May is one of the warmer months of the year in Topeka, with average highs near 24°C and lows around 12.2°C (mean 18.1°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 140 mm of rainfall and 74% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Topeka. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Topeka was 2018 — when the month averaged 23.5°C — while the coldest was 1983 at 15.2°C. Typical May days reach 24°C with nights near 12.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is a relatively wet time of year in Topeka, averaging 140 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1995 with 309 mm, while the driest was 1998 at 39 mm.
Relative humidity in Topeka during May averages 74%. The most humid May was 2019 at 83%, and the least humid was 1989 at 63%.
May receives about 5.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Topeka. The sunniest May was 2012 at 6.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1995 at 4.
Average wind speed in Topeka during May is 3.3 m/s. The windiest Mays were 1996 and 2004 at 3.9 m/s, while the calmest were 1994 and 2023 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 17.8°C | 17.5°C | 18.4°C | 18.7°C | 18.2°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 23.7°C | 23.4°C | 24.5°C | 24.6°C | 23.9°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 11.8°C | 11.7°C | 12.4°C | 12.8°C | 12.5°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 139 mm | 146 mm | 118 mm | 152 mm | 151 mm | +12 mm |
May temperatures in Topeka have risen by about 1.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -0.8°C (1994) to a record high of 36.4°C (2018).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 140 mm, with a wettest year of 309 mm.
A good time to visit Topeka
May is a good time to visit Topeka, with days averaging 24°C and nights around 12.2°C (mean 18.1°C, warmer than Topeka's yearly average) and higher rainfall. September and June 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 | 24.2°C | 17.9°C | 11.6°C | 30.6°C | 5.1°C | 126 mm | 69% | 2.8 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2024 | 25.3°C | 19.2°C | 13.1°C | 31.0°C | 8.1°C | 107 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2023 | 25.8°C | 19.6°C | 13.4°C | 33.2°C | 3.2°C | 114 mm | 69% | 2.5 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2022 | 24.5°C | 19.0°C | 13.4°C | 32.8°C | 3.8°C | 227 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2021 | 22.2°C | 17.1°C | 12.0°C | 29.3°C | 4.3°C | 194 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2020 | 21.6°C | 16.5°C | 11.4°C | 27.0°C | 1.9°C | 137 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2019 | 22.1°C | 17.2°C | 12.3°C | 29.7°C | 4.3°C | 294 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2018 🔥 | 29.8°C | 23.5°C | 17.1°C | 36.4°C | 11.4°C | 99 mm | 69% | 2.7 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2017 | 23.8°C | 17.6°C | 11.5°C | 30.1°C | 2.5°C | 117 mm | 73% | 3.4 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2016 | 22.6°C | 17.2°C | 11.8°C | 28.9°C | 4.0°C | 186 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2015 | 22.8°C | 17.5°C | 12.3°C | 29.0°C | 4.8°C | 269 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2014 | 26.3°C | 19.4°C | 12.5°C | 33.8°C | 2.5°C | 66 mm | 65% | 3.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2013 | 23.5°C | 17.7°C | 11.9°C | 32.4°C | -0.2°C | 149 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2012 | 27.6°C | 21.0°C | 14.5°C | 33.1°C | 7.2°C | 57 mm | 65% | 3.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2011 | 24.0°C | 18.1°C | 12.1°C | 34.7°C | 2.4°C | 137 mm | 70% | 3.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2010 | 23.0°C | 17.5°C | 12.1°C | 29.4°C | 3.2°C | 142 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2009 | 23.1°C | 17.3°C | 11.5°C | 30.3°C | 6.7°C | 73 mm | 75% | 2.9 m/s | 6 |
