Middleton weather in May

In May, Middleton sees average daytime highs of 68°F and overnight lows near 49°F, with 4.0 in of precipitation across 12.5 wet days and about 14.4 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 63°F in the first days to 73°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 54 min at the start of May to 14 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Middleton's 7th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Middleton's year-round climate.

Daytime high
68°
5th warmest
Overnight low
49°
8th coldest
Precipitation
4.0 in
12.5 wet days
Daylight
14 h 30 min
4:40 AM – 7:08 PM
Cloud cover
65%
7th clearest
Wind
8 mph
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.71 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.8
out of 10

Middleton is city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States.

Density
789/km²
people per km²

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 63°F in the first days to 73°F by the end.

A typical May day in Middleton reaches about 68°F in the afternoon and slips back to 49°F overnight — a 19°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 55°F and 81°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 11°F warmer than April and about 10°F cooler than June.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16244
26345
36345
46445
56446
66446
76547
86547
96647
106647
116648
126748
136748
146749
156849
166849
176850
186950
196950
206951
217051
227051
237152
247152
257153
267253
277253
287254
297354
307355
317355

How May really feels in Middleton

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 0 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
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

May sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Middleton weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 13°1.67.66.49.20.0
Feb32° / 16°1.66.65.310.20.0
Mar44° / 27°2.49.23.911.60.9
Apr57° / 38°4.012.31.913.13.7
May68° / 49°4.012.50.114.45.8
Jun78° / 60°4.411.8015.16.4
Jul81° / 64°3.210.2014.96.5
Aug79° / 61°3.79.9013.86.7
Sep72° / 53°3.39.1012.36.9
Oct59° / 42°2.88.70.410.84.6
Nov44° / 30°2.282.29.50.9
Dec32° / 19°1.97.55.28.90.0

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 61%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13664
23763
33763
43664
53664
63763
73763
83763
93862
103862
113862
123862
133961
143961
153961
163961
173961
184060
194060
204060
214060
224159
234159
244159
254258
264258
274159
284258
294258
304258
314258

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Middleton gets around 4.0 in of rain and snow over 12.5 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 40% and peaks near 43% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
140
241
341
441
542
642
742
842
943
1043
1142
1242
1342
1441
1541
1640
1740
1840
1939
2039
2138
2238
2338
2438
2538
2639
2739
2839
2939
3039
3139

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the dry band about 79% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
193610
291720
391720
490820
589830
688930
787940
887940
986950
1085951
1185951
1284961
1384961
1484961
15821071
16811072
17811072
18791083
19791083
20761194
21761194
22751294
237312105
247213105
257014106
267014106
276815116
286716116
296616117
306517117
316318127

Wind in May

Winds average 8 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light breeze
188light breeze
198light breeze
208light breeze
218light breeze
228light breeze
238light breeze
248light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
287light breeze
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 54 min at the start of May to 14 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 60 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 4:59 AM to 4:28 AM, and sunset from 6:51 PM to 7:23 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.94:596:51
213.94:586:52
314.04:566:54
414.04:556:55
514.04:546:56
614.14:526:57
714.14:516:58
814.24:506:59
914.24:487:00
1014.24:477:02
1114.34:467:03
1214.34:457:04
1314.44:447:05
1414.44:427:06
1514.44:417:07
1614.54:407:08
1714.54:397:09
1814.54:387:10
1914.64:377:11
2014.64:367:12
2114.64:357:13
2214.74:347:14
2314.74:347:15
2414.74:337:16
2514.84:327:17
2614.84:317:18
2714.84:317:19
2814.84:307:20
2914.94:297:21
3014.94:297:22
3114.94:287:23

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.71 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.56 kWh/m² to a high of 6.29 kWh/m² in June across the year — May's 5.71 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.3Bright
25.3Bright
35.4Bright
45.4Bright
55.4Bright
65.4Bright
75.5Bright
85.5Bright
95.5Bright
105.5Bright
115.6Bright
125.6Bright
135.6Bright
145.7Bright
155.7Bright
165.7Bright
175.8Bright
185.8Bright
195.8Bright
205.8Bright
215.9Bright
225.9Bright
235.9Bright
245.9Bright
256.0Bright
266.0Bright
276.0Bright
286.0Bright
296.0Intense
306.0Intense
316.0Intense
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Middleton?

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

5.8
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
3.1
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Middleton for sightseeing.

What to pack for Middleton in May

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

In May, Middleton sees daytime highs around 68°F and nights near 49°F. Worth packing: rain gear and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.

rain gearsun protection

UV index in Middleton in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Middleton peaks around June 18 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 18UV 9Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Middleton 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 Middleton is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateModerateGoodJul 1715 µg/m³Oct 238 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr12Good
May13Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Middleton?

Middleton sits at 43.1°N, 89.5°W, 938 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Madison, 5.6 mi away.

Topography around Middleton

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Middleton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 285 ft around an average of 942 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 427 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,066 ft.

The land around Middleton is covered by trees (39%) and artificial surfaces (29%) within 2 miles, cropland (32%), trees (29%) and grassland (20%) within 10 miles, and cropland (49%) and trees (31%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
285 ft
10 miles
427 ft
50 miles
1,066 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
May weather nearby: Madison 5.6 mi · Fitchburg 9.3 mi · Sun Prairie 16 mi · Janesville 38 mi · Watertown 40 mi · Beaver Dam 42 mi · Beloit 47 mi · Oconomowoc 51 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 Middleton (43.0972°, -89.5043°, elevation 938 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. 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).