Moving in May in Reno and Sparks

May is the month the first heat arrives. The NOAA normals show freezing mornings nearly gone and the first 90 degree afternoons beginning. Because summer demand builds from here, the dates you want in June often need a May decision.

Warm afternoons, cool mornings

The gap between a 46.6 F morning low and a 74.1 F afternoon high is nearly 30 degrees. Dress in layers, and start the heaviest lifting while it is cool. Precipitation is 0.55 inches over about 4.4 days, so rain is possible but brief.

Because May has an average of 1.5 days at or above 90 F, a hot afternoon can appear without warning. Keep water on site for everyone.

Fourteen hours of sun

On May 15 the sun rises at about 5:46 am and sets near 8:05 pm at the warehouse, which is 14.3 hours of daylight. That gives enough light for a morning pickup, an afternoon drive and an evening unload.

Long evenings also help with the walk-through at the new home, when you can check closets and garages with natural light.

Why booking early matters in May

Graduation, the end of the school year and house closings push demand up. Washoe County School District's balanced-calendar students finish on June 4, 2027, and Incline Village students on June 9, 2027, so families often target the first weeks of June.

Ask for your in-home estimate by early May for a late-May or early-June date. O'Brien's office is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, at 775-359-6683.

Storage and the Tahoe season

By May, Tahoe homeowners are opening second homes and renters are rotating furniture. Vault storage starts from $40 per month, and the wooden vaults are 7 ft x 7 ft x 5 ft; shipping stored goods takes about 2 to 3 weeks of notice, so request them before a move-in date.

Truckee still averages 4.1 inches of snow in May with a 64.3 F high, so a high-elevation move may meet a final spring storm. See Lake Tahoe and Truckee.