Pekin weather in May

In May, Pekin sees average daytime highs of 73°F and overnight lows near 54°F, with 4.6 in of rain across 13 wet days and about 14.2 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 68°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 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Pekin's 7th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Pekin's year-round climate.

Daytime high
73°
5th warmest
Overnight low
54°
8th coldest
Rainfall
4.6 in
13 wet days
Daylight
14 h 12 min
4:47 AM – 7:02 PM
Cloud cover
64%
7th clearest
Wind
8 mph
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.75 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.2
out of 10

Pekin is city and county seat of Tazewell County, Illinois, United States.

Density
832/km²
people per km²
Founded
1829

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 68°F in the first days to 77°F by the end.

A typical May day in Pekin reaches about 73°F in the afternoon and slips back to 54°F overnight — a 18°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 60°F and 84°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 10°F warmer than April and about 9°F cooler than June.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16849
26849
36850
46950
56951
66951
77051
87052
97152
107152
117153
127253
137253
147254
157254
167354
177355
187355
197455
207455
217456
227456
237556
247557
257657
267658
277658
287658
297759
307759
317859

How May really feels in Pekin

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.

Pekin weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan34° / 20°2.18.34.89.40.0
Feb39° / 23°2.17.13.910.40.1
Mar51° / 33°3.010.11.711.72.4
Apr63° / 43°4.511.40.5135.1
May73° / 54°4.613014.26.2
Jun82° / 64°4.611.7014.86.0
Jul84° / 67°3.710.2014.65.5
Aug83° / 65°3.18.9013.66.2
Sep77° / 57°3.17.5012.37.3
Oct64° / 45°3.18.60.110.96.0
Nov50° / 34°2.98.119.72.4
Dec39° / 25°2.37.53.19.20.1

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% 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 59%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13763
23763
33862
43862
53862
63862
74060
84060
94060
104159
114159
124258
134258
144258
154258
164258
174357
184357
194357
204258
214258
224357
234258
244258
254258
264258
274258
284258
294258
304357
314357

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Pekin gets around 4.6 in of rain over 13 wet days in May, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 42% and peaks near 43% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
142
243
343
443
543
643
743
842
942
1042
1141
1241
1341
1441
1541
1641
1741
1841
1941
2041
2141
2242
2342
2442
2542
2642
2743
2843
2942
3042
3142

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 61% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 9% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
18114410
27815520
37815520
47516630
57417630
67317730
77018840
87018840
96818950
1067181050
1165181160
1265181160
1363181270
1462181370
1563171370
1661171480
1761171480
1859171590
1957171691
20561716101
21541717111
22541717111
23521718121
24511718131
25501719131
26491719141
27481719151
28471819151
29461819162
30441819172
31431919172

Wind in May

Winds average 8 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light 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
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 42 min at the start of May to 14 h 42 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 5:05 AM to 4:36 AM, and sunset from 6:47 PM to 7:16 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.75:056:47
213.75:036:48
313.85:026:49
413.85:016:50
513.94:596:51
613.94:586:52
713.94:576:53
814.04:566:54
914.04:556:55
1014.04:546:56
1114.14:526:57
1214.14:516:58
1314.14:506:59
1414.24:497:00
1514.24:487:01
1614.24:477:02
1714.34:467:03
1814.34:457:04
1914.34:457:05
2014.44:447:06
2114.44:437:07
2214.44:427:08
2314.54:417:09
2414.54:417:10
2514.54:407:11
2614.54:397:12
2714.64:397:12
2814.64:387:13
2914.64:377:14
3014.64:377:15
3114.74:367:16

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.75 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.77 kWh/m² to a high of 6.4 kWh/m² in June across the year — May's 5.75 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.3Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.4Bright
55.5Bright
65.5Bright
75.5Bright
85.6Bright
95.6Bright
105.6Bright
115.7Bright
125.7Bright
135.7Bright
145.7Bright
155.8Bright
165.8Bright
175.8Bright
185.8Bright
195.8Bright
205.9Bright
215.9Bright
225.9Bright
235.9Bright
245.9Bright
256.0Bright
266.0Bright
276.0Bright
286.0Intense
296.0Intense
306.0Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Pekin?

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

6.2
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
4.6
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Pekin for sightseeing.

What to pack for Pekin in May

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

In May, Pekin sees daytime highs around 73°F and nights near 54°F. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Pekin 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 Pekin peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 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 highHighModerateJun 20UV 9Dec 21UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Pekin 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 Pekin is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateModerateGoodJul 1916 µg/m³Oct 228 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr11Good
May14Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Pekin?

Pekin sits at 40.6°N, 89.6°W, 502 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is East Peoria, 7.5 mi away.

Topography around Pekin

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Pekin has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 243 ft around an average of 509 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 384 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 535 ft.

The land around Pekin is covered by trees (32%) and artificial surfaces (26%) within 2 miles, cropland (49%) and trees (30%) within 10 miles, and cropland (74%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
243 ft
10 miles
384 ft
50 miles
535 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: East Peoria 7.5 mi · Peoria 9.3 mi · Morton 9.9 mi · North Peoria 11 mi · Washington 16 mi · Normal 34 mi · Bloomington 34 mi · Galesburg 47 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 Pekin (40.5675°, -89.6407°, elevation 502 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).