Reno weather in May

May in Reno: nice, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Reno🇺🇸 United States · California · City94
  1. 62Jan
  2. 67Feb
  3. 75Mar
  4. 86Apr
  5. 94May
  6. 89Jun
  7. 74Jul
  8. 83Aug
  9. 91Sep
  10. 87Oct
  11. 72Nov
  12. 61Dec

#1 of 12 months in Reno · #36 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 94/100 (tier S)

Days
23°C
Nights
8°C
Wet days
4
Sun
12.7 h
Humidity
48%
Daylight
14 h
Reno, United States
Photo: Trevor Bexon · CC BY 2.0

Traveller notes on Reno in May

Other months in Reno

Forum posters cite Reno's average March high around 58F with an average low around 34F, only a few degrees warmer than typical February, and describe conditions as capable of rain, snow, or sun depending on cloud cover - sunny but cold on a clear day. Posters flag March as having brought some of the heaviest precipitation of the year in recent years, with genuinely wide swings possible: one visitor hit heavy snow March 19-21, while other years saw fairly typical spring weather during the same window. Posters generally describe roads as clear and dry most years, though warn that an incoming storm could still require tire chains for anyone driving up toward Tahoe. Posters generally recommend flexible plans and a range of clothing options for a March visit to Reno.
Tripadvisor community · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum regulars describe a typical September as lows in the mid-40sF and highs in the low 80sF, sunny with little rain - but they're quick to add the month is a real wildcard, with year-to-year swings from upper-80s/90s heat to actual snow flurries as the seasons turn over. A roughly 40-degree day-to-night temperature drop is treated as completely normal, so a puffy or lightweight jacket for evenings is standard advice alongside daytime layers. The other September-specific consideration regulars raise: California wildfire smoke can drift into the Reno valley later in the month, so some suggest visiting in early June (before fire season) as the safer alternative if that's a concern.
Tripadvisor community · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Reno's card on the map.

Reno climate normals — May

Daytime high23°C / 74°F😎 nice
Nighttime low8°C / 46°F
Feels like (high)21°C / 70°F
Rainfall20 mm / 0.8 in☀️ dry
Rainy days4 days
Humidity48%🍃 comfortable
Dew point-1°C / 31°F
Sunshine12.7 h/day
Daylight14.4 h
Wind15 km/h / 9 mph
Snowfall0.9 cm / 0.4 in
Air quality (US AQI)49🍃 good

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

Crowds in Reno 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.

Busyone of its best months for weather(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Reno'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).

Best weatherReno's best weather comes in May, June and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Reno — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Reno?

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Reno in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Reno?
May in Reno: nice, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Reno on SeasonMap's comfort score (94/100).
What is the weather like in Reno in May?
In May, Reno averages a daily high of 23.3°C and a low of 8°C, with about 20 mm of rain over roughly 3.8 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Reno in May?
Reno has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 49 in May.

Within 300 km: Yosemite National Park's Dogwood in the valley around 15 Apr – 20 May, and San Francisco's Gray whale migration around 15 Dec – 15 May.