May is one of the warmer months of the year in Yakima, with average highs near 18.7°C and lows around 5.4°C (mean 12.1°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 38 mm of rainfall and 62% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Yakima. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Yakima was 2018 — when the month averaged 15.9°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 8.6°C. Typical May days reach 18.7°C with nights near 5.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
May is one of the drier months in Yakima, averaging 38 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2011 with 66 mm, while the driest was 2021 at 8 mm.
Relative humidity in Yakima during May averages 62%. The most humid May was 1998 at 70%, and the least humid was 2021 at 54%.
May receives about 5.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Yakima. The sunniest Mays were 2001, 2007 and 2009, among others at 6.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1988 and 1991 at 5.1.
Average wind speed in Yakima during May is 1.8 m/s. The windiest May was 2024 at 2 m/s, while the calmest was 2017 at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.2°C | 11.8°C | 12.2°C | 12.7°C | 12.2°C | +1°C |
| Avg High | 17.7°C | 18.2°C | 19.0°C | 19.4°C | 19.1°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Low | 4.6°C | 5.4°C | 5.5°C | 6.1°C | 5.4°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 43 mm | 45 mm | 32 mm | 38 mm | 28 mm | -15 mm |
May temperatures in Yakima have risen by about 1.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -2.8°C (1999) to a record high of 34.9°C (1986).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 38 mm, with a wettest year of 66 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.5°C per decade while lows rose 0.3°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Yakima
May is a good time to visit Yakima, with days averaging 18.7°C and nights around 5.4°C (mean 12.1°C, warmer than Yakima's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. August and July 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 | 18.7°C | 11.4°C | 4.1°C | 27.5°C | -1.0°C | 21 mm | 62% | 1.7 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2024 | 18.3°C | 11.2°C | 4.1°C | 28.0°C | -2.1°C | 23 mm | 61% | 2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2023 | 22.5°C | 15.8°C | 9.1°C | 30.2°C | 3.5°C | 21 mm | 59% | 1.6 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2022 | 16.2°C | 9.8°C | 3.5°C | 21.9°C | -1.3°C | 46 mm | 65% | 1.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2021 | 19.9°C | 12.8°C | 5.7°C | 29.8°C | 0.6°C | 8 mm | 54% | 1.9 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2020 | 19.2°C | 12.4°C | 5.7°C | 30.1°C | -0.7°C | 49 mm | 61% | 1.9 m/s | 6 |
| 2019 | 21.0°C | 14.1°C | 7.3°C | 28.5°C | 0.5°C | 32 mm | 59% | 1.8 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2018 🔥 | 22.7°C | 15.9°C | 9.0°C | 29.0°C | 3.5°C | 16 mm | 58% | 1.7 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2017 | 19.7°C | 12.8°C | 6.0°C | 29.0°C | -0.4°C | 27 mm | 62% | 1.5 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2016 | 20.5°C | 13.8°C | 7.0°C | 27.6°C | 3.4°C | 30 mm | 60% | 1.9 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2015 | 21.0°C | 14.4°C | 7.9°C | 27.7°C | 2.2°C | 43 mm | 59% | 1.6 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2014 | 20.1°C | 13.5°C | 6.8°C | 29.3°C | 2.6°C | 23 mm | 59% | 1.8 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2013 | 19.6°C | 12.9°C | 6.2°C | 30.5°C | -2.3°C | 53 mm | 60% | 1.6 m/s | 6 |
