Medford Weather in May (1981–2025)

📍 42.42°N, 71.11°W •
📊

May at a Glance in Medford

(1981–2025)
Avg High
🔥
18.6°C
Avg Low
❄️
8.0°C
Avg Temp
🌡️
13.3°C
Avg Rain
🌧️
96 mm
Avg Humidity
💧
79%
Avg Wind
🌬️
0.4 m/s
Avg Solar
☀️
5.3
kWh/m²/day
vs Annual
📈
+4°C
temp difference
🌤️Mild afternoons❄️Cold mornings☀️Very sunny🌧️Wet month🍃Light winds💦Humid air

Medford May Weather Overview

May is one of the warmer months of the year in Medford, with average highs near 18.6°C and lows around 8°C (mean 13.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 96 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.

Medford May Temperature History (1981–2025)

Range

May is one of the warmer months of the year in Medford. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Mays in Medford were 2012 and 2015 — when the month averaged 15.7°C — while the coldest was 2005 at 10.4°C. Typical May days reach 18.6°C with nights near 8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.

1981–1985 vs 2021–2025

Avg Temp12.9°C→14.1°C+1.2°C
Max Temp18.3°C→19.4°C+1.1°C
Min Temp7.5°C→8.8°C+1.3°C

Trend (per decade)

Avg Temp+0.3°C/decade ↗
Max Temp+0.3°C/decade ↗
Min Temp+0.4°C/decade ↗

Distribution of Avg Temp

10.0°C–11.5°C3 yr (7%)
11.5°C–13.0°C16 yr (36%)
13.0°C–14.5°C19 yr (42%)
14.5°C–16.0°C7 yr (16%)

Medford May Rainfall History (1981–2025)

Range

May is about average for rainfall in Medford, averaging 96 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2006 with 284 mm, while the driest was 1993 at 33 mm.

Medford May Humidity History (1981–2025)

Range

Relative humidity in Medford during May averages 79%. The most humid May was 2011 at 84%, and the least humid was 2023 at 73%.

Medford May Solar History (1981–2025)

Range

May receives about 5.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Medford. The sunniest May was 2023 at 6.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 4.3.

Medford May Wind History (1981–2025)

Range

Average wind speed in Medford during May is 0.4 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2021, 2023 and 2025, among others at 0.5 m/s, while the calmest were 2018, 2022 and 2024, among others at 0.4 m/s.

What May Feels Like in Medford

🌅
Cold
Morning
🌞
Mild
Afternoon
🌆
Cool
Evening
Rain chanceHigh
Outdoor comfort★★★☆☆

How May Ranks in Medford

🔥5th warmest month of the year
🌵4th driest month of the year
☀️3rd sunniest month of the year

Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.

Explore Medford Weather by Month

Medford May Averages by Decade

Metric1980s1990s2000s2010s2020sChange
Avg Temp13.0°C12.8°C12.8°C14.2°C13.8°C+0.8°C
Avg High18.3°C18.2°C18.1°C19.4°C19.1°C+0.8°C
Avg Low7.6°C7.4°C7.6°C8.9°C8.4°C+0.8°C
Avg Rain102 mm90 mm113 mm80 mm100 mm-1 mm

Extreme May Records in Medford

🔥Warmest May31.6°C2016
🧊Coldest May-1.1°C1992
🌧️Wettest May284 mm2006
🏜️Driest May33 mm1993
🌬️Windiest May0.5 m/s1983

Key Insights for May

✅

May temperatures in Medford have risen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.

✅

May has ranged from a record low of -1.1°C (1992) to a record high of 31.6°C (2016).

✅

Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 96 mm, with a wettest year of 284 mm.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Medford?

A good time to visit Medford

May is a good time to visit Medford, with days averaging 18.6°C and nights around 8°C (mean 13.3°C, warmer than Medford's yearly average) and higher rainfall. July and August are marginally more temperate, but May still suits most travellers.

See Medford's complete weather history All 12 months side by side, 1981–2025 records, annual trends and long-term averages in one place. View full history →

Medford Weather in May — In Depth

☀️ May climate overview

May is one of the warmer months of the year in Medford, with average highs near 18.6°C and lows around 8°C (mean 13.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 96 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.

🌧️ Rain, humidity & wind in May

May averages 96 mm of rainfall in Medford, about average for rainfall compared with the rest of the year. The wettest May on record saw 284 mm (2006), and the driest just 33 mm (1993). Humidity sits around 79% and average wind speed is 0.4 m/s, with solar radiation averaging 5.3 kWh/m²/day.

