Hottest Mays in South Dakota since 1895
In 2022, the continental United States experienced its , according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their in the same month. The year prior, July marked the .
Climate change is driving rising temperatures and more record heat. The has climbed each decade since 1880 by about .14 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit total.
compiled a ranking of the hottest Mays in South Dakota since 1895 using data from the . Rankings are based on the highest average temperature in each month. For each of the hottest months listed below, we've included the average state temperature, state-wide highs and lows for the month, and the total precipitation.
#10. May 2023 (tie)
- Average temperature: 61.2掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 74.9掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 47.4掳F
- Total precipitation: 2.97"
#10. May 1988 (tie)
- Average temperature: 61.2掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 74.2掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 48.2掳F
- Total precipitation: 3.32"
#10. May 1900 (tie)
- Average temperature: 61.2掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 76.6掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 45.8掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.88"
#9. May 1926
- Average temperature: 61.3掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 75.8掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 46.9掳F
- Total precipitation: 2.61"
#7. May 1987 (tie)
- Average temperature: 61.6掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 74.1掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 49.1掳F
- Total precipitation: 3.14"
#7. May 1985 (tie)
- Average temperature: 61.6掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 76.4掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 46.7掳F
- Total precipitation: 2.1"
#6. May 1941
- Average temperature: 61.9掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 75.7掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 48.1掳F
- Total precipitation: 1.83"
#5. May 2018
- Average temperature: 62.1掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 75.1掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 49掳F
- Total precipitation: 2.71"
#4. May 1936
- Average temperature: 62.3掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 76.6掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 47.9掳F
- Total precipitation: 1.5"
#3. May 1939
- Average temperature: 63.3掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 78掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 48.5掳F
- Total precipitation: 2.36"
#2. May 1977
- Average temperature: 63.4掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 76.3掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 50.4掳F
- Total precipitation: 2.78"
#1. May 1934
- Average temperature: 68掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 85.5掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 50.6掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.6"