| 2012 | 18.0°C | 11.3°C | 4.6°C | 29.2°C | -1.5°C | 26 mm | 57% | 1.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2011 🌧️ | 15.7°C | 9.2°C | 2.8°C | 22.6°C | -1.3°C | 66 mm | 65% | 1.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2010 | 15.3°C | 9.4°C | 3.5°C | 23.8°C | -0.9°C | 62 mm | 65% | 1.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2009 | 19.6°C | 12.3°C | 5.0°C | 30.5°C | -1.3°C | 42 mm | 58% | 1.9 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2008 | 19.2°C | 12.6°C | 6.0°C | 31.4°C | -1.5°C | 30 mm | 61% | 1.8 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2007 | 20.1°C | 12.6°C | 5.0°C | 29.5°C | -1.3°C | 15 mm | 58% | 1.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2006 | 19.6°C | 12.8°C | 5.9°C | 32.7°C | -2.3°C | 42 mm | 59% | 1.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2005 | 19.9°C | 13.3°C | 6.8°C | 29.9°C | 1.9°C | 58 mm | 62% | 1.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2004 | 18.3°C | 12.4°C | 6.5°C | 25.2°C | 3.7°C | 36 mm | 64% | 1.7 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2003 | 17.6°C | 11.3°C | 5.0°C | 28.7°C | -1.0°C | 16 mm | 62% | 1.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2002 | 17.5°C | 10.9°C | 4.4°C | 23.5°C | -2.1°C | 23 mm | 60% | 1.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2001 | 20.9°C | 13.2°C | 5.4°C | 32.1°C | -1.2°C | 15 mm | 54% | 1.8 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2000 | 17.0°C | 10.8°C | 4.6°C | 23.7°C | -1.9°C | 47 mm | 65% | 1.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1999 | 15.7°C | 9.3°C | 2.8°C | 28.5°C | -2.8°C | 42 mm | 64% | 1.8 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1998 | 17.3°C | 11.6°C | 5.9°C | 26.0°C | 1.6°C | 63 mm | 70% | 1.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1997 | 19.7°C | 13.3°C | 7.0°C | 29.5°C | 0.1°C | 32 mm | 66% | 1.6 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1996 | 15.3°C | 9.2°C | 3.1°C | 23.2°C | -2.6°C | 56 mm | 69% | 1.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1995 | 19.0°C | 12.7°C | 6.4°C | 27.9°C | 0.1°C | 31 mm | 64% | 1.7 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1994 | 19.3°C | 12.7°C | 6.1°C | 28.0°C | 0.0°C | 48 mm | 63% | 1.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1993 | 20.6°C | 14.0°C | 7.4°C | 28.3°C | 0.5°C | 51 mm | 65% | 1.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1992 | 21.9°C | 14.4°C | 6.9°C | 30.1°C | -1.0°C | 15 mm | 55% | 1.6 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1991 | 16.4°C | 10.3°C | 4.2°C | 21.9°C | -0.4°C | 50 mm | 67% | 1.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1990 | 16.7°C | 10.6°C | 4.6°C | 26.7°C | 0.7°C | 61 mm | 66% | 1.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1989 | 17.7°C | 11.1°C | 4.6°C | 25.2°C | -0.1°C | 46 mm | 66% | 1.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1988 | 17.4°C | 10.6°C | 3.8°C | 27.1°C | -2.2°C | 52 mm | 63% | 1.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1987 | 19.5°C | 12.7°C | 5.9°C | 30.6°C | 0.9°C | 44 mm | 63% | 1.9 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1986 | 17.9°C | 11.6°C | 5.3°C | 34.9°C | -1.7°C | 46 mm | 66% | 1.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1985 | 18.7°C | 11.9°C | 5.1°C | 26.9°C | -1.6°C | 24 mm | 62% | 1.8 m/s | 6 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 14.6°C | 8.6°C | 2.7°C | 27.5°C | -1.3°C | 61 mm | 69% | 1.9 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 19.3°C | 12.7°C | 6.0°C | 31.4°C | 1.1°C | 44 mm | 65% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 17.1°C | 10.6°C | 4.0°C | 26.0°C | -2.0°C | 27 mm | 64% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.4°C | 10.8°C | 4.3°C | 26.3°C | -0.5°C | 41 mm | 63% | 1.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 18.7°C with lows near 5.4°C (mean 12.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 38 mm of rainfall in Yakima, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 66 mm in 2011.
The hottest May reached 34.9°C in 1986. The coldest dipped to -2.8°C in 1999.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 17.4°C to 19.1°C and overnight lows from 4.4°C to 5.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Yakima and one of the drier months, so plan for around 18.7°C daytime highs and 5.4°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Yakima, averaging 12.1°C.
For May in Yakima, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 18.7°C and lows of 5.4°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 62% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1.8 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 2 m/s (2024).
The wettest May on record was 2011 with 66 mm. On average, May sees 38 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 Yakima 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.
