Scottsdale weather in May
May in Scottsdale: hot, dry — a great time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#8 of 12 months in Scottsdale · #1005 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 72/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 34°C
- Nights
- 19°C
- Wet days
- 1
- Sun
- 12.8 h
- Humidity
- 19%
- Daylight
- 14 h

Traveller notes on Scottsdale in May
Other months in Scottsdale
Scottsdale-forum threads on November weather show a real split across the month: early November can still run into the 80s Fahrenheit some years, while by Thanksgiving week it's settled to around 70F by day and the 40s at night. By mid-month, posters say it's not really warm enough for serious pool time, though heated hotel pools take the edge off for anyone who still wants a swim. A sweater for morning and evening is the standing advice, and the city stays casual enough that jeans and a nice top cover dinner anywhere. Overall it's called a genuinely great month for outdoor time. The record: 25.1C days feeling like 23C, 11.4C nights, 16mm across 1.7 days, humidity a dry 38 percent and 9.2 hours of sun - warm days, a real chill once the sun's down.
Scottsdale's forum is consistent that early September still runs genuinely hot and can carry lingering monsoon humidity - daytime highs commonly in the upper 90s to around 100F+, overnight lows only dropping into the 70s. Monsoon season technically wraps up by July/August most years but occasionally drags into early September, bringing a chance of dust storms or lightning. Forum regulars said the back half of the month cools off noticeably and becomes genuinely pleasant, with pool time recommended for anyone visiting the earlier, hotter stretch.
Forum posters describe August afternoons in Scottsdale as regularly hitting 105-110F (roughly 41-43C), with early mornings still comfortable in the mid-to-high 70sF (around 24-26C) until about 9:30-10am. Posters consistently recommend scheduling any hiking or biking for sunrise or the very last light of the evening, spending midday by the pool in shade, since sitting poolside without cover in the early afternoon isn't advisable at these temperatures. Posters describe August's monsoon season as bringing storms that are typically neither all-day nor every-day events, but can be genuinely intense, including microbursts, when they do arrive. Posters do flag a real upside: nearly all major resorts run staycation-level deals in August as the off-season discount kicks in. Posters generally rate August as extremely hot but manageable with a schedule built around the coolest hours, and notably better value than in-season Scottsdale.
March in Scottsdale means spring training, and the forum's practical points are mostly about that: it is the busiest stretch of the year in the Phoenix area, hotel rates rise accordingly, and booking early matters. On weather, regulars put March roughly level with November — highs around 24°C, nights near 9 — and warn that mornings and evenings are genuinely cold: socks, a sweater, long trousers and often a jacket, though not a heavy coat. Rain is rare, under four days. If the baseball is the point, Scottsdale Stadium sits in Old Town with a trolley loop serving it.
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Scottsdale climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale'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 weatherScottsdale's best weather comes in March, April and November — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Scottsdale in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Desert summer heat
15 May – 20 SepExtreme heatPreserve trailheads including Camelback are closed to dogs and sometimes to people during heat warnings, and the city runs on early mornings and air conditioning. Resort rates fall to a third of their February level. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Scottsdale — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Scottsdale?
Scottsdale in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Scottsdale?
- May in Scottsdale: hot, dry — a great time to visit. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Scottsdale on SeasonMap's comfort score (72/100).
- What is the weather like in Scottsdale in May?
- In May, Scottsdale averages a daily high of 34.2°C and a low of 19.4°C, with about 2.2 mm of rain over roughly 1 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Scottsdale in May?
- Scottsdale has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 59 in May.
Within 300 km: Sedona's Red rock wildflowers around 20 Mar – 10 May, and Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim season around 15 May – 15 Oct.