Where Could You See Snow This May?

The stage is set for there to be a good chance for some May snow across the Great Lakes and Northeast.

Snowfall isn’t out of the question in these areas, but with the drastic change to the May temperature outlook, some of these places may see winter try to hold on this May.

The Setup: Unusually Cool From The Great Lakes To The East

We’re expecting much cooler than average temperatures around the Great Lakes. And that cool air will spill across much of the eastern U.S. So much so, that it could be the second chilliest May across the U.S. in the past 15 years, according to Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist at Atmospheric G2.

(MORE: May Temperature And Precipitation Outlook)

Why We Have To Look At April Averages For This Snow Chance

Given the outlook, May temperatures may feel more like April. So we have to look at where snowfall is typical in April. Parts of New England and the Upper Midwest often see their last snow in April.

It might seem absurd that snow is possible in May, but Marquette, Michigan, actually averages more than an inch of new snow during the month.

Marquette is smack dab in the middle of the area expected to be chilly this month so they might expect more snow than usual this year.

And they already saw a record snowfall earlier from an especially potent snowstorm earlier this year.

Oh, and if you are in the West, the odds are not looking good for snowfall. Widespread above average temperatures are expected, especially along the Pacific Northwest. If you live out there, you may have to call your friends in the Northeast to get one last snowball fight in.

(MORE: Marquette Record Snowfall Recap)

(MORE: Further beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on our Premium Pro experience.)

Big May Snowstorms?

Snow on the tulips? Say it ain’t snow!

That’s exactly what happened on Mother’s Day weekend in 2020 in the Northeast.

Snow fell in New York City, Pittsburgh and Detroit.

Up to 14 inches of snow fell in eastern Maine, which saw its first winter storm warning in May in 15 years.

The snow came amid temperatures colder than it had been in decades.

(RECAP: Brutal May Cold Snap, Snow Sweeps In For Mother’s Day 2020)

May the fourth be with your snowfall records?

A record-smashing snowstorm brought more than a foot of snow to West Virginia in early May 2023.

More than 20 inches fell near Davis, West Virginia — shattering the old state record snowfall for the state by over 8 inches.

(MORE: For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.)

Please, no more storms!

In the most active winter storm season to date, Winter Storm Achilles (the second “A” storm that year), dumped snow across the northern Plains and Midwest in May 2013.

Snow fell as far south as Arkansas and Oklahoma and dropped a half-inch of snow in Kansas City.

Snow was so heavy that power outages were reported from Colorado to Minnesota and Wisconsin.

(MORE: Winter Storm Achilles Recap)

No Guarantee!

So, just to be clear, we are not guaranteeing snowfall for your area this May. We are noting that there is an increased chance for snowfall across the area this May since temperatures are primed for any precipitation to fall as snow.

While the temperature outlook shows a well below average area, many of these same areas call for below average precipitation – lowering the chance of snow.

Long story short, the odds are good that any precipitation that falls could be snowfall here.