Boston weather in May
Boston in May averages 15°C (59°F), 83 mm of rain and 7.4 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Boston, May is the fifth warmest, the fourth driest and the fourth sunniest.
- Average temp
- 15°C (59°F)
10–19°C · 50–67°F
- Rainfall
- 83 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 7.4 h
hours per day
- Wind
- 18 km/h
What is Boston like in May?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Boston in May?
A light rain jacket
About 83 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 10°C (50°F).
May compared with April and June
May in Boston is 5.6°C warmer than April and about as wet as it, which averages 9°C (49°F).
May in Boston is 5.3°C cooler than June and 16 mm drier than it, which averages 20°C (68°F).
Daylight in Boston in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 14 hours 37 minutes in Boston, rising about 05:22 and setting about 19:59 local time.
May ends 58 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 39 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Boston
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Boston
What to read before you book.
Boston weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C / 30°F | 84 mm |
| February | 0°C / 32°F | 79 mm |
| March | 4°C / 38°F | 105 mm |
| April | 9°C / 49°F | 91 mm |
| May | 15°C / 59°F | 83 mm |
| June | 20°C / 68°F | 99 mm |
| July | 24°C / 74°F | 82 mm |
| August | 23°C / 73°F | 80 mm |
| September | 19°C / 66°F | 90 mm |
| October | 13°C / 55°F | 101 mm |
| November | 7°C / 45°F | 93 mm |
| December | 2°C / 36°F | 107 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Boston in May
May climate averages for Boston, 1991–2020.
Boston averages 15°C (59°F) in May, ranging from about 10°C (50°F) at night to 19°C (67°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 83 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. May averages 15°C (59°F) against 20°C (68°F) in June — 5.3°C cooler.
May is 5.6°C warmer than April, and about as wet.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, May to October, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 7.4 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 14 hours 37 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 15 hours 16 minutes in June and 9 hours 6 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 05:22 and sunset about 19:59 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 58 minutes longer than it starts.
