Newark weather in May

In May, Newark sees average daytime highs of 72°F and overnight lows near 55°F, with 3.6 in of rain across 10.9 wet days and about 14.2 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 69°F in the first days to 77°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 42 min at the start of May to 14 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Newark's 12th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Newark's year-round climate.

Daytime high
72°
5th warmest
Overnight low
55°
8th coldest
Rainfall
3.6 in
10.9 wet days
Daylight
14 h 12 min
4:54 AM – 7:05 PM
Cloud cover
63%
12th clearest
Wind
7 mph
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.71 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.5
out of 10

Newark is city in New Castle County, Delaware, United States.

Density
1,421/km²
people per km²
Founded
1694

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 69°F in the first days to 77°F by the end.

A typical May day in Newark reaches about 72°F in the afternoon and slips back to 55°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 61°F and 84°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 9°F warmer than April and about 9°F cooler than June.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16851
26851
36951
46952
56952
66952
76953
87053
97053
107053
117154
127154
137154
147155
157255
167255
177255
187356
197356
207356
217457
227457
237458
247558
257558
267659
277659
287659
297760
307760
317760

How May really feels in Newark

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.

Newark weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan40° / 28°3.39.23.89.50.0
Feb43° / 29°3.08.83.310.40.5
Mar51° / 36°4.210.32.311.72.6
Apr63° / 46°3.710.50.3135.3
May72° / 55°3.610.9014.26.5
Jun81° / 65°3.911014.86.0
Jul85° / 70°4.011.1014.55.0
Aug83° / 68°3.710.3013.65.8
Sep77° / 61°4.49.5012.36.9
Oct65° / 50°3.68.1010.96.2
Nov54° / 39°3.07.70.39.83.5
Dec45° / 32°4.09.21.89.20.9

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in May, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 55%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14456
24555
34555
44456
54555
64654
74555
84555
94654
104555
114555
124555
134555
144555
154456
164456
174555
184555
194555
204555
214555
224555
234456
244555
254555
264555
274555
284456
294456
304456
314456

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Newark gets around 3.6 in of rain over 10.9 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 35% and peaks near 35% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
134
234
334
434
534
634
735
835
935
1035
1135
1235
1335
1435
1535
1635
1735
1835
1935
2035
2135
2235
2335
2435
2535
2635
2735
2835
2935
3035
3135

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 62% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 7% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
18113510
28113510
37914610
47815610
57715710
67616710
77416820
87217920
97217920
1071171020
1170171030
1269171130
1368171140
1467171240
1566171250
1664181350
1763181360
1861181470
1960181570
2058181680
2157181690
22541817101
23521818111
24511818121
25491919121
26481920131
27461920141
28451921141
29441921151
30431921151
31412021162

Wind in May

Winds average 7 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
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 42 min at the start of May to 14 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 54 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:11 AM to 4:43 AM, and sunset from 6:50 PM to 7:18 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.75:116:50
213.75:096:51
313.75:086:52
413.85:076:53
513.85:066:54
613.85:046:55
713.95:036:56
813.95:026:57
913.95:016:58
1014.05:006:59
1114.04:597:00
1214.04:587:01
1314.14:577:02
1414.14:567:03
1514.14:557:04
1614.24:547:05
1714.24:537:06
1814.24:527:06
1914.34:517:07
2014.34:507:08
2114.34:507:09
2214.44:497:10
2314.44:487:11
2414.44:477:12
2514.44:477:13
2614.54:467:14
2714.54:457:14
2814.54:457:15
2914.54:447:16
3014.64:447:17
3114.64:437:18

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 1.85 kWh/m² to a high of 6.12 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
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.5Bright
55.5Bright
65.5Bright
75.5Bright
85.6Bright
95.6Bright
105.6Bright
115.6Bright
125.6Bright
135.6Bright
145.7Bright
155.7Bright
165.7Bright
175.7Bright
185.7Bright
195.7Bright
205.8Bright
215.8Bright
225.8Bright
235.8Bright
245.8Bright
255.9Bright
265.9Bright
275.9Bright
285.9Bright
295.9Bright
306.0Bright
316.0Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Newark

In seasonPeak

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

Newark 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 Newark?

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

6.5
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
4.7
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Newark for sightseeing.

What to pack for Newark in May

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

In May, Newark sees daytime highs around 72°F and nights near 55°F. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Newark in May

The nearest coast averages about 58°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 44 mi away) is warmest in August at about 76°F and coldest in February near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 19 to Oct 3 — about 3.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar41Bracing
Apr49Bracing
May58Bracing
Jun67Cool
Jul74Refreshing
Aug76Warm
Sep73Refreshing
Oct64Cool
Nov53Bracing
Dec44Bracing

UV index in Newark in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Newark peaks around July 11 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 11UV 8Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Newark 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 Newark is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1317 µg/m³Nov 128 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Newark?

Newark sits at 39.7°N, 75.7°W, 125 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Bear, 6.2 mi away.

Topography around Newark

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Newark has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 302 ft around an average of 148 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 732 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,647 ft.

The land around Newark is covered by trees (58%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 2 miles, trees (58%) and grassland (21%) within 10 miles, and trees (49%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
302 ft
10 miles
732 ft
50 miles
1,647 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
May weather nearby: Bear 6.2 mi · Elkton 6.8 mi · Wilmington 12 mi · Middletown 16 mi · West Chester 21 mi · Chester 24 mi · Aberdeen 25 mi · Springfield 29 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 Newark (39.6837°, -75.7497°, elevation 125 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).