May is one of the warmer months of the year in Erie, with average highs near 17.3°C and lows around 8.3°C (mean 12.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 90 mm of rainfall and 78% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Erie. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Erie was 2012 — when the month averaged 16.3°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 8.9°C. Typical May days reach 17.3°C with nights near 8.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Erie, averaging 90 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2004 with 172 mm, while the driest was 2023 at 34 mm.
Relative humidity in Erie during May averages 78%. The most humid May was 2011 at 86%, and the least humid was 2021 at 70%.
May receives about 5.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Erie. The sunniest May was 2023 at 6.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 4.5.
Average wind speed in Erie during May is 1 m/s. The windiest May was 1997 at 1.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1982 at 0.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 12.3°C | 12.0°C | 12.4°C | 14.1°C | 13.4°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 16.7°C | 16.6°C | 16.9°C | 18.5°C | 17.8°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Low | 7.9°C | 7.5°C | 7.9°C | 9.7°C | 9.0°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 103 mm | 79 mm | 94 mm | 98 mm | 73 mm | -30 mm |
May temperatures in Erie have risen by about 1.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -2°C (2020) to a record high of 29.5°C (2006).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 90 mm, with a wettest year of 172 mm.
A good time to visit Erie
May is a good time to visit Erie, with days averaging 17.3°C and nights around 8.3°C (mean 12.8°C, warmer than Erie'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 | 16.6°C | 12.8°C | 8.9°C | 25.2°C | 2.9°C | 108 mm | 82% | 1.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2024 | 20.1°C | 15.8°C | 11.5°C | 27.5°C | 6.0°C | 71 mm | 78% | 0.9 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2023 | 17.6°C | 12.6°C | 7.6°C | 26.5°C | 1.2°C | 34 mm | 71% | 1 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2022 | 19.1°C | 14.6°C | 10.2°C | 26.2°C | 2.3°C | 99 mm | 79% | 0.9 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2021 | 17.5°C | 13.1°C | 8.6°C | 29.1°C | 1.0°C | 51 mm | 70% | 1.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 15.6°C | 11.5°C | 7.5°C | 27.6°C | -2.0°C | 74 mm | 79% | 1.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2019 | 17.2°C | 12.7°C | 8.3°C | 24.0°C | 3.8°C | 84 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2018 | 20.2°C | 15.5°C | 10.9°C | 28.2°C | 3.4°C | 102 mm | 82% | 0.8 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2017 | 16.1°C | 12.3°C | 8.5°C | 23.5°C | 0.6°C | 122 mm | 81% | 1.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2016 | 17.4°C | 13.2°C | 9.0°C | 28.8°C | 2.6°C | 45 mm | 77% | 0.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2015 | 20.3°C | 15.4°C | 10.6°C | 27.1°C | 3.5°C | 108 mm | 76% | 0.9 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2014 | 17.2°C | 12.9°C | 8.7°C | 24.2°C | 1.2°C | 99 mm | 81% | 0.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2013 | 18.8°C | 14.1°C | 9.4°C | 26.4°C | 0.8°C | 92 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2012 🔥 | 21.2°C | 16.3°C | 11.4°C | 28.4°C | 5.3°C | 74 mm | 76% | 0.8 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2011 | 17.4°C | 13.5°C | 9.6°C | 26.1°C | 2.5°C | 153 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 5 |
