Lafayette weather in May

In May, Lafayette sees average daytime highs of 85°F and overnight lows near 67°F, with 3.6 in of rain across 9.7 wet days and about 13.5 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 82°F in the first days to 87°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time in May, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 12 min at the start of May to 13 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Lafayette's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Lafayette's year-round climate.

Daytime high
85°
5th warmest
Overnight low
67°
8th coldest
Rainfall
3.6 in
9.7 wet days
Daylight
13 h 30 min
5:19 AM – 6:50 PM
Cloud cover
51%
4th clearest
Wind
7 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
6.18 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.5
out of 10

Lafayette is city in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States.

Density
950/km²
people per km²
Founded
1821

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 82°F in the first days to 87°F by the end.

A typical May day in Lafayette reaches about 85°F in the afternoon and slips back to 67°F overnight — a 18°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 79°F and 90°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 7°F warmer than April and about 5°F cooler than June.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18263
28263
38264
48264
58264
68364
78365
88365
98365
108465
118466
128466
138466
148466
158567
168567
178567
188567
198568
208668
218668
228668
238669
248669
258769
268769
278770
288770
298770
308770
318871

How May really feels in Lafayette

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 6 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
6
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.

Lafayette weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan62° / 44°5.09.510.35.4
Feb65° / 47°4.28.810.96.0
Mar72° / 53°4.310.111.86.7
Apr78° / 59°4.39.112.77.0
May85° / 67°3.69.713.55.5
Jun89° / 73°4.514.213.93.7
Jul90° / 75°4.917.513.83.2
Aug91° / 74°4.816.113.13.2
Sep88° / 70°3.811.212.24.5
Oct80° / 60°3.87.711.37.0
Nov71° / 51°3.58.210.57.1
Dec64° / 46°4.69.210.15.9

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 40%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16238
26238
36238
46139
56139
66040
76040
86040
96040
106040
116040
126040
136040
146139
156139
166139
176238
186238
196139
206139
216139
226139
236139
246139
255941
265941
275941
285842
295842
305842
315743

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Lafayette gets around 3.6 in of rain over 9.7 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 31% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
127
227
327
427
527
627
727
827
927
1027
1128
1228
1328
1429
1529
1629
1730
1830
1931
2032
2133
2234
2334
2435
2536
2637
2738
2839
2940
3041
3142

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the muggy band about 36% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 63% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
122142030130
221142030140
320142030150
419141931160
518141932170
617141932180
716131833190
815131833200
914131834210
1014121834210
1113121835220
1212111736230
1312111736240
1411101737240
1511101837250
161091837260
17991837261
18981838271
19881738281
20871738291
21771739301
22671639311
23661639321
24561539341
25461439351
26461439371
27351338392
28251238412
29251137432
30251036453
3115935473

Wind in May

Winds average 7 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 6 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
107light breeze
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 12 min at the start of May to 13 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 36 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:31 AM to 5:12 AM, and sunset from 6:40 PM to 6:59 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.25:316:40
213.25:306:41
313.25:296:41
413.25:286:42
513.35:276:43
613.35:266:43
713.35:256:44
813.35:256:45
913.45:246:45
1013.45:236:46
1113.45:226:47
1213.45:216:47
1313.55:216:48
1413.55:206:49
1513.55:196:49
1613.55:196:50
1713.55:186:51
1813.65:186:51
1913.65:176:52
2013.65:166:52
2113.65:166:53
2213.65:156:54
2313.75:156:54
2413.75:146:55
2513.75:146:56
2613.75:146:56
2713.75:136:57
2813.75:136:57
2913.85:126:58
3013.85:126:59
3113.85:126:59

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.18 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.67 kWh/m² to a high of 6.18 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 6.18 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.1Intense
26.1Intense
36.1Intense
46.1Intense
56.1Intense
66.1Intense
76.1Intense
86.1Intense
96.2Intense
106.2Intense
116.2Intense
126.2Intense
136.2Intense
146.2Intense
156.2Intense
166.2Intense
176.2Intense
186.2Intense
196.2Intense
206.2Intense
216.2Intense
226.2Intense
236.2Intense
246.2Intense
256.2Intense
266.2Intense
276.2Intense
286.2Intense
296.2Intense
306.1Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Lafayette

In seasonPeak

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

Lafayette 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 Lafayette?

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

5.5
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
7.0
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Lafayette in May

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

In May, Lafayette sees daytime highs around 85°F and nights near 67°F. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Lafayette 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 42 mi away) is warmest in August at about 86°F and coldest in January near 58°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Mar 30 to Nov 15 — about 7.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan58Bracing
Feb60Cool
Mar65Cool
Apr72Refreshing
May78Warm
Jun84Tropical
Jul86Tropical
Aug86Tropical
Sep83Tropical
Oct76Warm
Nov68Cool
Dec62Cool

UV index in Lafayette in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Lafayette peaks around July 13 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 10Dec 20UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb6High
Mar7High
Apr10Extreme
May10Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Lafayette 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 Lafayette is worst in July — around 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.7× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodGoodJul 1521 µg/m³Dec 169 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan14Moderate
Feb13Moderate
Mar11Good
Apr11Good
May14Moderate
Jun18Moderate
Jul22Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep12Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov13Moderate
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Lafayette?

Lafayette sits at 30.2°N, 92.0°W, 36 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is New Iberia, 19 mi away.

Topography around Lafayette

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Lafayette has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 85 ft around an average of 43 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 121 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 233 ft.

The land around Lafayette is covered by trees (41%) and artificial surfaces (41%) within 2 miles, trees (40%) and grassland (37%) within 10 miles, and trees (38%) and cropland (26%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
85 ft
10 miles
121 ft
50 miles
233 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
May weather nearby: New Iberia 19 mi · Opelousas 22 mi · Baton Rouge 52 mi · Zachary 59 mi · Shenandoah 62 mi · Prairieville 63 mi · Central 63 mi · Lake Charles 71 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 Lafayette (30.2241°, -92.0198°, elevation 36 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).