Wake Forest weather in May

In May, Wake Forest sees average daytime highs of 78°F and overnight lows near 60°F, with 3.7 in of rain across 10.7 wet days and about 13.9 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 75°F in the first days to 82°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 24 min at the start of May to 14 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Wake Forest's 10th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Wake Forest's year-round climate.

Daytime high
78°
5th warmest
Overnight low
60°
8th coldest
Rainfall
3.7 in
10.7 wet days
Daylight
13 h 54 min
5:13 AM – 7:07 PM
Cloud cover
59%
10th clearest
Wind
6 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
5.94 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.6
out of 10

Wake Forest is town located in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Density
969/km²
people per km²
Founded
1880

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 75°F in the first days to 82°F by the end.

A typical May day in Wake Forest reaches about 78°F in the afternoon and slips back to 60°F overnight — a 19°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 68°F and 88°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 7°F warmer than April and about 7°F cooler than June.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17555
27556
37556
47556
57656
67657
77657
87657
97758
107758
117758
127758
137858
147859
157859
167859
177860
187960
197960
207960
217961
228061
238061
248062
258162
268162
278163
288163
298263
308264
318264

How May really feels in Wake Forest

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.

Wake Forest 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 daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan51° / 33°3.79.31.39.82.5
Feb54° / 35°3.29.11.310.63.3
Mar62° / 42°4.210.60.511.75.2
Apr71° / 51°3.59.3012.96.7
May78° / 60°3.710.7013.96.6
Jun85° / 68°4.012.1014.44.9
Jul88° / 71°4.715.7014.23.8
Aug86° / 70°4.312.2013.44.6
Sep81° / 64°4.710012.26.4
Oct71° / 52°3.27.5011.17.1
Nov61° / 42°3.47.80.110.15.5
Dec53° / 36°3.59.20.69.63.3

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 52%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24951
34951
44951
54951
64951
74951
84951
94951
104951
114951
124852
134951
144951
154852
164852
174852
184852
194852
204852
214852
224753
234753
244753
254753
264852
274852
284852
294753
304753
314753

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Wake Forest gets around 3.7 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 35% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
135
235
334
434
534
634
734
834
934
1034
1134
1235
1335
1435
1535
1635
1736
1836
1936
2036
2136
2236
2336
2436
2536
2636
2736
2836
2936
3036
3136

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 40% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 18% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
163181360
261181470
359181670
458181770
556181880
655181980
753182090
851182191
950182291
10491823101
11471823101
12461924111
13441924121
14431925121
15421925131
16411925141
17401925151
18381925162
19371926172
20351926182
21331926192
22321926212
23302026223
24282026233
25262026243
26252026254
27232027264
28222027274
29202027285
30192027296
31172027306

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
127calm
137calm
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 24 min at the start of May to 14 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 48 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:28 AM to 5:04 AM, and sunset from 6:55 PM to 7:19 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.45:286:55
213.55:276:55
313.55:266:56
413.55:256:57
513.65:246:58
613.65:236:59
713.65:217:00
813.75:207:01
913.75:207:01
1013.75:197:02
1113.85:187:03
1213.85:177:04
1313.85:167:05
1413.85:157:06
1513.95:147:06
1613.95:137:07
1713.95:137:08
1814.05:127:09
1914.05:117:10
2014.05:107:10
2114.05:107:11
2214.15:097:12
2314.15:087:13
2414.15:087:14
2514.15:077:14
2614.15:077:15
2714.25:067:16
2814.25:067:17
2914.25:057:17
3014.25:057:18
3114.25:047:19

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.94 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.24 kWh/m² to a high of 6.17 kWh/m² in June across the year — May's 5.94 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
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
146.0Bright
156.0Bright
166.0Bright
176.0Bright
186.0Bright
196.0Bright
206.0Bright
216.0Intense
226.0Intense
236.0Intense
246.0Intense
256.0Intense
266.0Intense
276.0Intense
286.0Intense
296.0Intense
306.0Intense
316.0Intense
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Wake Forest?

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

6.6
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.2
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Wake Forest in May

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

In May, Wake Forest sees daytime highs around 78°F and nights near 60°F. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest peaks around July 13 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1718 µg/m³Nov 238 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar12Moderate
Apr12Moderate
May13Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Wake Forest?

Wake Forest sits at 36.0°N, 78.5°W, 390 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is West Raleigh, 16 mi away.

Topography around Wake Forest

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Wake Forest has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 285 ft around an average of 361 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 581 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,047 ft.

The land around Wake Forest is covered by trees (67%) within 2 miles, trees (72%) within 10 miles, and trees (74%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
285 ft
10 miles
581 ft
50 miles
1,047 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: West Raleigh 16 mi · Raleigh 16 mi · Garner 19 mi · Cary 20 mi · Morrisville 21 mi · Durham 22 mi · Clayton 23 mi · Henderson 25 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 Wake Forest (35.9799°, -78.5097°, elevation 390 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).