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SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Bend in May

Bend in May: 26% of days see measurable rain, 66°F average high, 21% of days historically clear (n=248, ERA5 2018–2025).

Bend in May is historically a poor month for sun: only 21% of days clear across 8 years (n=248, avg high 66°F). July is the clearest month for Bend historically. Historical average, not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Bend page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late May

Clear-sky percentage for Bend in May, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early May
1st–15th		 22% n=120 66°F
Late May
16th–end		 21% n=128 66°F
Full month average 21% n=248 66°F

Sunshine & warmth in May

A second measure using actual sunshine hours (ERA5 sunshine_duration), not the daily weather code. A Lowcountry day with 12 hours of sun and a 25-minute afternoon storm is counted below as a warm, sunny day — because it was. How we define this.

Sunshine-based metrics for Bend in May. Primary: % of days ≥ 72°F with > 6 h of sunshine.
Period Warm & sunny (≥72°F, >6 h sun) Sample (n)
Early May
1st–15th		 26% n=120
Late May
16th–end		 28% n=128
Full month average 27% n=248
13.6 h median sunshine per day 88% of days exceed 8 h sunshine 26% of days see ≥ 1 mm rain — rain is not hidden
Comparison (old vs new): WMO-code “clear” bar: 21%. Sunshine-based “warm & sunny”: 27%.

Bottom line

Bend is mostly overcast in May historically: only 21% of days are clear across 8 years (n=248), avg high 66°F. If you want sun in Bend, July is historically much better. Most visitors this month will see more clouds than sun.

→ See all destinations in July — historically the best month for sun in Bend.

Every month in Bend

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Bend, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 0% n=248 All destinations →
February 0% n=226 All destinations →
March 0% n=248 All destinations →
April 4% n=240 All destinations →
May ← this page 21% n=248 All destinations →
June 54% n=240 All destinations →
July 87% n=248 All destinations →
August 78% n=248 All destinations →
September 55% n=240 All destinations →
October 22% n=248 All destinations →
November 0% n=240 All destinations →
December 0% n=248 All destinations →

Frequently asked

Does it rain in Bend in May?

Sometimes. Bend sees measurable rain on 26% of days in May historically (n=248 days, ERA5 2018–2025) — not frequent enough to plan around, but not negligible either.

Is Bend good for sun in May?

Not usually. Bend is historically overcast in May: only 21% of days are clear (avg high 66°F, n=248 days, ERA5 2018–2025). July is historically far better for sun here.

How Bend compares in May

Head-to-head clear-sky comparisons against destinations travelers plausibly weigh against Bend this month — same passport tier, similar flight distance, both sides from the same 8-year ERA5 record.

All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.