Philadelphia weather in May
Philadelphia in May averages 18°C (65°F), 86 mm of rain and 8.6 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Philadelphia, May is the fifth warmest, the fourth driest and the third sunniest.
- Average temp
- 18°C (65°F)
13–24°C · 55–74°F
- Rainfall
- 86 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
hours per day
- Wind
- 14 km/h
What is Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia in May?
High-factor sun cream
With 8.6 hours of sun a day, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
A light rain jacket
About 86 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A layer for the evening
The day swings about 11°C between its low and its high.
May compared with April and June
May in Philadelphia is 5.5°C warmer than April and about as wet as it, which averages 13°C (55°F).
May in Philadelphia is 5.1°C cooler than June and 17 mm drier than it, which averages 23°C (74°F).
Daylight in Philadelphia in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 14 hours 25 minutes in Philadelphia, rising about 05:45 and setting about 20:09 local time.
May ends 53 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 35 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Philadelphia
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Philadelphia
What to read before you book.
Philadelphia 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 / 34°F | 79 mm |
| February | 2°C / 36°F | 69 mm |
| March | 7°C / 44°F | 101 mm |
| April | 13°C / 55°F | 88 mm |
| May | 18°C / 65°F | 86 mm |
| June | 23°C / 74°F | 103 mm |
| July | 26°C / 79°F | 111 mm |
| August | 25°C / 77°F | 109 mm |
| September | 21°C / 70°F | 112 mm |
| October | 15°C / 58°F | 88 mm |
| November | 9°C / 48°F | 74 mm |
| December | 4°C / 39°F | 101 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Philadelphia in May
May climate averages for Philadelphia, 1991–2020.
Philadelphia averages 18°C (65°F) in May, ranging from about 13°C (55°F) at night to 24°C (74°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 86 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. May averages 18°C (65°F) against 23°C (74°F) in June — 5.1°C cooler.
May is 5.5°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 8.6 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average — among the brighter months anywhere.
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 25 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 15 hours in June and 9 hours 21 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 05:45 and sunset about 20:09 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 53 minutes longer than it starts.
