Brownsville weather in May

In May, Brownsville sees average daytime highs of 87°F and overnight lows near 74°F, with 1.8 in of rain across 7 wet days and about 13.2 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 86°F in the first days to 89°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 13 hours at the start of May to 13 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Brownsville's 5th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Brownsville's year-round climate.

Daytime high
87°
5th warmest
Overnight low
74°
8th coldest
Rainfall
1.8 in
7 wet days
Daylight
13 h 18 min
5:48 AM – 7:04 PM
Cloud cover
48%
5th clearest
Wind
12 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
6.31 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.0
out of 10

Brownsville is seat of Cameron County, Texas, United States.

Density
493/km²
people per km²
Founded
1849

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 86°F in the first days to 89°F by the end.

A typical May day in Brownsville reaches about 87°F in the afternoon and slips back to 74°F overnight — a 14°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 82°F and 92°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 5°F warmer than April and about 3°F cooler than June.

60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18571
28571
38672
48672
58672
68672
78673
88673
98673
108773
118773
128773
138773
148774
158774
168774
178774
188774
198874
208874
218875
228875
238875
248975
258975
268975
278976
288976
298976
309076
319076

How May really feels in Brownsville

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 28 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
28
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in May is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Brownsville weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan71° / 55°1.35.710.67.1
Feb74° / 58°1.15.311.17.5
Mar78° / 63°1.55.711.87.4
Apr83° / 68°1.95.912.66.5
May87° / 74°1.8713.25.0
Jun91° / 77°2.310.313.63.8
Jul92° / 78°2.58.813.53.5
Aug93° / 78°2.110.412.93.2
Sep89° / 75°4.215.612.23.7
Oct84° / 69°2.89.411.45.8
Nov78° / 62°1.77.610.77.2
Dec72° / 56°1.35.910.47.3

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 23% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 35%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15743
25743
35842
45842
55743
65743
75842
85941
95941
106040
116040
126238
136337
146436
156436
166634
176733
186832
196832
206931
216931
227030
237030
247129
257228
267228
277327
287327
297426
307426
317525

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Brownsville gets around 1.8 in of rain over 7 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 23% and peaks near 26% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
117
217
317
417
518
619
719
820
920
1021
1122
1222
1323
1424
1524
1625
1725
1825
1925
2025
2125
2225
2325
2425
2525
2625
2725
2826
2926
3026
3126

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of May feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, May lands in the oppressive band about 60% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 90% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1651220534
2551219554
3551119555
4541119565
5441018595
644918596
744918596
833819607
933819607
1023819608
1123719618
1222720609
13127206010
14126206011
15126205912
16126205813
17125205814
18125195815
19115195816
20114185917
21014176018
22014165920
23013156021
24013146022
25012136123
26012126124
27012116224
28001106425
2900196426
3000186427
3100076528

Wind in May

Winds average 12 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 12 mph on the calmest days to 13 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1512breezy
1612breezy
1712breezy
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112light breeze
2212light breeze
2312light breeze
2412light breeze
2512light breeze
2612light breeze
2712light breeze
2812light breeze
2912light breeze
3012light breeze
3112light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 hours at the start of May to 13 h 30 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 30 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:58 AM to 5:43 AM, and sunset from 6:56 PM to 7:12 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.05:586:56
213.05:586:57
313.05:576:57
413.05:566:58
513.05:556:58
613.15:556:59
713.15:546:59
813.15:537:00
913.15:527:00
1013.25:527:01
1113.25:517:01
1213.25:517:02
1313.25:507:02
1413.25:497:03
1513.25:497:04
1613.35:487:04
1713.35:487:05
1813.35:477:05
1913.35:477:06
2013.35:467:06
2113.35:467:07
2213.45:467:07
2313.45:457:08
2413.45:457:08
2513.45:447:09
2613.45:447:09
2713.45:447:10
2813.45:447:10
2913.55:437:11
3013.55:437:11
3113.55:437:12

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.31 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.92 kWh/m² to a high of 6.72 kWh/m² in July across the year — May's 6.31 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.1Intense
26.1Intense
36.1Intense
46.2Intense
56.2Intense
66.2Intense
76.2Intense
86.2Intense
96.2Intense
106.2Intense
116.2Intense
126.2Intense
136.3Intense
146.3Intense
156.3Intense
166.3Intense
176.3Intense
186.3Intense
196.4Intense
206.4Intense
216.4Intense
226.4Intense
236.4Intense
246.4Intense
256.5Intense
266.5Intense
276.5Intense
286.5Intense
296.5Intense
306.5Intense
316.5Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Brownsville

In seasonPeak

None of Brownsville's seasonal hazards are active in May. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Brownsville sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Brownsville?

Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.0
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
7.3
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Brownsville for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Brownsville in May

From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In May, Brownsville sees daytime highs around 87°F and nights near 74°F. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: a windbreaker. About 7 days see rain.

light clothessun protectiona windbreaker

Sea temperature near Brownsville in May

The nearest coast averages about 78°F in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 23 mi away) is warmest in September at about 84°F and coldest in February near 66°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Mar 18 to Jan 2 — about 9.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.

70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan66Cool
Feb66Cool
Mar68Cool
Apr72Refreshing
May78Warm
Jun82Warm
Jul82Tropical
Aug83Tropical
Sep84Tropical
Oct81Warm
Nov75Warm
Dec70Refreshing

UV index in Brownsville in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Brownsville peaks around June 21 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 5 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highExtremeVery highHighJun 21UV 12Dec 22UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5Moderate
Feb7High
Mar8Very high
Apr11Extreme
May9Very high
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep10Very high
Oct8Very high
Nov6High
Dec5Moderate

Air quality in Brownsville in May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Brownsville is worst in July — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.7× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1525 µg/m³Oct 247 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar11Good
Apr13Moderate
May19Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Brownsville?

Brownsville sits at 25.9°N, 97.5°W, 33 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Heroica Matamoros, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around Brownsville

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Brownsville.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Brownsville has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 49 ft around an average of 36 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 92 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 259 ft.

The land around Brownsville is covered by artificial surfaces (50%) and trees (33%) within 2 miles, cropland (28%), grassland (22%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 10 miles, and cropland (37%) and water (34%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
49 ft
10 miles
92 ft
50 miles
259 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
May weather nearby: Heroica Matamoros 1.9 mi · San Benito 18 mi · Harlingen 24 mi · Valle Hermoso 25 mi · Mercedes 31 mi · Weslaco 35 mi · Ciudad Río Bravo 37 mi · Donna 39 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Brownsville (25.9017°, -97.4975°, elevation 33 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).