Juneau weather in May

May in Juneau: cool, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 15 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Juneau🇺🇸 United States · Alaska & the Far North · City71
  1. 26Jan
  2. 37Feb
  3. 50Mar
  4. 63Apr
  5. 71May
  6. 83Jun
  7. 80Jul
  8. 73Aug
  9. 59Sep
  10. 45Oct
  11. 31Nov
  12. 23Dec

#4 of 12 months in Juneau · #1019 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 71/100 (tier B)

Days
15°C
Nights
5°C
Wet days
15
Sun
8.9 h
Humidity
82%
Daylight
17 h
Juneau, United States
Photo: steve schimdt · Pexels

Traveller notes on Juneau in May

Regulars are consistent on one rule regardless of the forecast: always bring proper rain gear to this part of Alaska, since even a visitor who caught a genuinely beautiful stretch one year is quick to add that the same week the year before was a washout. Our row backs the wet reality, 175.7mm of rain across a striking 15.4 days, alongside cool temperatures, 14.5C over 5.1C nights feeling 2C, and a trace of late snow, 2.6cm. Regulars pushing toward late May specifically say it can bring some of the season's best weather, so the back half of the month is worth favouring if the dates are flexible. Layering is the standard advice on top of the rain gear, since the temperature swings enough within a day to matter. The record: humidity 82 percent, 8.9 hours of sun and AQI 37.
AlwaysPackTheRainGearRegardless · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Juneau

Regulars are specific that early in this month can bring a genuine winter relapse, fresh snow falling all the way down to sea level and putting tours like Glacier Bay or helicopter flightseeing on hold, a real contrast to how settled May becomes just weeks later. Our row backs that cold, still-wintry read, 9.6C over 0.4C nights feeling -2C, with a heavy 163.4mm of rain across 17.6 days and a real 17.8cm of snow. Regulars are consistent that layered clothing plus proper rain gear, boots, gloves and a hat cover most of what this month can throw at a visitor, since conditions can swing from a mild, clear day to a genuine snow event within the same week. The record: humidity 80 percent, 7.7 hours of sun, a 9.8 kph wind and AQI 40.
WinterCanRelapseWithFreshSnowToSeaLevel · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Regulars answer the question about August rain by reframing it: this is temperate rainforest, measurable rain falls on 222 days of the year, and the right expectation is cloud and drizzle with a sunny day as a bonus. They put the month near 59F with roughly a three-in-four chance of rain on any day, and our row agrees emphatically at 265.1mm across 17.8 days under 19.2C. What the weather does not spoil is the reason to come: the whale trips from May to mid-September find humpbacks essentially every time, with about a one-in-five chance of orcas. The cruise season runs to mid-September. Evenings darken by half past nine. The record: humidity 85 percent, 8 hours of sun and AQI 28.
TwoHundredAndTwentyTwoDays · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Juneau measures rain on 222 days of an average year, and the forum's most useful correction is about the kind: this is drizzly English rain rather than a Florida downpour, so it can rain any day without ever being an all-day soaking. Our row gives 164.2mm across 16.7 precipitation days in June. Early June can be genuinely cold and windy, with port temperatures ranging from the high 60s Fahrenheit down to the 40s or 50s, which our row averages at 18.5C over 9.6C. Excursions rarely cancel for rain - the outfitters hand out gear - and the packing list is layers, rain gear, and a hat and gloves for any glacier day. The record: humidity 81 percent, 9.6 hours of sun and 18.1 hours of daylight.
DrizzleNotDownpour · June · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Juneau forum threads describe February as genuinely variable and often described by posters as pretty miserable - rain, snow, wet snow, icy wind or occasionally cold and clear, with no single dominant pattern to count on. Posters were direct that the month rewards flexibility: warm, waterproof layering and a willingness to adjust plans day to day matter more than any specific forecast. A practical note repeated across threads: Alaska's state Legislature convenes in Juneau in February, pushing hotel prices up during what would otherwise be a quiet season. For those hoping to catch the Northern Lights, posters were candid that Juneau's frequent cloud cover makes it an unreliable spot for aurora viewing, though not impossible on a clear night. Snowshoeing toward Mendenhall Glacier or Eagle Beach was recommended as a solid way to make the most of the conditions.
MendenhallGlacierRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Juneau climate normals — May

Daytime high15°C / 58°F🙂 cool
Nighttime low5°C / 41°F
Feels like (high)13°C / 55°F
Rainfall176 mm / 6.9 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days15 days
Humidity82%💦 very humid
Dew point7°C / 45°F
Sunshine8.9 h/day
Daylight16.8 h
Wind9 km/h / 6 mph
Snowfall2.6 cm / 1 in
Air quality (US AQI)37🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Juneau 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.

BusyCruise season(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Juneau'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 weatherJuneau's weather peaks June–August.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Juneau in May

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Cruise season

    25 Apr – 30 Sep · usuallyCrowded

    Ships dock nearly every day from late April to the end of September under a daily passenger cap agreed with the town. Downtown is theirs until late afternoon; the trails and the ferry terminal never are. Source ↗

  • Nature

    Humpback whale season

    1 May – 20 Sep · usually

    Humpbacks feed in Stephens Passage and Auke Bay from May until September, and the bubble-net groups work the same water year after year. Boats out of Auke Bay find them most days in midsummer.

What's on around the world in May →

Where is Juneau?

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Juneau in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Juneau?
May in Juneau: cool, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 15 rainy days. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Juneau on SeasonMap's comfort score (71/100).
What is the weather like in Juneau in May?
In May, Juneau averages a daily high of 14.5°C and a low of 5.1°C, with about 175.7 mm of rain over roughly 15.4 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Juneau in May?
Juneau has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 37 in May.
Does it snow in Juneau in May?
Juneau sees roughly 2.6 cm of snowfall in May.