Late spring · Weather & things to do
Decorah in May
Decorah warms up: highs climb to 68°F (20°C), from 57°F in April, with lows of 48°F (9°C) and about 4.7 in (120 mm) of rain.
It scores 79/100 for comfort, 3rd of 12, which makes it a solid shoulder-season month.
- Avg high
- 68°F (20°C)
- Avg low
- 48°F (9°C)
- Rain
- 4.7 in (120 mm)
- Humidity
- 77%
- Cloud cover
- 64%
- Daylight
- ~14 h 30 min
- Comfort score
- 79/100 · Great
What May feels like
Highs near 68°F (20°C) make for comfortable sightseeing weather.
Nights cool to an average low of 48°F (9°C).
Rain is a real factor, with about 4.7 in (120 mm) across the month.
Plan around May
May is shoulder season: good weather, a step below the best months (August & September).
- Start of the wettest three-month stretch (May – July), which brings about 14.5 in (369 mm) in total.
- Comfort improves from 70/100 in April to 79/100.
- May sits inside the May – Oct window our Iowa Driftless & River Towns route recommends.
What to pack for May
- A warm layer for eveningslows near 48°F
- Rain jacket and waterproof shoes4.7 in of rain on average
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Decorah in May
Wet days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Oneota Community Food Co-op
Local grocery with a deli for sandwiches and picnic supplies.
Why now A sit-down stop to wait out showers in a month with 4.7 in of rain.
Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.
Taproom of the brewery behind Pseudo Sue and other hoppy cult beers.
Why now Easy to slot in when May's rain moves in.
Vesterheim National Norwegian-American Museum
Large Norwegian-American heritage museum with folk art and historic buildings.
Why now An indoor-leaning stop for a month with 4.7 in of rain.
Dunning's Spring Park
Short walk to a 200-foot waterfall tumbling off a limestone bluff.
Trout Run Trail
11-mile paved bike loop past a trout hatchery, bluffs and farmland.
Nearby in May
- Dubuque in May~79 mi · highs 70°F, 4.3 in rain · 1°C (2°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Minneapolis in May~137 mi · highs 68°F, 4.3 in rain · similar daytime temperatures, about as wet
- Des Moines in May~151 mi · highs 73°F, 4.7 in rain · 3°C (5°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Milwaukee in May~196 mi · highs 66°F, 4.3 in rain · 1°C (2°F) cooler by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid. Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Decorah in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Decorah?
It's a good shoulder-season choice, scoring 79/100 against a best of 87 in August & September. Expect highs of 68°F (20°C) and 4.7 in (120 mm) of rain. May is inside the May – Oct window our Iowa Driftless & River Towns route recommends.
How hot is Decorah in May?
Average highs are 68°F (20°C) and average lows 48°F (9°C), making it the 5th-warmest month by daytime highs.
Does it rain a lot in Decorah in May?
Yes: about 4.7 in (120 mm) of rain falls across May on average, the 2nd-wettest month of the year. The annual total is about 37.0 in (939 mm).
What should I pack for Decorah in May?
Bring a warm layer for evenings (lows near 48°F), rain jacket and waterproof shoes (4.7 in of rain on average) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Decorah
Routes in season in May
- Iowa Driftless & River Towns May – Oct
Planning Decorah in May?
Plan it together in TripsCircle: one itinerary, one shared packing list and costs split as you go.