May is one of the warmer months of the year in Manhattan, with average highs near 24.4°C and lows around 12.3°C (mean 18.4°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 130 mm of rainfall and 70% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Manhattan. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Manhattan was 2018 — when the month averaged 23.6°C — while the coldest was 1995 at 15°C. Typical May days reach 24.4°C with nights near 12.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
May is a relatively wet time of year in Manhattan, averaging 130 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1995 with 323 mm, while the driest was 2012 at 33 mm.
Relative humidity in Manhattan during May averages 70%. The most humid May was 1993 at 82%, and the least humid was 1989 at 56%.
May receives about 5.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Manhattan. The sunniest May was 2012 at 6.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1995 at 4.3.
Average wind speed in Manhattan during May is 3.5 m/s. The windiest May was 2004 at 4.3 m/s, while the calmest was 2023 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 18.1°C | 17.8°C | 18.7°C | 18.7°C | 18.5°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 24.1°C | 23.8°C | 24.9°C | 24.9°C | 24.4°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 12.0°C | 11.8°C | 12.5°C | 12.6°C | 12.5°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 124 mm | 145 mm | 108 mm | 138 mm | 141 mm | +17 mm |
May temperatures in Manhattan have risen by about 1.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -1.2°C (2005) to a record high of 37.4°C (2018).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 130 mm, with a wettest year of 323 mm.
One of the best times to visit Manhattan
May is one of the best times to visit Manhattan. Expect days averaging 24.4°C and nights around 12.3°C (mean 18.4°C) — warmer than Manhattan's yearly average — with higher rainfall (130 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 | 24.7°C | 18.2°C | 11.7°C | 32.6°C | 5.1°C | 120 mm | 63% | 3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2024 | 25.4°C | 19.2°C | 12.9°C | 31.5°C | 8.3°C | 138 mm | 69% | 3.2 m/s | 6 |
| 2023 | 26.7°C | 20.2°C | 13.8°C | 34.2°C | 2.7°C | 77 mm | 63% | 2.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2022 | 25.1°C | 19.3°C | 13.6°C | 34.0°C | 3.8°C | 204 mm | 69% | 3.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2021 | 22.4°C | 17.2°C | 12.0°C | 29.9°C | 5.1°C | 169 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 5 |
| 2020 | 22.0°C | 16.6°C | 11.2°C | 27.3°C | 1.6°C | 136 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2019 | 21.9°C | 16.7°C | 11.6°C | 29.7°C | 3.8°C | 295 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2018 🔥 | 30.2°C | 23.6°C | 17.1°C | 37.4°C | 9.8°C | 96 mm | 64% | 3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2017 | 23.6°C | 17.3°C | 11.0°C | 30.3°C | 1.9°C | 129 mm | 73% | 3.5 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2016 | 22.8°C | 17.3°C | 11.8°C | 28.8°C | 3.7°C | 179 mm | 74% | 3.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2015 | 22.8°C | 17.4°C | 12.0°C | 30.6°C | 3.8°C | 225 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2014 | 26.9°C | 19.8°C | 12.7°C | 36.3°C | 2.7°C | 70 mm | 60% | 3.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2013 | 23.5°C | 17.6°C | 11.6°C | 32.4°C | -0.5°C | 136 mm | 72% | 3.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2012 | 28.7°C | 21.8°C | 14.8°C | 34.6°C | 7.3°C | 33 mm | 57% | 4.1 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2011 | 25.0°C | 18.4°C | 11.9°C | 36.6°C | 4.1°C | 114 mm | 62% | 4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2010 | 23.3°C | 17.5°C | 11.8°C | 30.3°C | 2.7°C | 102 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2009 | 24.0°C | 17.7°C | 11.4°C | 32.7°C | 5.8°C | 41 mm | 70% | 3.1 m/s | 6 |
