May is one of the warmer months of the year in State College, with average highs near 19.6°C and lows around 7.8°C (mean 13.7°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 104 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in State College. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in State College was 2012 — when the month averaged 17.2°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 10°C. Typical May days reach 19.6°C with nights near 7.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
May is a relatively wet time of year in State College, averaging 104 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2025 with 206 mm, while the driest was 2023 at 21 mm.
Relative humidity in State College during May averages 79%. The most humid May was 2011 at 85%, and the least humid was 2023 at 69%.
May receives about 5.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in State College. The sunniest May was 2007 at 6.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2003 at 3.9.
Average wind speed in State College during May is 0.1 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2022, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.1 m/s, while the calmest were 2019, 2020 and 2025, among others at 0 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 13.0°C | 13.0°C | 13.4°C | 15.2°C | 13.8°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg High | 19.1°C | 18.9°C | 19.5°C | 20.9°C | 19.5°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Low | 7.0°C | 7.0°C | 7.3°C | 9.5°C | 8.0°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 118 mm | 87 mm | 96 mm | 113 mm | 109 mm | -10 mm |
May temperatures in State College have risen by about 1.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -4.6°C (2020) to a record high of 35°C (2006).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 104 mm, with a wettest year of 206 mm.
A good time to visit State College
May is a good time to visit State College, with days averaging 19.6°C and nights around 7.8°C (mean 13.7°C, warmer than State College'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 🌧️ | 19.1°C | 13.9°C | 8.7°C | 26.6°C | 2.0°C | 206 mm | 82% | 0 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2024 | 21.5°C | 16.2°C | 11.0°C | 27.4°C | 3.7°C | 125 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2023 | 20.0°C | 13.1°C | 6.2°C | 28.4°C | -1.3°C | 21 mm | 69% | 0.1 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2022 | 20.6°C | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 28.2°C | -0.1°C | 131 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2021 | 18.9°C | 12.9°C | 6.9°C | 27.7°C | -1.2°C | 105 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2020 | 17.2°C | 11.8°C | 6.5°C | 27.0°C | -4.6°C | 64 mm | 79% | 0 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2019 | 20.7°C | 15.3°C | 9.9°C | 25.5°C | 3.2°C | 166 mm | 83% | 0 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2018 | 22.8°C | 17.1°C | 11.5°C | 28.6°C | 0.6°C | 136 mm | 84% | 0 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2017 | 18.4°C | 13.0°C | 7.6°C | 27.1°C | -3.1°C | 150 mm | 80% | 0 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2016 | 19.1°C | 13.6°C | 8.1°C | 29.6°C | 0.8°C | 82 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2015 | 23.4°C | 17.0°C | 10.6°C | 28.4°C | -0.9°C | 60 mm | 74% | 0 m/s | 6 |
| 2014 | 19.8°C | 14.1°C | 8.3°C | 25.5°C | 0.5°C | 120 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2013 | 20.1°C | 14.2°C | 8.2°C | 28.5°C | -1.8°C | 58 mm | 77% | 0 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2012 🔥 | 22.9°C | 17.2°C | 11.4°C | 29.6°C | 2.1°C | 125 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2011 | 20.5°C | 15.4°C | 10.2°C | 28.7°C | 1.4°C | 114 mm | 85% | 0 m/s | 5 |
| 2010 | 20.9°C | 14.9°C | 9.0°C | 28.3°C | -2.4°C | 116 mm | 78% | 0 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2009 | 19.3°C | 13.6°C | 7.8°C | 25.9°C | -1.2°C | 92 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2008 | 17.5°C | 11.5°C | 5.6°C | 25.3°C | -0.4°C | 102 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2007 | 21.8°C | 14.6°C | 7.4°C | 32.0°C | 0.8°C | 65 mm | 75% | 0.1 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2006 | 19.3°C | 13.3°C | 7.2°C | 35.0°C | -0.7°C | 69 mm | 75% | 0.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2005 | 17.1°C | 11.1°C | 5.0°C | 25.0°C | -1.5°C | 52 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2004 | 22.2°C | 16.4°C | 10.7°C | 26.9°C | -0.6°C | 154 mm | 83% | 0 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2003 | 17.3°C | 12.4°C | 7.4°C | 23.4°C | 2.3°C | 125 mm | 84% | 0 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2002 | 18.5°C | 12.1°C | 5.7°C | 25.8°C | -3.4°C | 144 mm | 77% | 0 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2001 | 20.9°C | 14.3°C | 7.7°C | 28.6°C | 0.8°C | 64 mm | 70% | 0.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2000 | 20.9°C | 14.8°C | 8.8°C | 27.0°C | 1.4°C | 90 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1999 | 21.2°C | 14.6°C | 8.0°C | 29.1°C | 2.2°C | 52 mm | 71% | 0.1 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1998 | 21.0°C | 15.7°C | 10.3°C | 30.0°C | 4.5°C | 102 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 16.0°C | 10.0°C | 4.0°C | 24.4°C | -2.9°C | 109 mm | 77% | 0 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1996 | 17.5°C | 11.8°C | 6.0°C | 27.1°C | -3.5°C | 96 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1995 | 18.1°C | 12.3°C | 6.5°C | 24.5°C | -1.5°C | 136 mm | 78% | 0 m/s | 5 |
| 1994 | 17.3°C | 10.9°C | 4.5°C | 25.7°C | -1.5°C | 78 mm | 78% | 0 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1993 | 19.8°C | 13.5°C | 7.2°C | 26.6°C | 1.3°C | 56 mm | 78% | 0 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1992 | 18.7°C | 12.4°C | 6.1°C | 26.9°C | 0.0°C | 55 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1991 | 22.6°C | 16.7°C | 10.8°C | 27.5°C | 1.0°C | 51 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 6 |
| 1990 | 17.1°C | 11.6°C | 6.1°C | 22.8°C | 1.1°C | 136 mm | 80% | 0 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1989 | 17.1°C | 12.0°C | 6.9°C | 25.4°C | 0.6°C | 190 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1988 | 19.7°C | 13.6°C | 7.6°C | 27.1°C | -0.6°C | 101 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1987 | 20.6°C | 14.1°C | 7.6°C | 28.1°C | -2.1°C | 89 mm | 81% | 0 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1986 | 20.0°C | 14.1°C | 8.2°C | 26.5°C | -3.5°C | 58 mm | 80% | 0 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1985 | 19.8°C | 13.7°C | 7.6°C | 24.7°C | -2.3°C | 125 mm | 80% | 0 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1984 | 16.6°C | 11.3°C | 6.0°C | 24.2°C | -0.5°C | 159 mm | 82% | 0 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1983 | 17.5°C | 11.2°C | 5.0°C | 23.5°C | -4.1°C | 131 mm | 79% | 0 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 21.2°C | 14.9°C | 8.6°C | 25.4°C | 0.8°C | 132 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 19.1°C | 12.5°C | 5.9°C | 25.2°C | -2.9°C | 80 mm | 75% | 0.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 19.6°C with lows near 7.8°C (mean 13.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 104 mm of rainfall in State College, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 206 mm in 2025.
The hottest May reached 35°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to -4.6°C in 2020.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 18.8°C to 20°C and overnight lows from 6.6°C to 8.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in State College and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 19.6°C daytime highs and 7.8°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in State College, averaging 13.7°C.
For May in State College, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 19.6°C and lows of 7.8°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 2025 with 206 mm. On average, May sees 104 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 State College 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.
