Climate summaries for May 2026
In the Northland, average temperatures for May ended up close to normal, with some areas slightly cooler than usual.
Duluth, MN: -2.2 degrees
Ashland, WI: -2.0 degrees
International Falls, MN: -2.0 degrees
Brainerd, MN: -1.5 degrees
Hibbing, MN: 0.0 degrees
Total precipitation for May 2026
Duluth, MN: 1.27 inches (Normal 3.37 inches)
Hibbing, MN: 1.24 inches (Normal 2.76 inches)
International Falls, MN: 0.86 inches (Normal 3.06 inches)
Brainerd, MN: 0.52 inches (Normal 3.27 inches)
In May 2026, most of the Northland received 1.50 to almost 3 inches less precipitation than usual.
Departure from normal precipitation for May 2026
Brainerd, MN: -2.75 inches
International Falls, MN: -2.20 inches
Duluth, MN: -2.10 inches
Hibbing, MN: -1.52 inches
In May 2026, the Northland saw only about 10 to 50% of its usual precipitation.
Hibbing: 44% of normal
Duluth: 38% of normal
International Falls: 28% of normal
Brainerd: 15% of normal
In May 2026, Duluth had 3 days with highs of at least 80 degrees, compared to the usual 2, and 8 days reaching at least 70 degrees, up from the normal 6.
The highest temperature of the month was 85 degrees, recorded on May 25 and May 29.
In May 2026, Duluth had 8 days with lows at or below 32 degrees, double the usual 4 days.
The lowest temperature in Duluth in May 2026 was 23 degrees, recorded on the 1st.
In May 2026, Duluth saw 19 days colder than average and just 10 days warmer than usual.
It was a fairly quiet month for thunderstorms and severe weather across the Northland, with just 2 slight risk days (level 2/5) and 4 marginal risk days (level 1/5).
In May 2026, Duluth experienced four days with thunder.
In May 2026, Minnesota saw 5 tornado reports, 18 severe hail reports, and 13 severe wind reports, with all the tornadoes occurring in the far southern part of the state.
In Wisconsin, May 2026 brought only 1 tornado report, along with 21 severe wind reports and 10 severe hail reports.
From 2001 to 2025, the 25-year average number of tornadoes is about 8 in Minnesota and 3 in Wisconsin.
