May is one of the warmer months of the year in Schenectady, with average highs near 19.7°C and lows around 7.4°C (mean 13.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 103 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Schenectady. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Schenectady was 2015 — when the month averaged 16.4°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 10.4°C. Typical May days reach 19.7°C with nights near 7.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Schenectady, averaging 103 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1984 with 225 mm, while the driest were 1987 and 1995 at 45 mm.
Relative humidity in Schenectady during May averages 79%. The most humid May was 2011 at 83%, and the least humid was 2015 at 74%.
May receives about 5.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Schenectady. The sunniest May was 2023 at 6.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 4.1.
Average wind speed in Schenectady during May is 0.1 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.1 m/s, while the calmest were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 13.2°C | 12.8°C | 13.1°C | 14.7°C | 14.2°C | +1°C |
| Avg High | 19.4°C | 19.1°C | 19.1°C | 20.8°C | 20.2°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 7.0°C | 6.6°C | 7.0°C | 8.6°C | 8.1°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 114 mm | 98 mm | 106 mm | 100 mm | 98 mm | -16 mm |
May temperatures in Schenectady have risen by about 1.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -2.9°C (1986) to a record high of 31.2°C (2006).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 103 mm, with a wettest year of 225 mm.
A good time to visit Schenectady
May is a good time to visit Schenectady, with days averaging 19.7°C and nights around 7.4°C (mean 13.6°C, warmer than Schenectady's yearly average) and higher rainfall. July and August 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 | 19.3°C | 14.0°C | 8.7°C | 26.6°C | 4.1°C | 216 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2024 | 21.8°C | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 29.6°C | 5.7°C | 90 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2023 | 20.1°C | 13.2°C | 6.3°C | 30.4°C | -1.0°C | 57 mm | 74% | 0.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2022 | 21.8°C | 15.3°C | 8.8°C | 29.5°C | 0.3°C | 73 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2021 | 19.7°C | 13.7°C | 7.7°C | 29.0°C | 0.7°C | 87 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2020 | 18.6°C | 12.5°C | 6.4°C | 29.1°C | -2.4°C | 65 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2019 | 18.8°C | 13.1°C | 7.4°C | 27.7°C | 1.1°C | 104 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2018 | 22.2°C | 16.0°C | 9.8°C | 27.7°C | 1.8°C | 46 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2017 | 18.2°C | 12.7°C | 7.2°C | 29.5°C | 0.8°C | 165 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2016 | 19.7°C | 13.7°C | 7.7°C | 31.2°C | -1.2°C | 69 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2015 🔥 | 23.4°C | 16.4°C | 9.4°C | 28.7°C | -0.5°C | 52 mm | 74% | 0.1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2014 | 20.0°C | 14.0°C | 8.0°C | 26.2°C | 0.9°C | 86 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2013 | 20.8°C | 14.4°C | 8.1°C | 30.3°C | -0.1°C | 147 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2012 | 21.9°C | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 28.8°C | 3.3°C | 141 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2011 | 21.1°C | 15.4°C | 9.8°C | 29.7°C | 1.4°C | 126 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2010 | 21.9°C | 15.1°C | 8.3°C | 31.0°C | -2.8°C | 60 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 6 |
| 2009 | 19.5°C | 13.3°C | 7.1°C | 27.0°C | 0.5°C | 117 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2008 | 18.0°C | 11.8°C | 5.6°C | 24.2°C | 0.0°C | 46 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2007 | 20.9°C | 14.2°C | 7.4°C | 29.4°C | 1.1°C | 87 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2006 | 18.7°C | 13.3°C | 7.8°C | 31.2°C | 1.6°C | 140 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2005 | 17.0°C | 11.1°C | 5.3°C | 26.4°C | -1.2°C | 46 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2004 | 21.2°C | 15.3°C | 9.4°C | 27.6°C | -0.4°C | 154 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2003 | 18.2°C | 12.5°C | 6.8°C | 26.2°C | 0.3°C | 130 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2002 | 17.7°C | 11.6°C | 5.5°C | 25.3°C | -1.9°C | 129 mm | 75% | 0.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2001 | 20.3°C | 13.9°C | 7.4°C | 28.6°C | 1.9°C | 74 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2000 | 19.5°C | 13.8°C | 8.1°C | 27.5°C | 0.5°C | 133 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1999 | 21.2°C | 14.4°C | 7.6°C | 29.0°C | 0.9°C | 85 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1998 | 21.9°C | 15.8°C | 9.8°C | 27.5°C | 0.6°C | 121 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 16.2°C | 10.4°C | 4.7°C | 23.5°C | -2.6°C | 89 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1996 | 17.1°C | 11.1°C | 5.0°C | 25.8°C | -2.0°C | 113 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1995 | 18.3°C | 12.3°C | 6.2°C | 25.1°C | -1.8°C | 45 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1994 | 18.4°C | 12.1°C | 5.7°C | 27.0°C | -0.8°C | 103 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1993 | 19.9°C | 13.4°C | 7.0°C | 27.2°C | 2.0°C | 50 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1992 | 19.0°C | 12.2°C | 5.3°C | 26.7°C | -0.6°C | 112 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1991 | 21.9°C | 15.4°C | 9.0°C | 27.3°C | 1.6°C | 76 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1990 | 16.8°C | 11.2°C | 5.5°C | 23.7°C | 0.7°C | 185 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1989 | 19.6°C | 13.7°C | 7.7°C | 30.3°C | 1.3°C | 173 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1988 | 19.8°C | 13.7°C | 7.6°C | 25.8°C | 1.0°C | 80 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1987 | 19.7°C | 13.3°C | 6.9°C | 28.2°C | -0.8°C | 45 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1986 | 20.7°C | 14.7°C | 8.6°C | 27.4°C | -2.9°C | 104 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1985 | 19.7°C | 13.4°C | 7.1°C | 26.7°C | -2.0°C | 71 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1984 🌧️ | 17.2°C | 11.2°C | 5.3°C | 25.5°C | -0.2°C | 225 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1983 | 17.3°C | 11.5°C | 5.7°C | 24.6°C | -1.2°C | 165 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.4°C | 14.1°C | 7.9°C | 29.5°C | 1.7°C | 69 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 20.3°C | 13.2°C | 6.2°C | 26.7°C | -1.1°C | 90 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 19.7°C with lows near 7.4°C (mean 13.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 103 mm of rainfall in Schenectady, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 225 mm in 1984.
The hottest May reached 31.2°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to -2.9°C in 1986.
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 19°C to 20.5°C and overnight lows from 6.4°C to 8.4°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Schenectady and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 19.7°C daytime highs and 7.4°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Schenectady, averaging 13.6°C.
For May in Schenectady, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 19.7°C and lows of 7.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.1 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.1 m/s (1981).
The wettest May on record was 1984 with 225 mm. On average, May sees 103 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 Schenectady 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.
