Oxford weather in May

In May, Oxford sees average daytime highs of 81°F and overnight lows near 63°F, with 4.8 in of rain across 10.5 wet days and about 13.8 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 77°F in the first days to 84°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in May, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 24 min at the start of May to 14 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Oxford's 7th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Oxford's year-round climate.

Daytime high
81°
5th warmest
Overnight low
63°
8th coldest
Rainfall
4.8 in
10.5 wet days
Daylight
13 h 48 min
5:01 AM – 6:48 PM
Cloud cover
56%
7th clearest
Wind
6 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
6.08 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.3
out of 10

Oxford is city and county seat of Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States.

Density
524/km²
people per km²
Founded
1837

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 77°F in the first days to 84°F by the end.

A typical May day in Oxford reaches about 81°F in the afternoon and slips back to 63°F overnight — a 18°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 72°F and 88°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 8°F warmer than April and about 7°F cooler than June.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17658
27758
37758
47759
57859
67860
77860
87860
97960
107961
117961
128061
138062
148062
158062
168163
178163
188163
198264
208264
218264
228265
238365
248365
258365
268366
278366
288466
298467
308467
318567

How May really feels in Oxford

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.

Oxford weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan52° / 35°4.810.20.6102.8
Feb56° / 38°4.810.10.710.73.8
Mar65° / 45°5.111.30.211.75.7
Apr73° / 54°4.810012.86.8
May81° / 63°4.810.5013.86.3
Jun88° / 71°3.711.4014.34.4
Jul90° / 73°3.912014.13.7
Aug90° / 72°3.210.2013.34.0
Sep85° / 65°3.36.9012.25.8
Oct74° / 54°3.87.5011.17.4
Nov63° / 44°4.18.8010.25.7
Dec54° / 38°5.210.10.29.73.3

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 49%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15050
25050
35050
45050
54951
64951
74951
84951
94951
104951
115050
125050
135248
145248
155248
165248
175347
185347
195347
205248
215248
225347
235347
245248
255248
265248
275248
285149
295149
305149
315248

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Oxford gets around 4.8 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 34% and peaks near 39% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
136
235
335
435
534
634
734
833
933
1033
1132
1232
1332
1432
1531
1631
1731
1832
1932
2032
2133
2233
2334
2435
2535
2636
2736
2837
2938
3038
3139

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 29% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 35% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1422124121
2402125121
3382126132
4362127142
5342128152
6332128162
7322129172
8302029182
9292028193
10282028213
11282028223
12271928233
13261927253
14251827263
15251826283
16241725294
17241724314
18231723335
19221622345
20221621366
21201521376
22191421397
23181420408
24161320428
25151320429
261413204310
271212204412
281112204413
291012204414
30911204416
31811204317

Wind in May

Winds average 6 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 5 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
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 24 min at the start of May to 14 h 06 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 5:15 AM to 4:52 AM, and sunset from 6:36 PM to 6:59 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.45:156:36
213.45:136:37
313.45:126:38
413.55:116:38
513.55:106:39
613.55:096:40
713.55:086:41
813.65:076:42
913.65:076:42
1013.65:066:43
1113.75:056:44
1213.75:046:45
1313.75:036:46
1413.75:026:46
1513.85:016:47
1613.85:016:48
1713.85:006:49
1813.84:596:49
1913.94:596:50
2013.94:586:51
2113.94:576:52
2213.94:576:52
2314.04:566:53
2414.04:556:54
2514.04:556:55
2614.04:546:55
2714.04:546:56
2814.14:546:57
2914.14:536:57
3014.14:536:58
3114.14:526:59

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.08 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.24 kWh/m² to a high of 6.33 kWh/m² in June across the year — May's 6.08 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
76.0Bright
86.0Bright
96.0Intense
106.0Intense
116.1Intense
126.1Intense
136.1Intense
146.1Intense
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
306.2Intense
316.2Intense
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Oxford?

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

6.3
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.6
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Oxford in May

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

In May, Oxford sees daytime highs around 81°F and nights near 63°F. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

UV index in Oxford 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 Oxford peaks around June 21 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 21UV 10Dec 19UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar6High
Apr8Very high
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Oxford 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 Oxford is worst in July — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.2× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1519 µg/m³Dec 226 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb8Good
Mar11Good
Apr10Good
May13Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct8Good
Nov7Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Oxford?

Oxford sits at 34.4°N, 89.5°W, 505 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Hernando, 42 mi away.

Topography around Oxford

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Oxford has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 249 ft around an average of 482 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 410 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 646 ft.

The land around Oxford is covered by trees (58%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 2 miles, trees (83%) within 10 miles, and trees (72%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
249 ft
10 miles
410 ft
50 miles
646 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Hernando 42 mi · Olive Branch 45 mi · Tupelo 47 mi · Collierville 47 mi · Horn Lake 50 mi · Southaven 52 mi · Germantown 52 mi · Cordova 57 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 Oxford (34.3665°, -89.5192°, elevation 505 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).