Natchitoches weather in May

In May, Natchitoches sees average daytime highs of 85°F and overnight lows near 65°F, with 3.9 in of rain across 10.5 wet days and about 13.6 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 81°F in the first days to 87°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% 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 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Natchitoches's 7th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Natchitoches's year-round climate.

Daytime high
85°
5th warmest
Overnight low
65°
8th coldest
Rainfall
3.9 in
10.5 wet days
Daylight
13 h 36 min
5:20 AM – 6:57 PM
Cloud cover
55%
7th clearest
Wind
6 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
5.99 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.5
out of 10

Natchitoches is small city and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States.

Density
269/km²
people per km²
Founded
1714

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 81°F in the first days to 87°F by the end.

A typical May day in Natchitoches reaches about 85°F in the afternoon and slips back to 65°F overnight — a 19°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 76°F and 91°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 8°F warmer than April and about 5°F cooler than June.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18161
28161
38161
48262
58262
68262
78263
88363
98363
108364
118364
128464
138464
148465
158465
168565
178565
188566
198566
208666
218667
228667
238667
248767
258768
268768
278768
288769
298769
308869
318869

How May really feels in Natchitoches

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 4 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
4
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.

Natchitoches 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
Jan58° / 40°4.69.610.24.5
Feb62° / 43°4.29.510.85.4
Mar70° / 50°4.710.211.86.5
Apr77° / 56°5.09.312.87.0
May85° / 65°3.910.513.65.5
Jun90° / 72°4.112.3143.7
Jul93° / 74°3.212.413.93.0
Aug93° / 74°3.310.513.23.0
Sep88° / 68°3.48.412.24.7
Oct79° / 57°3.87.311.27.2
Nov68° / 47°3.78.110.46.7
Dec60° / 42°4.59.5104.9

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% 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 45%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15545
25545
35446
45446
55446
65446
75347
85347
95446
105446
115446
125545
135545
145545
155644
165644
175644
185644
195644
205644
215644
225644
235644
245545
255644
265644
275644
285545
295545
305545
315545

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Natchitoches gets around 3.9 in of rain over 10.5 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 33% and peaks near 38% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
133
233
333
433
533
633
733
833
933
1032
1132
1232
1332
1432
1531
1631
1731
1831
1931
2032
2132
2233
2333
2434
2534
2635
2735
2836
2937
3037
3138

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 39% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 53% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1311524265
2301424275
3281424285
4271424296
5261424316
6241324327
7231323337
8221323348
9211323358
10201322369
11191422379
12181422379
131714213810
141614213910
151514214011
161414204011
171314204112
181314194213
191214194213
201113184314
211013184415
22912184516
23812174517
24711174618
25611174720
26510164721
27510164723
2849154725
2938154727
3038144629
3137144631

Wind in May

Winds average 6 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 6 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
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 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:33 AM to 5:13 AM, and sunset from 6:46 PM to 7:07 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.25:336:46
213.35:326:47
313.35:316:48
413.35:306:49
513.35:296:49
613.45:286:50
713.45:276:51
813.45:266:51
913.45:256:52
1013.55:256:53
1113.55:246:54
1213.55:236:54
1313.55:226:55
1413.65:226:56
1513.65:216:56
1613.65:206:57
1713.65:196:58
1813.75:196:58
1913.75:186:59
2013.75:187:00
2113.75:177:00
2213.75:177:01
2313.85:167:02
2413.85:157:02
2513.85:157:03
2613.85:157:04
2713.85:147:04
2813.95:147:05
2913.95:137:06
3013.95:137:06
3113.95:137:07

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.99 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.43 kWh/m² to a high of 6.23 kWh/m² in July across the year — May's 5.99 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.8Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.9Bright
55.9Bright
65.9Bright
75.9Bright
85.9Bright
95.9Bright
106.0Bright
116.0Bright
126.0Bright
136.0Intense
146.0Intense
156.0Intense
166.1Intense
176.1Intense
186.1Intense
196.1Intense
206.1Intense
216.1Intense
226.1Intense
236.1Intense
246.1Intense
256.1Intense
266.1Intense
276.1Intense
286.1Intense
296.1Intense
306.1Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Natchitoches

In seasonPeak

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

Natchitoches 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 Natchitoches?

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

5.5
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Natchitoches in May

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

In May, Natchitoches sees daytime highs around 85°F and nights near 65°F. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Natchitoches 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 Natchitoches peaks around June 16 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 3 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 16UV 10Dec 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5High
Mar7High
Apr10Very high
May10Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Natchitoches 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 Natchitoches is worst in July — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (November, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1725 µg/m³Nov 1710 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb12Good
Mar14Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May17Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep18Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov10Good
Dec12Good
Location & terrain

Where is Natchitoches?

Natchitoches sits at 31.8°N, 93.1°W, 118 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Alexandria, 49 mi away.

Topography around Natchitoches

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Natchitoches has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 144 ft around an average of 125 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 381 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 587 ft.

The land around Natchitoches is covered by trees (39%) and grassland (30%) within 2 miles, trees (56%) and grassland (26%) within 10 miles, and trees (82%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
144 ft
10 miles
381 ft
50 miles
587 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Alexandria 49 mi · Ruston 59 mi · Bossier City 65 mi · Shreveport 66 mi · Monroe 76 mi · Marshall 93 mi · Nacogdoches 93 mi · Natchez 100 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 Natchitoches (31.7607°, -93.0863°, elevation 118 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). 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).