Richmond weather in May

May in Richmond: warm, rainy, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Richmond🇺🇸 United States · Northeast & Atlantic Canada · City87
  1. 59Jan
  2. 65Feb
  3. 75Mar
  4. 86Apr
  5. 87May
  6. 77Jun
  7. 66Jul
  8. 69Aug
  9. 79Sep
  10. 85Oct
  11. 74Nov
  12. 61Dec

#1 of 12 months in Richmond · #346 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 87/100 (tier A)

Days
25°C
Nights
14°C
Wet days
10
Sun
9.5 h
Humidity
72%
Daylight
14 h
Richmond, United States
Photo: Bruce Emmerling · CC BY-SA 4.0

Traveller notes on Richmond in May

April and early May are the forum's picks for Richmond — mild days, cool nights, and well clear of a summer regulars describe as steamy, over 32°C with high humidity. May averages near 25°C by day and 14 overnight. The honest caveat they add is that a Virginia spring is "a bit dodgy": it may be hot or cold, it may rain or not, and the month is genuinely unpredictable rather than reliably pleasant. October is the other month they name, and the one they rate as the more dependable of the two.
Tripadvisor community · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Richmond

Forum posters describe late November in Richmond as usually cool and crisp, not too cold as long as it isn't raining, with temperatures sometimes still reaching the 60s or 70sF earlier in the month. Posters are direct that fall weather here is genuinely finicky, and conditions can turn colder and more unpredictable as November wears on. Posters consistently note that real winter cold doesn't typically arrive until late December or early January, with Richmond winters generally mild by regional standards - an occasional light dusting of snow, annual totals usually under a foot, and daytime temperatures well above freezing even if nights get properly chilly. Posters generally rate November as a good time to visit, with pleasant conditions for exploring the city's historical sites outdoors.
Tripadvisor community · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Richmond forum regulars call early October “lovely with mild temps,” warm days and cool nights that regulars name alongside April and September as the city's best-weather months. The honest caveat: fall and spring in Virginia are very finicky seasons, with real variation possible from one day to the next even within a single week's visit — layers are the standard recommendation for exactly that reason, since a warm afternoon can follow a genuinely cool morning. The payoff for timing it right: many of the city's most popular outdoor events cluster into this stretch. Our record: 22°C days, 12.7°C nights, 7 rain days and 7.5 hours of sun — mild and comfortably dry, matching the “best of the year, but check the week's forecast” read.
Tripadvisor community · October · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Richmond-area forum regulars call April one of the better months to avoid summer's heat and humidity, but warn spring here is genuinely unsettled — “wet, snow, sleet, rain or unseasonably warm conditions” can all show up in the same week. Average highs sit in the mid-60s°F and lows in the mid-40s, but it's still early spring: posters note it's “barely out of winter,” so be prepared for anything from near-freezing to low-80s depending on the week. Historic Garden Week typically falls in April, with private homes and gardens across the state opened for tours — a reason to time a visit for the month beyond the weather itself. Our record: 21°C days, 9.5°C nights and 9.8 rain days — mild on average, with the real variability the forum describes sitting underneath that number.
Tripadvisor community · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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

Richmond climate normals — May

Daytime high25°C / 78°F🌤 warm
Nighttime low14°C / 57°F
Feels like (high)26°C / 79°F
Rainfall127 mm / 5 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days10 days
Humidity72%💧 humid
Dew point13°C / 55°F
Sunshine9.5 h/day
Daylight14.2 h
Wind15 km/h / 9 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 Richmond 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.

BusyDominion Energy Riverrock(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Richmond'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 weatherRichmond's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.

May includes Dominion Energy Riverrock.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Richmond in May

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

  • Season

    James River rapids season

    15 Mar – 15 Jun · usuallyHigh water

    Spring flow is what makes the class IV whitewater through the middle of the city run, and the rafting companies work the Pipeline and Hollywood rapids until the summer drops it. Late summer it is a wading river.

  • Festival

    Dominion Energy Riverrock

    14–26 May · usuallySporting eventCrowded

    A free outdoor-sports weekend on Brown's Island and Belle Isle: freestyle kayaking on the rapids, bouldering, trail running and dogs jumping off docks. The riverfront trails are busy rather than closed. Source ↗

What's on around the world in May →

Nearby, and something's on

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

Where is Richmond?

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Richmond in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Richmond?
May in Richmond: warm, rainy, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Richmond on SeasonMap's comfort score (87/100).
What is the weather like in Richmond in May?
In May, Richmond averages a daily high of 25.4°C and a low of 13.7°C, with about 126.5 mm of rain over roughly 10.2 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Richmond in May?
Richmond has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 49 in May.

Within 300 km: Baltimore's Artscape on 23–24 May, and Outer Banks' Lighthouse climbing season around 17 Apr – 12 Oct.