SeasonMapBig Sky weather in May
United States
May in Big Sky: cool, rainy, with reliable snow — a fair time to visit.
#8 of 12 months in Big Sky · #1248 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 50/100 (tier D)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Big Sky in May
Other months in Big Sky
Big Sky's forum calls February prime powder season — deep base depth, frequent storms, and, outside the Presidents Day weekend crush, thinner crowds than the holidays. Regulars say conditions generally hold up well into March, so it's not a narrow window.
Add your own note from Big Sky's card on the map.
Big Sky climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 12°C / 53°F | 🙂 cool |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 1°C / 34°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 10°C / 50°F | |
| Rainfall | 94 mm / 3.7 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 16 days | |
| Humidity | 74% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 2°C / 35°F | |
| Sunshine | 11.8 h/day | |
| Daylight | 14.9 h | |
| Wind | 12 km/h / 7 mph | |
| Snowfall | 31.7 cm / 12.5 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 54 | 🙂 moderate |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Big Sky in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Shoulder seasonan ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Big Sky's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherBig Sky's weather peaks December–February.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Big Sky in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Opening
Yellowstone roads open
15 Apr – 5 Nov · usuallyTrail seasonClosuresThe interior roads out of West Yellowstone are ploughed open in stages from mid-April and close again to cars in early November, after which it is snowcoach or nothing. Big Sky is an hour from that gate. Source ↗
- Season
Spring mud season
20 Apr – 10 JunOff-season shutdownClosuresLifts stop, half the restaurants close, the trails are wet snow and the Yellowstone roads are still shut. Locals leave; the few who come get an empty valley at the cheapest rates of the year.
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 32 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Big Sky — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Big Sky?
Big Sky in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Big Sky?
- May in Big Sky: cool, rainy, with reliable snow — a fair time to visit. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Big Sky on SeasonMap's comfort score (50/100).
- What is the weather like in Big Sky in May?
- In May, Big Sky averages a daily high of 11.8°C and a low of 1.2°C, with about 93.8 mm of rain over roughly 16.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Big Sky in May?
- Big Sky has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 54 in May.
- Does it snow in Big Sky in May?
- Big Sky sees roughly 31.7 cm of snowfall in May.
Other months in Big Sky
Compare Big Sky in May
Warmer or cooler than Big Sky in May
Similar destinations in North America — May
Within 300 km: Yellowstone National Park's Spring wildlife on the northern range around 15 Apr – 15 Jun.