| 2008 | 23.8°C | 17.9°C | 12.0°C | 30.0°C | 2.7°C | 118 mm | 73% | 3.8 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2007 | 24.0°C | 19.2°C | 14.5°C | 28.7°C | 7.9°C | 256 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2006 | 25.4°C | 19.2°C | 13.0°C | 35.8°C | 4.9°C | 85 mm | 64% | 3.4 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2005 | 24.6°C | 18.2°C | 11.8°C | 33.1°C | -1.2°C | 105 mm | 67% | 3.4 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2004 | 26.5°C | 20.0°C | 13.4°C | 32.2°C | 2.5°C | 90 mm | 69% | 4.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2003 | 24.0°C | 17.5°C | 11.0°C | 33.8°C | 6.6°C | 85 mm | 68% | 3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2002 | 24.1°C | 17.4°C | 10.7°C | 33.8°C | 4.1°C | 116 mm | 67% | 3.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2001 | 25.5°C | 19.3°C | 13.0°C | 34.2°C | 6.7°C | 118 mm | 66% | 3.8 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2000 | 26.8°C | 20.4°C | 13.9°C | 35.4°C | 6.1°C | 65 mm | 63% | 3.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1999 | 22.9°C | 17.3°C | 11.6°C | 29.1°C | 6.0°C | 165 mm | 75% | 3.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1998 | 26.9°C | 20.4°C | 13.9°C | 36.4°C | 5.9°C | 48 mm | 73% | 3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1997 | 23.3°C | 16.3°C | 9.4°C | 32.9°C | 3.6°C | 106 mm | 64% | 3.5 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1996 | 25.7°C | 19.5°C | 13.3°C | 35.8°C | 4.8°C | 213 mm | 70% | 3.8 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1995 ❄️ 🌧️ | 20.2°C | 15.0°C | 9.9°C | 25.9°C | 3.3°C | 323 mm | 81% | 3.3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1994 | 24.8°C | 18.2°C | 11.6°C | 34.0°C | 1.1°C | 47 mm | 72% | 2.8 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1993 | 21.4°C | 16.5°C | 11.6°C | 28.3°C | 4.9°C | 226 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 5 |
| 1992 | 24.1°C | 17.6°C | 11.0°C | 31.4°C | 3.4°C | 62 mm | 63% | 3.4 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1991 | 26.4°C | 20.8°C | 15.2°C | 32.7°C | 2.9°C | 130 mm | 74% | 3.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1990 | 22.3°C | 16.3°C | 10.4°C | 28.6°C | 3.3°C | 133 mm | 73% | 4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1989 | 25.9°C | 19.3°C | 12.6°C | 36.4°C | 2.8°C | 88 mm | 56% | 3.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1988 | 27.3°C | 20.5°C | 13.7°C | 33.6°C | 6.1°C | 80 mm | 58% | 4.1 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1987 | 24.9°C | 19.9°C | 14.8°C | 30.4°C | 9.1°C | 148 mm | 79% | 3.5 m/s | 6 |
| 1986 | 23.4°C | 17.8°C | 12.3°C | 29.0°C | 6.6°C | 145 mm | 74% | 3.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1985 | 24.7°C | 18.5°C | 12.3°C | 30.4°C | 6.6°C | 99 mm | 72% | 3.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1984 | 22.0°C | 16.0°C | 10.0°C | 29.1°C | 1.3°C | 68 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1983 | 21.6°C | 15.3°C | 9.0°C | 29.5°C | 1.7°C | 110 mm | 71% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 24.2°C | 18.5°C | 12.8°C | 29.3°C | 5.3°C | 202 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 23.1°C | 16.8°C | 10.6°C | 29.3°C | 2.3°C | 171 mm | 63% | 3.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 24.4°C with lows near 12.3°C (mean 18.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 130 mm of rainfall in Manhattan, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 323 mm in 1995.
The hottest May reached 37.4°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -1.2°C in 2005.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 23.1°C to 24.9°C and overnight lows from 10.9°C to 12.8°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Manhattan and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 24.4°C daytime highs and 12.3°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Manhattan, averaging 18.4°C.
For May in Manhattan, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 24.4°C and lows of 12.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 70% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.5 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.3 m/s (2004).
The wettest May on record was 1995 with 323 mm. On average, May sees 130 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 Manhattan 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.
