SeasonMapNantucket weather in May
United States
May in Nantucket: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit.
#5 of 12 months in Nantucket · #977 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 72/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Nantucket in May
Other months in Nantucket
Nantucket's forum rates July for warm, sunny days, with one recurring caveat worth knowing before booking a beach-heavy trip: the ocean itself stays genuinely chilly until August catches up, so swimming is more bracing than the air temperature would suggest. Regulars who want both warm water and warm air tend to point toward September instead.
Add your own note from Nantucket's card on the map.
Nantucket climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 16°C / 61°F | 🙂 cool |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 9°C / 48°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 14°C / 57°F | |
| Sea temperature | 13°C / 55°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 77 mm / 3 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 9 days | |
| Humidity | 86% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 9°C / 48°F | |
| Sunshine | 10 h/day | |
| Daylight | 14.5 h | |
| Wind | 33 km/h / 21 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 49 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Nantucket 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.
Peak crowdsDaffodil Festival, Figawi race weekend(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Nantucket'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 weatherNantucket's weather peaks June–August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Nantucket in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Tick season
1 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallyInsect seasonThe island's deer ticks carry Lyme, babesiosis and tularemia at rates among the highest anywhere, and the moors and bike-path verges are where they wait. Long trousers, and a check at the end of every day. Source ↗
- Festival
Daffodil Festival
20 Apr – 2 May · usuallyWildflowers & bloomsCrowdedBook earlyThree million bulbs along the island roads and a parade of antique cars out to Siasconset for a tailgate picnic, on the last weekend of April. It is the weekend the island reopens. Source ↗
- Season
Fog season
1 May – 31 Jul · usuallyRiskClosuresWarm air over a cold sea puts the island inside cloud for days at a stretch in early summer, and the small planes to Boston and Hyannis are the first thing it stops. Build a spare day into a June trip. Source ↗
- Festival
Figawi race weekend
20–30 May · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyTwo hundred-odd boats sail from Hyannis over Memorial Day weekend and the crews stay for the party. The island's first properly full weekend, and not a quiet one. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Nantucket — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Nantucket?
Nantucket in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Nantucket?
- May in Nantucket: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Nantucket on SeasonMap's comfort score (72/100).
- What is the weather like in Nantucket in May?
- In May, Nantucket averages a daily high of 16°C and a low of 8.8°C, with about 76.8 mm of rain over roughly 9.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Nantucket in May?
- Nantucket has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 49 in May.
Other months in Nantucket
Compare Nantucket in May
Warmer or cooler than Nantucket in May
Similar destinations in North America — May
Within 300 km: Boston's Whales on Stellwagen Bank around 15 Apr – 20 Oct.