Temperature
Pleasant by day, brisk at night.
76°Ftypical May high
Typical range
May climate
May in Washington, D.C.
United States · North America
Warm days with cooler nights and plenty of sun.
Good overall
Some afternoons can feel hot.
Daytime high
76°F
Lows around 57°F
Rain
Several rainy days
Sun
10.5 h/day
Air feel
Comfortable
When to visit
Month-by-month fit
Best
Precipitation
Several rainy days. About 11 wet days, more than in most months.
36%wet-day frequency
Precip amountWet-day chanceSnowfall
Sunshine
A mix of sunshine and cloud.
10.5 hMay sunshine
Heat & humidity by month
LowMay Heat feel
Easy airWarm airHot airHumid airVery humid air
Hourly temperature pattern
In May, afternoons feel about 70° and nights feel near 55°.
FreezingVery coldColdCoolComfortableWarmHotNight hours
Clear sky
Partly cloudy skies this month.
41%May Clear sky
Clear skyCloud
Wind pattern
Calm winds are typical in May.
6 mphMay Light breeze
More detailIncludes daypart comfort
Typical May day
May late afternoons are around 73°F, easing to about 68°F in early evening.
Avg temp Typical range
Morning67°F
Rain16%
Cloud62%
Humid airLow
Sun intensityModerate
Midday73°F
Rain19%
Cloud66%
Humid airLow
Sun intensityStrong
Late afternoon73°F
Rain20%
Cloud67%
Humid airLow
Sun intensityModerate
Early evening68°F
Rain15%
Cloud61%
Humid airLow
Sun intensityMinimal
Best windowData tableView month-by-month numbers
View month-by-month numbers
| Month | High°F | Low°F | Rainin | Wet days | Sunh | Humidity% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43 | 29 | 3.1 | 9 | 6.7 | 64 |
| Feb | 47 | 31 | 2.9 | 9 | 7.6 | 62 |
| Mar | 55 | 37 | 3.9 | 10 | 8.3 | 59 |
| Apr | 67 | 47 | 3.4 | 10 | 9.5 | 60 |
| May | 76 | 57 | 3.7 | 11 | 10.5 | 66 |
| Jun | 84 | 66 | 3.6 | 12 | 11.5 | 66 |
| Jul | 88 | 71 | 4.1 | 13 | 11.8 | 66 |
| Aug | 86 | 69 | 3.5 | 11 | 10.9 | 69 |
| Sep | 79 | 62 | 4.3 | 10 | 9.3 | 71 |
| Oct | 68 | 50 | 3.4 | 8 | 8.0 | 71 |
| Nov | 57 | 40 | 2.9 | 8 | 7.2 | 66 |
| Dec | 47 | 33 | 3.5 | 9 | 6.4 | 68 |
Similar climates
Similar
Similar travel styleNew York CityUnited StatesSimilar travel styleBostonUnited StatesSimilar travel styleMexico CityMexicoSimilar travel styleIstanbulTurkey
Want a side-by-side climate view? Compare Washington, D.C. with New York City.
Climate data notePlanning guidance, not a forecast
Typical monthly values are based on long-term climate records. Useful for planning, not a forecast. Check the weather before you travel.
Sunshine: source type is not yet identified at metric level.
Local microclimates can vary by beach, neighborhood, trail, or elevation.
Last updated: Aug 26, 2026
Data & methodology