Weather for Detroit in May is typically good with an average maximum temperature of +21°C during the day, and approximately 7 sunny days monthly. Typically, there are about 14 rainy days with the total average precipitation that falls in May around 97 mm. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+21°C
Avg. max. temperature
-1°C
Min.
+33°C
Max.
97 mm
Total precipitation
64%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
7 ☀️
Sunny Days
7 ⛅️
Cloudy
14 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Detroit has good weather in May.
Average temperature in Detroit in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Detroit for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in May is +22°C with a maximum of +31°C and a minimum of +2°C.
The average maximum temperature goes up 72% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +10°C to +31°C.
Is Detroit warm or cold in May?
Detroit is typically mild in May.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +14°C to +21°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +4°C to +11°C.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Detroit:
Water temperature in Detroit in May
Water in Detroit in May is Cold. It varies from +4°C to +11°C, with an average of +8°C.The air temperature averaging +21°C is higher than the water temperature.
In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Detroit are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +23°C. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +1°C.
Can you swim in Detroit in May?
We would not recommend swimming in Detroit in May, the water is very cold (+8°C on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Detroit in May
Detroit weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+14°C
+21°C
+26°C
Min. temperature
-14°C
-1°C
+3°C
Max. temperature
+30°C
+33°C
+39°C
Rainfall
86 mm
97 mm
98 mm
Wind
4 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+4°C
+8°C
+15°C
Humidity
64%
64%
65%
Air pressure
1014 HPa
1014 HPa
1013 HPa
Sunny days
6
7
7
Cloudy days
7
7
6
Rainy days
13
14
12
Snowy days
2
0
0
May often has better weather than April.It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +14°C to +21°C during the day.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 86 mm to 97 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 64%.Winds are calmer in comparison to April, going down from 4 m/s to 3 m/s on average.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in May, from 6 to 7.
June brings much the same weather, it remains good.
Wind speed in Detroit in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 8 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Detroit is gradually decreasing during May, going from 5 m/s to 4 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Detroit based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 36 mm, with a 23% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 10 mm, which is considered light rain.On average, there are about 7 rainy days during May, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
May is one of the rainiest months in Detroit, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Detroit wettest month is August, where a typical day has a 39% chance of precipitation and 114 mm of rainfall per day. January, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 10% chance of precipitation and 26 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last May in Detroit?
This is the weather in Detroit in May 2023:
1 May
🌧️
+10°C
2 May
🌧️
+7°C
3 May
🌧️
+11°C
4 May
☁️
+16°C
5 May
☀️
+20°C
6 May
☀️
+20°C
7 May
🌧️
+25°C
8 May
☁️
+21°C
9 May
☀️
+20°C
10 May
☀️
+24°C
11 May
☀️
+27°C
12 May
☀️
+27°C
13 May
☁️
+24°C
14 May
☀️
+20°C
15 May
☀️
+24°C
16 May
☀️
+26°C
17 May
☀️
+15°C
18 May
☀️
+18°C
19 May
☀️
+26°C
20 May
☁️
+19°C
21 May
☀️
+26°C
22 May
☀️
+24°C
23 May
☀️
+26°C
24 May
☀️
+24°C
25 May
☀️
+17°C
26 May
☀️
+22°C
27 May
☀️
+25°C
28 May
☀️
+27°C
29 May
☀️
+30°C
30 May
☀️
+31°C
31 May
☀️
+31°C
In May 2023 Detroit had 23 sunny days, 4 cloudy days, and 4 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +22°C, with an absolute maximum of +31°C and a minimum of +7°C. The average humidity was 66%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 32%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change over Years
This is how Detroit climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in Detroit in May has not changed much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1992 (+13°C) and the highest in 1998 (+17°C). The driest year was 1999 with only 460 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1977 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Detroit in May:
Is May a good time to visit Detroit?
May is a really good time to go to Detroit. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit Detroit.
Can you sunbathe in Detroit in May?
May has mild temperatures in Detroit. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in Detroit in May?
Swimming in Detroit in May is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Detroit rainy in May?
Detroit is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Detroit in May?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Detroit in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Detroit, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.