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Is the weather good in Australia in May 2025?
Good Weather
🌧️
RainyFor the past few decades, the average daily temperatures in Australia during May have been around +21°C.
The weather differs across the Australia in May. You may encounter maximum temperatures of +21°C at noon in Cairns and +16°C in Melbourne. So plan your activities, and packing, based on the individual locations rather than the country as a whole.
Temperature, wind and humidity in May
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
☀️
+21°C
Avg. max. temperature
+1°C
Min.
+33°C
Max.
66 mm
Total precipitation
74%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
8 ☀️
Sunny Days
8 ⛅️
Cloudy
14 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Australia has good weather in May.
Australia in May – what city is the…
- rainiest? Perth, with an average of 2 mm of rain and humidity of 70%;
- warmest? Cairns, with daytime temperatures averaging +26°C;
- windiest? Perth, with an average of 4 m/s;
- coolest? Melbourne, with daytime temperatures averaging +16°C;
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How good is the weather in Australia in May?
During May, the Australia usually offers good weather overall, with air pressure around 1015 HPa. This means you may encounter some rainy weather too – May brings around 69 mm of rain and winds averaging 4 m/s. Humidity ranges between 70% in Perth and 78% in Cairns. In general, it tends to be more humid near the sea and lake and drier inland.
How warm is it in Australia during May?
The weather is usually pretty good this time of year, with daytime temperatures around +21°C.
This is how hot it usually is in May
The average daily temperatures above don't tell you everything about how hot it can be in Australia. For example, cold nights can make a big difference for those staying in tents or unheated houses. Extra hot days, on the other hand, can make a big difference for those who plan to engage in demanding physical training or competition. So here are some more temperatures for May:
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
- Average maximum temperature for the month: +21°C;
- Average minimum temperature for the month: +14°C;
- Highest monthly temperature: +22°C;
- Lowest monthly temperature: +12°C;
Monthly temperatures:
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
- Warmest: January with an average +28°C during the day;
- Coldest: July with an average +17°C of the day;
- Hottest month in hottest city: January in Cairns;
- Coldest month in coolest city: July in Melbourne;
Can you swim in Australia in May?
Here are the minimum and maximum water temperatures in cities in Australia in May:
Sydney
🏊
Comfortable19°C - 23°C
Perth
🏊
Comfortable20°C - 24°C
Brisbane
🏊
Comfortable22°C - 25°C
Cairns
👙
Warm24°C - 28°C
You can definitely swim in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane in May, with the water temperature of +19°C and up.
Winds in Australia during May
Wind speed in Australia in May based on historical data:
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
May tends to offer light winds averaging 3 m/s. However, coastal cities may experience breezes during the mornings and afternoons.
Comparison between cities in May:
- Highest average wind speed: Sydney with 4 m/s;
- Lowest average wind speed: Brisbane with 3 m/s;
- Windiest day of the month: Perth with 4 m/s;
- The least windy day of the month: Brisbane with 2 m/s;
Humidity and precipitation in Australia in May
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Australia based on historical data:
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
May tends to be an extremely humid month with 70% humidity and 69 mm rainfall. In general the humidity tends to be a little lower in mountainous regions and more humid closer to water.
Comparison between cities in May:
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
- Highest average rainfall: Perth with 76 mm;
- Lowest average rainfall: Melbourne with 52 mm;
- Most number of rainy days: Cairns with 18 rainy days;
- Least number of rainy days: Perth with 11 rainy days;
- Highest risk of rain during the day: Cairns with 58%;
- Least risk of rain during the day: Perth with 35%;
- Highest average humidity: Cairns with 78%;
- Lowest average humidity: Perth with 70%;
Tips for traveling to Australia in May
Looking for some tips for traveling to the sun, snow, or whatever you're aiming for Australia? Activities, weather, and clothing are closely linked. In addition, it's important to pack only what you really need so you don't have to worry about heavy packing or paying extra baggage fees.
Here is some advice on what to pack and what kind of activities you can do in the Australia based on the weather that May is expected to bring. The advice applies to the country as a whole – local weather and possible activities may differ somewhat.
rainy, warm weather with light winds and very high humidity in May
Pack right for May
The weather makes a difference when it comes to packing - especially which items should go in your suitcase. The tips below are designed to help you pack light and right without carrying more than necessary.
- For light showers, an umbrella or a thin and light rain cape is usually sufficient, while more rain may require rainwear and rain boots.
- Warm - neither hot nor cool, are probably the most comfortable when you think of sunbathing. Shorts, shorter skirts or dresses, tank tops and t-shirts are the basics here. If you're going to a seaside resort, don't forget your swimwear and maybe even a snorkel, mask and flippers.
- Light winds are probably most comfortable in hot weather but is cooling in cool and cold weather. If it is hot (when the air temperature is about 30 degrees), the wind can have a warming effect. A thin, windproof jacket and long trousers help to counteract these effects.
- High humidity means that the air conducts heat to and from the skin more easily. For example, if the air is hot (above skin temperature), it will be harder to stay cool. On the other hand, if the air is cool or cold, it is more difficult to stay warm. In high humidity, the choice of clothing makes less of a difference. However, your physical activity plays a bigger role.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Australia in May:
What can you do outside when it's warm in Australia?
Bathing and sunbathing can be suitable. Warm (but not hot) days are also good for activities that are not so physically demanding: sightseeing on foot, by boat, on a scooter, camel riding. You can also exercise easily as long as you make sure to cool down and quench thirst.
Is May a good time to visit Australia?
May is a really good time to go to Australia. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check other months when is a good time to visit Australia.
Monthly weather in Australia
Source of the data
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Australia, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.