Ruston weather in May

In May, Ruston sees average daytime highs of 84°F and overnight lows near 64°F, with 3.9 in of rain across 10.7 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 80°F in the first days to 87°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in May, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 18 min at the start of May to 14 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Ruston's 8th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ruston's year-round climate.

Daytime high
84°
5th warmest
Overnight low
64°
8th coldest
Rainfall
3.9 in
10.7 wet days
Daylight
13 h 42 min
5:17 AM – 6:57 PM
Cloud cover
55%
8th clearest
Wind
6 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
5.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.6
out of 10

Ruston is small city and parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States.

Density
408/km²
people per km²
Founded
1885

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 80°F in the first days to 87°F by the end.

A typical May day in Ruston reaches about 84°F in the afternoon and slips back to 64°F overnight — a 19°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 75°F and 91°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 8°F warmer than April and about 6°F cooler than June.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18060
28060
38060
48061
58161
68161
78162
88262
98262
108263
118263
128363
138364
148364
158364
168464
178465
188465
198565
208566
218566
228566
238667
248667
258667
268667
278768
288768
298768
308769
318769

How May really feels in Ruston

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 1 day 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
1
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.

Ruston 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
Jan57° / 39°4.59.510.14.1
Feb61° / 42°4.59.310.85.0
Mar69° / 49°5.01111.86.3
Apr76° / 56°5.49.512.86.9
May84° / 64°3.910.713.65.6
Jun90° / 71°3.911.614.13.8
Jul93° / 74°3.011.713.93.0
Aug93° / 73°3.29.513.23.1
Sep88° / 68°3.37.212.24.9
Oct78° / 56°4.17.811.27.3
Nov66° / 47°3.97.910.36.5
Dec58° / 41°4.89.49.94.5

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 45%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15545
25446
35446
45446
55446
65446
75446
85446
95446
105446
115446
125545
135545
145545
155545
165545
175545
185545
195644
205644
215644
225545
235545
245545
255545
265545
275644
285644
295644
305644
315644

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Ruston gets around 3.9 in of rain over 10.7 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 38% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
135
235
335
434
534
634
734
834
934
1033
1133
1233
1333
1432
1532
1632
1732
1832
1932
2032
2133
2233
2334
2434
2535
2635
2736
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 36% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 45% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1351823213
2331823233
3321823244
4301823254
5281823274
6271823284
7251823294
8241923305
9231922315
10221922325
11211922335
12201922335
13191922346
14181922356
15171922356
16161922367
17151922377
18151822388
19141722398
20131722409
211216224110
221115214210
231014214311
24913214412
25813214513
26712214615
27611214616
28511204717
29410204719
30310204621
31310194623

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
107calm
117calm
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 18 min at the start of May to 14 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:30 AM to 5:09 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)
113.35:306:46
213.35:296:46
313.35:286:47
413.45:276:48
513.45:266:49
613.45:256:49
713.45:246:50
813.55:236:51
913.55:226:52
1013.55:216:52
1113.55:216:53
1213.65:206:54
1313.65:196:55
1413.65:186:55
1513.65:186:56
1613.75:176:57
1713.75:166:57
1813.75:166:58
1913.75:156:59
2013.85:147:00
2113.85:147:00
2213.85:137:01
2313.85:137:02
2413.85:127:02
2513.95:127:03
2613.95:117:04
2713.95:117:04
2813.95:107:05
2913.95:107:06
3013.95:097:06
3114.05:097:07

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.98 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.38 kWh/m² to a high of 6.28 kWh/m² in July across the year — May's 5.98 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.7Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.8Bright
55.8Bright
65.8Bright
75.8Bright
85.9Bright
95.9Bright
105.9Bright
115.9Bright
126.0Bright
136.0Bright
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

Is May a good time to visit Ruston?

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

5.6
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Ruston in May

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

In May, Ruston sees daytime highs around 84°F and nights near 64°F. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Ruston 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 Ruston peaks around June 19 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 19UV 10Dec 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5High
Mar7High
Apr10Very high
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Ruston 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 Ruston is worst in July — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.9× the cleanest month (January, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1723 µg/m³Jan 138 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb11Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr12Good
May16Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul24Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct11Good
Nov10Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ruston?

Ruston sits at 32.5°N, 92.6°W, 335 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Monroe, 30 mi away.

Topography around Ruston

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Ruston has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 184 ft around an average of 302 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 325 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 525 ft.

The land around Ruston is covered by trees (58%) and grassland (23%) within 2 miles, trees (82%) within 10 miles, and trees (85%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
184 ft
10 miles
325 ft
50 miles
525 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Monroe 30 mi · El Dorado 47 mi · Natchitoches 59 mi · Bossier City 64 mi · Shreveport 65 mi · Alexandria 85 mi · Natchez 98 mi · Marshall 101 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 Ruston (32.5232°, -92.6379°, elevation 335 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).