RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Yet another month of 2024 is in the books, as May begins Wednesday.
After an exceptionally warm April (second hottest ever in the Triangle), what will May bring us in central North Carolina? Average highs at Raleigh-Durham International Airport jump from the upper-70s to the mid-80s after Memorial Day, with average lows in the low-60s by the end of the month. Also, by May 31, we'll see sunrises before 6 a.m. Those 5 a.m. hour sunrises stick with us only until the last week of June.
In terms of temperatures, the first week or two of the month is just about guaranteed to be above average, just how April ended. After that, there's a little less clarity. We're definitely due for a cool down at some point!
The storm pattern is likely going to get more active for us, as soon as this weekend. That certainly makes sense after how dry April has been, a top ten driest April on record. That's a primary reason why we expect to see above average rainfall in May.
month rain outlook graphic
Finally, to the tropics. In four of the last six years, we've seen a tropical system form during the month of May. While they're certainly not uncommon, luckily they rarely make landfall. Still, it's just a reminder of what's to come later this summer and into the fall: peak hurricane season.