📈 How May has changed

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 18.3°C to 19.4°C and overnight lows from 7.5°C to 8.8°C over the same span.
May Weather in Medford, Year by Year
🔥 warmest❄️ coldest🌧️ wettest
YearAvg HighAvg TempAvg LowHottest DayColdest DayRainfallHumidityWindSolar
202518.9°C13.9°C8.9°C26.2°C3.5°C198 mm82%0.5 m/s4.5
202419.7°C14.8°C9.8°C27.0°C3.4°C123 mm83%0.4 m/s5.2
202319.1°C13.2°C7.2°C26.2°C0.1°C74 mm73%0.5 m/s6.7
202220.0°C14.7°C9.3°C29.2°C2.3°C46 mm77%0.4 m/s6
202119.1°C13.9°C8.7°C28.5°C3.5°C112 mm75%0.5 m/s5.6
202018.0°C12.4°C6.7°C26.6°C0.2°C48 mm75%0.5 m/s6.4
201917.3°C12.4°C7.6°C26.2°C2.3°C83 mm81%0.5 m/s4.8
201820.9°C15.3°C9.8°C28.7°C4.3°C43 mm80%0.4 m/s5.6
201717.1°C12.5°C8.0°C28.1°C1.3°C140 mm82%0.5 m/s4.5
201618.5°C13.3°C8.0°C31.6°C2.3°C60 mm78%0.4 m/s5.2
201522.0°C15.7°C9.5°C27.2°C4.0°C36 mm74%0.4 m/s6.1
201418.5°C13.4°C8.3°C25.4°C4.0°C75 mm80%0.4 m/s5.1
201319.8°C13.9°C8.0°C30.1°C2.5°C112 mm78%0.5 m/s5.8
2012 🔥20.3°C15.7°C11.0°C28.1°C5.7°C105 mm82%0.4 m/s4.7
201118.8°C14.1°C9.4°C28.3°C2.9°C71 mm84%0.4 m/s4.8
201020.9°C15.3°C9.7°C30.3°C0.9°C74 mm76%0.4 m/s6.2
200918.9°C13.8°C8.7°C27.2°C4.3°C91 mm79%0.4 m/s5.1
200817.5°C12.4°C7.3°C25.2°C-0.6°C46 mm76%0.5 m/s5.6
200719.6°C13.8°C8.0°C31.0°C1.5°C92 mm77%0.4 m/s6.1
2006 🌧️17.3°C12.8°C8.2°C26.6°C3.2°C284 mm83%0.5 m/s4.7
2005 ❄️14.8°C10.4°C6.1°C23.0°C1.2°C140 mm82%0.5 m/s4.4
200419.5°C13.9°C8.2°C27.3°C0.8°C104 mm81%0.4 m/s5.2
200316.9°C11.9°C6.9°C26.1°C0.7°C102 mm82%0.4 m/s4.5
200218.0°C12.5°C7.1°C25.5°C1.4°C138 mm74%0.5 m/s5.6
200119.5°C13.8°C8.2°C28.2°C0.7°C54 mm76%0.5 m/s5.6
200018.5°C12.8°C7.2°C28.0°C1.1°C83 mm80%0.4 m/s5
199920.1°C14.1°C8.1°C29.9°C2.1°C85 mm75%0.4 m/s5.7
199819.6°C14.3°C9.0°C26.7°C1.2°C140 mm82%0.5 m/s5.6
199716.1°C11.2°C6.3°C23.6°C0.9°C78 mm77%0.5 m/s5.3
199617.6°C12.3°C6.9°C26.6°C0.8°C92 mm79%0.4 m/s5.3
199517.3°C12.1°C6.9°C24.1°C1.5°C66 mm78%0.4 m/s5
199417.3°C11.9°C6.6°C25.6°C2.0°C123 mm80%0.5 m/s5.4
199319.2°C13.7°C8.2°C26.2°C4.3°C33 mm78%0.4 m/s5.3
199217.8°C11.7°C5.6°C28.4°C-1.1°C50 mm76%0.4 m/s6.1
199121.1°C15.4°C9.8°C27.5°C4.4°C62 mm78%0.4 m/s5.9
199015.9°C11.1°C6.3°C22.1°C3.1°C165 mm80%0.5 m/s4.8
198918.8°C13.6°C8.4°C26.7°C4.4°C128 mm82%0.4 m/s5
198818.0°C13.0°C7.9°C25.0°C1.8°C108 mm83%0.4 m/s4.9
198717.7°C12.4°C7.0°C28.2°C1.0°C48 mm81%0.4 m/s5.6
198618.8°C13.3°C7.9°C27.5°C-0.3°C48 mm79%0.5 m/s5.7
198518.4°C12.8°C7.1°C26.9°C-0.4°C97 mm76%0.5 m/s5.7
198417.4°C12.3°C7.2°C24.8°C0.2°C234 mm82%0.4 m/s4.3
198317.2°C12.2°C7.2°C23.0°C0.7°C117 mm83%0.5 m/s—
198219.1°C13.7°C8.2°C25.4°C5.2°C71 mm80%0.4 m/s—
198119.3°C13.5°C7.7°C26.9°C1.2°C62 mm77%0.4 m/s—

Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.

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Medford May Weather — FAQ

What is the average temperature in Medford in May?▼

The average high in May is around 18.6°C with lows near 8°C (mean 13.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.

Does it rain a lot in Medford in May?▼

May averages 96 mm of rainfall in Medford, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 284 mm in 2006.

What was the hottest May on record in Medford?▼

The hottest May reached 31.6°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to -1.1°C in 1992.

Has May in Medford gotten warmer over time?▼

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 18.3°C to 19.4°C and overnight lows from 7.5°C to 8.8°C over the same span.

Is May a good time to visit Medford?▼

May is one of the warmer months of the year in Medford and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 18.6°C daytime highs and 8°C at night.

Is May the coldest month in Medford?▼

Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Medford, averaging 13.3°C.

What should I pack for Medford in May?▼

For May in Medford, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 18.6°C and lows of 8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.

Is Medford humid in May?▼

Relative humidity in May averages 79% — quite humid.

How windy is Medford in May?▼

Average wind speed in May is 0.4 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.5 m/s (1983).

Which May had the most rainfall in Medford?▼

The wettest May on record was 2006 with 284 mm. On average, May sees 96 mm.

Where does this May weather data come from?▼

All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.

Other Massachusetts cities

Explore how the weather in Medford 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.