Hottest (avg)
#5 / 12
Sits around the middle of the year.
May in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Phoenix.
Wettest (avg)
#11 / 12
One of the drier months.
Daylight Hours
#3 / 12
Long daylight hours.
Windiest (avg)
#2 / 12
Among the windier months.
Highest UV
#3 / 12
UV runs high compared with most months.
Most Humid
#11 / 12
One of the less humid months.
Monthly climate breakdown
A detailed look at the typical climate conditions for May.
Thermal profile
Temperature
Typical daytime high
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Light window
Sunshine
13.9 h
Average daylight
- UV index (max)
- 9
- Typical sun hours
- 05:27 - 19:21
Wet-day pattern
Rain & Snow
Typical rainfall
- Rainy days
- 1 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 19%
Air feel
Humidity & Wind
18%
Average humidity
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Historical daily baseline
Daily climate explorer
Pick a day to inspect the usual conditions through May in Phoenix. Based on a 30-year historical climate baseline, not a forecast.
Primary control
Select a day
Scroll to compare daily conditions. The summary updates with your selection.
Secondary context
Monthly trend
Median daytime highs across the month, with a softer low line.
Median temperatureMedian lowTypical range
Day 15 selected for May. Temperature 37.1°C.
Historical disruption baseline
Typical disruptions in May
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in May.
Heat High impact
Hot days Measures: Hot days (>=30C). Observed about 84% of days (26.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
26.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~84% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~41°C (P95)
Why this matters
Hot days are possible on ~26 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat High impact
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 56% of days (17.3 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
17.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~56% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~40°C (P95)
Why this matters
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~17 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat High impact
Very hot days Measures: Very hot days (>=35C). Observed about 49% of days (15.3 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
15.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~49% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~42°C (P95)
Why this matters
Very hot days are possible on ~15 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat High impact
Very hot feels-like Measures: Very hot feels-like days (>=35C). Observed about 29% of days (8.9 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
8.9 days / month
- Share of days
- ~29% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~40°C (P95)
Why this matters
Very hot feels-like conditions are possible on ~9 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat High impact
Extreme heat days Measures: Extreme heat days (>=40C). Observed about 7% of days (2.1 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.1 days / month
- Share of days
- ~7% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~43°C (P95)
Why this matters
Extreme heat is possible on ~2 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat Moderate
Heatwave run Measures: Heatwave runs (>=3 hot days). Observed about 2.3 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.3 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~39°C (P95)
Why this matters
Heatwave runs are possible on ~2 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Show all disruptions (12 more)
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~28mm (P95)
Why this matters
Washout conditions are possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Heat Moderate
Feels-like heatwave Measures: Feels-like heatwave runs (>=3 days). Observed about 2.1 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.1 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~39°C (P95)
Why this matters
Feels-like heatwave runs are possible on ~2 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Rain Moderate
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~27mm (P95)
Why this matters
Rain disruption risk appears on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 26% of days (8.0 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
8.0 days / month
- Share of days
- ~26% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~56km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Gusty conditions are possible on ~8 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Heat Minor
Warm nights Measures: Warm nights (min >=22C). Observed about 20% of days (6.3 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
6.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~20% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~27°C (P95)
Why this matters
Warm nights are possible on ~6 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 9% of days (2.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.8 days / month
- Share of days
- ~9% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~96% (P95)
Why this matters
Cloudy skies are possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~5% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~7.1mm (P95)
Why this matters
Measurable rain is possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Heat Minor
Hot nights Measures: Hot nights (min >=25C). Observed about 4% of days (1.1 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.1 days / month
- Share of days
- ~4% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~28°C (P95)
Why this matters
Hot nights are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 3% of days (0.9 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.9 days / month
- Share of days
- ~3% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~98% (P95)
Why this matters
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~2% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~13h (P95)
Why this matters
Several rainy hours are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~15h (P95)
Why this matters
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~99% (P95)
Why this matters
Overcast skies are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Travel planning FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.
Is May a good time to visit Phoenix?
Typical May days in Phoenix reach highs of 34°C (93°F) with nights around 19°C (66°F). It usually feels very hot by day and mild after dark. It is one of the drier months, which suits outdoor exploring and sightseeing.
What are temperatures like in May?
Daytime temperatures in May typically peak near 34°C (93°F), while nights drop to around 19°C (66°F). Expect very hot afternoons and mild evenings.
How much does it rain in May?
Rainfall in May averages 3 mm (0.12 in) across roughly 1 days. Overall it is a mostly dry time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in May?
You can expect about 14 hours of daylight in May. Sunrise is typically around 05:27 and sunset near 19:21. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.
How strong is the sun in May?
UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 9), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.
Is it windy in May?
In May, average wind speeds are around 10 km/h (6 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 46 km/h (29 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.