| 2008 | 23.4°C | 17.6°C | 11.8°C | 29.8°C | 3.7°C | 136 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2007 | 24.1°C | 19.3°C | 14.4°C | 29.4°C | 7.3°C | 206 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2006 | 24.3°C | 18.4°C | 12.6°C | 34.3°C | 4.8°C | 71 mm | 70% | 3.3 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2005 | 24.3°C | 17.9°C | 11.4°C | 30.7°C | -0.7°C | 137 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2004 | 25.4°C | 19.4°C | 13.4°C | 31.1°C | 2.0°C | 132 mm | 75% | 3.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2003 | 24.3°C | 17.7°C | 11.0°C | 34.0°C | 6.2°C | 71 mm | 69% | 3 m/s | 6 |
| 2002 | 23.5°C | 17.0°C | 10.4°C | 31.8°C | 4.1°C | 150 mm | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2001 | 24.9°C | 19.0°C | 13.1°C | 31.9°C | 6.5°C | 126 mm | 72% | 3.7 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 27.3°C | 20.8°C | 14.2°C | 35.5°C | 6.4°C | 76 mm | 64% | 3.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1999 | 22.7°C | 17.1°C | 11.5°C | 27.7°C | 5.7°C | 168 mm | 77% | 3.5 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1998 | 27.1°C | 20.7°C | 14.3°C | 35.1°C | 6.7°C | 39 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1997 | 22.4°C | 15.7°C | 9.0°C | 31.2°C | 2.1°C | 114 mm | 69% | 3.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1996 | 25.4°C | 19.2°C | 13.0°C | 33.6°C | 4.6°C | 213 mm | 74% | 3.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1995 🌧️ | 20.4°C | 15.3°C | 10.2°C | 26.2°C | 3.4°C | 309 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 4 |
| 1994 | 23.7°C | 17.3°C | 10.9°C | 30.4°C | -0.8°C | 51 mm | 77% | 2.5 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1993 | 21.6°C | 16.7°C | 11.8°C | 27.5°C | 4.7°C | 191 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1992 | 22.6°C | 16.5°C | 10.5°C | 28.6°C | 2.9°C | 46 mm | 72% | 3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1991 | 26.0°C | 20.7°C | 15.4°C | 31.2°C | 2.8°C | 141 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1990 | 21.6°C | 15.9°C | 10.2°C | 29.0°C | 2.6°C | 183 mm | 77% | 3.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1989 | 25.1°C | 18.4°C | 11.8°C | 33.4°C | 2.4°C | 95 mm | 63% | 3.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1988 | 26.5°C | 19.7°C | 12.9°C | 30.9°C | 7.8°C | 75 mm | 64% | 3.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1987 | 24.9°C | 19.8°C | 14.7°C | 28.4°C | 9.1°C | 162 mm | 81% | 3.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1986 | 23.0°C | 17.8°C | 12.6°C | 27.8°C | 5.5°C | 161 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1985 | 24.2°C | 18.2°C | 12.3°C | 29.6°C | 6.8°C | 117 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1984 | 21.7°C | 15.8°C | 9.8°C | 27.2°C | 1.3°C | 74 mm | 77% | 3.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1983 ❄️ | 21.3°C | 15.2°C | 9.1°C | 28.1°C | 2.6°C | 124 mm | 74% | 3.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 23.7°C | 18.3°C | 13.0°C | 29.0°C | 4.8°C | 255 mm | 79% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 23.0°C | 16.7°C | 10.3°C | 28.2°C | 2.2°C | 184 mm | 67% | 3.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 24°C with lows near 12.2°C (mean 18.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 140 mm of rainfall in Topeka, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 309 mm in 1995.
The hottest May reached 36.4°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -0.8°C in 1994.
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 22.8°C to 24.4°C and overnight lows from 10.9°C to 12.7°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Topeka and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 24°C daytime highs and 12.2°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Topeka, averaging 18.1°C.
For May in Topeka, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 24°C and lows of 12.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 74% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.3 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.9 m/s (1996).
The wettest May on record was 1995 with 309 mm. On average, May sees 140 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 Topeka 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.
