ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Outer Banks vs Tucson: weather in May
Tucson is the clear winner for sun in May: 94% of days historically clear versus just 16% in Outer Banks — a 78-point gap across 8 years of ERA5 data. Outer Banks also sees measurably more rain than Tucson this month (35% vs 2% of days). This isn't close.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific May. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Outer Banks
NC
- Clear days, May
- 16%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 70°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 5%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 27%
- Rain frequency
- 35% of days
Tucson
AZ
- Clear days, May
- 94%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 92°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 94%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 94%
- Rain frequency
- 2% of days
Compare Outer Banks vs Tucson in another month
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.