| 2010 | 18.9°C | 14.6°C | 10.3°C | 26.8°C | 0.9°C | 105 mm | 78% | 1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2009 | 17.4°C | 12.9°C | 8.5°C | 23.0°C | 2.0°C | 61 mm | 74% | 1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2008 | 14.9°C | 10.7°C | 6.5°C | 22.2°C | 0.8°C | 74 mm | 78% | 1.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2007 | 18.8°C | 13.5°C | 8.2°C | 28.0°C | 2.3°C | 54 mm | 75% | 0.9 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2006 | 17.8°C | 13.2°C | 8.7°C | 29.5°C | 1.9°C | 86 mm | 76% | 1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2005 | 15.2°C | 11.0°C | 6.7°C | 23.2°C | -0.1°C | 43 mm | 76% | 1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 19.0°C | 14.6°C | 10.1°C | 26.6°C | 0.7°C | 172 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2003 | 15.4°C | 11.2°C | 7.1°C | 20.6°C | 2.1°C | 137 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | 5 |
| 2002 | 14.9°C | 10.2°C | 5.5°C | 22.3°C | -0.8°C | 122 mm | 79% | 1.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2001 | 17.4°C | 12.8°C | 8.2°C | 23.4°C | 2.6°C | 89 mm | 76% | 0.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2000 | 18.0°C | 13.7°C | 9.4°C | 24.4°C | 3.7°C | 99 mm | 80% | 1 m/s | 5 |
| 1999 | 19.1°C | 14.1°C | 9.1°C | 26.4°C | 4.4°C | 79 mm | 73% | 1 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1998 | 20.2°C | 15.9°C | 11.6°C | 28.7°C | 6.6°C | 66 mm | 78% | 0.9 m/s | 6 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 13.0°C | 8.9°C | 4.8°C | 20.1°C | 0.4°C | 110 mm | 79% | 1.3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1996 | 15.0°C | 10.7°C | 6.4°C | 23.0°C | -0.2°C | 94 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1995 | 15.7°C | 11.3°C | 6.9°C | 22.0°C | 0.2°C | 99 mm | 77% | 0.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1994 | 14.8°C | 10.1°C | 5.4°C | 22.3°C | 0.7°C | 53 mm | 76% | 1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1993 | 16.5°C | 11.8°C | 7.2°C | 25.1°C | 2.6°C | 38 mm | 77% | 0.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1992 | 16.9°C | 11.6°C | 6.2°C | 23.8°C | 0.1°C | 58 mm | 75% | 0.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1991 | 20.2°C | 15.6°C | 11.0°C | 26.9°C | 1.9°C | 50 mm | 80% | 0.9 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1990 | 14.4°C | 10.4°C | 6.4°C | 20.3°C | 1.8°C | 141 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1989 | 14.6°C | 11.0°C | 7.3°C | 23.7°C | 0.2°C | 162 mm | 83% | 1 m/s | 5 |
| 1988 | 17.3°C | 12.4°C | 7.5°C | 23.7°C | 1.0°C | 72 mm | 77% | 0.9 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1987 | 19.0°C | 13.9°C | 8.9°C | 26.5°C | 0.6°C | 61 mm | 77% | 0.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1986 | 17.4°C | 13.2°C | 8.9°C | 23.1°C | -0.5°C | 102 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1985 | 17.3°C | 12.9°C | 8.4°C | 23.0°C | 1.6°C | 86 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1984 | 13.8°C | 10.0°C | 6.3°C | 22.3°C | 1.2°C | 156 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1983 | 15.0°C | 10.5°C | 6.0°C | 20.4°C | -0.9°C | 111 mm | 79% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 19.7°C | 14.8°C | 9.8°C | 26.9°C | 3.4°C | 113 mm | 78% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.4°C | 12.1°C | 7.7°C | 23.6°C | 1.0°C | 62 mm | 75% | 1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 17.3°C with lows near 8.3°C (mean 12.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 90 mm of rainfall in Erie, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 172 mm in 2004.
The hottest May reached 29.5°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to -2°C in 2020.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 16.4°C to 18.2°C and overnight lows from 7.6°C to 9.4°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Erie and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 17.3°C daytime highs and 8.3°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Erie, averaging 12.8°C.
For May in Erie, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 17.3°C and lows of 8.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 78% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 1.3 m/s (1997).
The wettest May on record was 2004 with 172 mm. On average, May sees 90 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 Erie 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.
