | 80% | 0.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2007 | 24.0°C | 19.5°C | 15.0°C | 28.1°C | 7.8°C | 137 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2006 | 24.7°C | 19.3°C | 14.0°C | 31.8°C | 5.9°C | 121 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 6 |
| 2005 | 24.7°C | 18.7°C | 12.6°C | 32.1°C | 3.1°C | 83 mm | 72% | 0.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2004 | 25.2°C | 20.2°C | 15.1°C | 29.8°C | 1.8°C | 68 mm | 80% | 0.7 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2003 | 25.7°C | 19.8°C | 14.0°C | 32.6°C | 7.9°C | 154 mm | 76% | 0.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2002 | 22.9°C | 17.8°C | 12.7°C | 28.9°C | 6.3°C | 150 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2001 | 25.6°C | 19.7°C | 13.8°C | 31.5°C | 5.6°C | 165 mm | 75% | 0.6 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2000 | 25.8°C | 20.1°C | 14.4°C | 33.7°C | 5.1°C | 151 mm | 77% | 0.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1999 | 23.3°C | 17.9°C | 12.4°C | 27.8°C | 5.7°C | 211 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1998 | 26.8°C | 21.0°C | 15.2°C | 31.5°C | 6.2°C | 99 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1997 | 23.2°C | 17.1°C | 11.0°C | 29.9°C | 4.5°C | 86 mm | 74% | 0.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1996 | 26.8°C | 21.2°C | 15.7°C | 32.0°C | 7.3°C | 116 mm | 75% | 0.7 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1995 | 22.5°C | 17.7°C | 12.9°C | 28.6°C | 3.9°C | 196 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1994 | 23.9°C | 18.0°C | 12.1°C | 29.7°C | 2.2°C | 77 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1993 | 22.0°C | 17.2°C | 12.5°C | 26.6°C | 7.1°C | 191 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1992 | 22.9°C | 17.7°C | 12.5°C | 28.4°C | 3.4°C | 130 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1991 | 25.6°C | 21.0°C | 16.4°C | 30.8°C | 3.8°C | 111 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1990 | 22.2°C | 17.1°C | 11.9°C | 27.1°C | 5.0°C | 269 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1989 | 23.5°C | 18.3°C | 13.0°C | 29.8°C | 3.5°C | 157 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1988 | 25.5°C | 18.9°C | 12.3°C | 30.7°C | 6.3°C | 51 mm | 68% | 0.6 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1987 | 26.3°C | 21.6°C | 16.8°C | 30.6°C | 11.4°C | 164 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1986 | 23.4°C | 18.7°C | 13.9°C | 26.9°C | 7.5°C | 145 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1985 | 23.7°C | 18.4°C | 13.2°C | 29.0°C | 6.9°C | 98 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1984 | 23.3°C | 17.5°C | 11.7°C | 27.8°C | 3.6°C | 146 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1983 ❄️ | 22.1°C | 16.4°C | 10.7°C | 26.2°C | 4.9°C | 151 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 24.6°C | 19.5°C | 14.4°C | 28.7°C | 6.2°C | 182 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 22.6°C | 17.1°C | 11.6°C | 27.3°C | 3.5°C | 175 mm | 77% | 0.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 24.2°C with lows near 13.6°C (mean 18.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 150 mm of rainfall in Fayetteville, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 307 mm in 2015.
The hottest May reached 35°C in 2012. The coldest dipped to 0.5°C in 2013.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 23.3°C to 24.3°C and overnight lows from 12.3°C to 14.2°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Fayetteville and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 24.2°C daytime highs and 13.6°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Fayetteville, averaging 18.9°C.
For May in Fayetteville, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 24.2°C and lows of 13.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.6 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.8 m/s (2011).
The wettest May on record was 2015 with 307 mm. On average, May sees 150 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 Fayetteville 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.
