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Detroit in May

Find out everything about the water temperature in Detroit in May. Average, minimum and maximum recorded temperatures as well as daily temperature in May for the last two years. Compare the current month's water temperature data with other months of the year.
Water temperature in May
Minimum:

44.6 °F

Average:

52.5 °F

Maximum:

64.5 °F

Water temperature in Detroit in May

In the city of Detroit, the month of May is too cold for swimming. The minimum recorded temperature during this month was 44.6°F on May 5, 2023, with an average temperature being 52.5°F and a maximum temperature reaching 64.5°F on May 27, 2024.

Swing in the water of such temperature might lead to potential hypothermia within just a few minutes. Throughout the month of May, the water temperature gradually gets warmer. Starting with an average temperature of 48.5°F at the beginning of the month, it steadily increases to around 56.6°F by the end.
Date 10 years average 2025 2024
May 1 47.2°F 51.3°F 47.2°F
May 2 47.4°F 51.4°F 48.9°F
May 3 47.7°F 54.2°F 48.8°F
May 4 47.8°F 53.8°F 49.0°F
May 5 48.1°F 54.1°F 48.4°F
May 6 48.4°F 54.0°F 49.8°F
May 7 49.1°F 54.1°F 50.1°F
May 8 49.4°F 51.7°F 53.5°F
May 9 49.8°F 53.3°F 53.5°F
May 10 49.7°F 53.2°F 53.5°F
May 11 49.2°F 52.7°F 53.0°F
May 12 49.9°F 53.4°F 53.8°F
May 13 50.7°F 55.1°F 54.5°F
May 14 50.9°F 54.2°F 54.8°F
May 15 52.2°F 56.4°F 57.5°F
May 16 53.0°F 58.2°F 59.9°F
May 17 53.0°F 58.3°F 56.4°F
May 18 53.6°F 60.4°F 56.3°F
May 19 53.8°F 59.5°F 56.2°F
May 20 54.4°F 59.6°F 57.8°F
May 21 54.6°F 58.1°F 59.1°F
May 22 54.8°F 58.5°F 59.4°F
May 23 55.6°F 58.8°F 61.4°F
May 24 55.8°F 56.1°F 62.8°F
May 25 55.8°F 53.7°F 60.9°F
May 26 56.7°F 53.9°F 63.3°F
May 27 57.0°F 54.6°F 64.5°F
May 28 57.4°F 54.9°F 64.0°F
May 29 57.7°F 55.7°F 63.5°F
May 30 58.1°F 56.8°F 62.9°F
May 31 58.7°F 56.5°F 61.7°F

Water temperature in Detroit by month

In Detroit, the months July through August offer comfortable swimming conditions, which amounts to 47 swimming days. The warmest water in Detroit was recorded on August 14, 2025, reaching a 78.9°F. While the coldest temperature occurred on January 4, 2018, dipping to 32.0°F. The average readings by season are 35.6°F in Winter, 44.1°F in Spring, 71.0°F in Summer, and 58.7°F in Autumn. The average temperature in May is slightly warmer than April's average of 42.9°F. And in June, the temperature is expected to rise further, potentially reaching an average of 65.0°F.

Popular neighboring cities and resorts

City Water temperature* Distance**
Fraser 32.4°F 15mi
Gibraltar 33.6°F 18mi
Lorain 33.0°F 75mi
Sheffield 33.1°F 80mi

* current water temperature in this city

** straight line distance from Detroit