May is one of the cooler months of the year in Cessnock, with average highs near 19.5°C and lows around 9.8°C (mean 14.7°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 63 mm of rainfall and 77% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Cessnock. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Cessnock was 2016 — when the month averaged 16.9°C — while the coldest was 2011 at 13.2°C. Typical May days reach 19.5°C with nights near 9.8°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is one of the drier months in Cessnock, averaging 63 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1998 with 188 mm, while the driest was 2018 at 9 mm.
Relative humidity in Cessnock during May averages 77%. The most humid May was 1989 at 91%, and the least humid were 2004 and 2016 at 59%.
May receives about 3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Cessnock. The sunniest Mays were 2004, 2007 and 2023 at 3.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2025 at 2.5.
Average wind speed in Cessnock during May is 0.6 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2020, 2023 and 2025, among others at 0.6 m/s, while the calmest were 2021, 2022 and 2024, among others at 0.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 14.5°C | 14.8°C | 14.7°C | 14.9°C | 14.2°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg High | 19.1°C | 19.3°C | 19.7°C | 20.4°C | 18.7°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Low | 9.8°C | 10.3°C | 9.7°C | 9.5°C | 9.8°C | 0°C |
| Avg Rain | 74 mm | 79 mm | 59 mm | 39 mm | 68 mm | -7 mm |
May temperatures in Cessnock have stayed relatively stable across the record.
May has ranged from a record low of 1.1°C (1987) to a record high of 27.7°C (2013).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 63 mm, with a wettest year of 188 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.2°C per decade while lows fell 0.1°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Cessnock
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of December and March tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Cessnock. That said, May — with days averaging 19.5°C and nights around 9.8°C (mean 14.7°C) and moderate rainfall (63 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19.3°C | 15.6°C | 11.8°C | 24.3°C | 8.1°C | 172 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2024 | 18.5°C | 14.6°C | 10.6°C | 20.7°C | 5.6°C | 86 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2023 | 19.6°C | 13.5°C | 7.4°C | 23.1°C | 3.9°C | 18 mm | 69% | 0.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2022 | 18.4°C | 14.5°C | 10.5°C | 24.2°C | 4.0°C | 55 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2021 | 18.4°C | 13.9°C | 9.5°C | 22.2°C | 3.2°C | 32 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2020 | 17.8°C | 13.4°C | 9.0°C | 22.9°C | 4.6°C | 42 mm | 80% | 0.6 m/s | 3 |
| 2019 | 21.9°C | 15.9°C | 9.9°C | 26.9°C | 3.0°C | 15 mm | 66% | 0.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2018 | 21.4°C | 15.4°C | 9.4°C | 26.9°C | 6.0°C | 9 mm | 64% | 0.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2017 | 20.5°C | 15.1°C | 9.8°C | 23.7°C | 2.7°C | 16 mm | 74% | 0.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2016 🔥 | 23.2°C | 16.9°C | 10.6°C | 26.6°C | 3.4°C | 11 mm | 59% | 0.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2015 | 18.0°C | 13.8°C | 9.6°C | 22.3°C | 3.7°C | 62 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2014 | 21.3°C | 15.8°C | 10.4°C | 25.7°C | 5.4°C | 19 mm | 72% | 0.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2013 | 20.0°C | 14.6°C | 9.1°C | 27.7°C | 4.3°C | 51 mm | 75% | 0.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 19.7°C | 13.8°C | 8.0°C | 26.2°C | 4.7°C | 27 mm | 72% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2011 ❄️ | 18.2°C | 13.2°C | 8.2°C | 23.2°C | 3.3°C | 98 mm | 76% | 0.6 m/s | 3 |
| 2010 | 19.7°C | 14.7°C | 9.7°C | 25.9°C | 4.3°C | 82 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2009 | 19.4°C | 15.2°C | 11.1°C | 22.6°C | 7.0°C | 85 mm | 77% | 0.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2008 | 19.6°C | 14.0°C | 8.4°C | 22.0°C | 5.5°C | 11 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2007 | 21.5°C | 15.9°C | 10.3°C | 26.1°C | 4.7°C | 39 mm | 72% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2006 | 20.2°C | 14.4°C | 8.6°C | 24.6°C | 4.4°C | 24 mm | 68% | 0.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2005 | 20.1°C | 15.2°C | 10.3°C | 25.7°C | 5.2°C | 56 mm | 73% | 0.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2004 | 21.5°C | 15.2°C | 8.8°C | 24.7°C | 2.8°C | 18 mm | 59% | 0.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2003 | 19.1°C | 15.1°C | 11.1°C | 23.9°C | 6.2°C | 119 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2002 | 19.3°C | 14.6°C | 9.9°C | 24.6°C | 4.7°C | 63 mm | 77% | 0.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 17.4°C | 13.4°C | 9.3°C | 22.1°C | 5.3°C | 136 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 18.8°C | 14.1°C | 9.3°C | 24.0°C | 4.3°C | 44 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1999 | 20.8°C | 15.7°C | 10.5°C | 23.8°C | 4.4°C | 20 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 3 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 18.2°C | 14.0°C | 9.9°C | 20.9°C | 3.0°C | 188 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1997 | 19.7°C | 15.4°C | 11.2°C | 25.6°C | 6.9°C | 90 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 19.5°C | 15.1°C | 10.7°C | 24.5°C | 5.4°C | 106 mm | 80% | 0.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1995 | 18.9°C | 14.9°C | 11.0°C | 25.5°C | 5.0°C | 127 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1994 | 20.0°C | 14.5°C | 9.0°C | 25.9°C | 4.4°C | 32 mm | 67% | 0.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1993 | 20.1°C | 14.9°C | 9.8°C | 25.1°C | 5.5°C | 25 mm | 74% | 0.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1992 | 18.4°C | 14.1°C | 9.8°C | 23.3°C | 4.2°C | 34 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 19.4°C | 15.1°C | 10.8°C | 26.6°C | 7.3°C | 86 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1990 | 18.4°C | 14.4°C | 10.4°C | 22.5°C | 5.6°C | 87 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1989 | 18.7°C | 15.2°C | 11.8°C | 22.7°C | 4.8°C | 110 mm | 91% | 0.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1988 | 18.4°C | 14.4°C | 10.4°C | 22.6°C | 6.3°C | 49 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1987 | 19.4°C | 14.4°C | 9.3°C | 24.2°C | 1.1°C | 63 mm | 75% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1986 | 20.8°C | 15.4°C | 10.0°C | 24.8°C | 5.6°C | 33 mm | 73% | 0.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1985 | 18.2°C | 14.2°C | 10.2°C | 23.3°C | 3.6°C | 79 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 3 |
| 1984 | 18.5°C | 13.7°C | 8.9°C | 23.9°C | 5.2°C | 52 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1983 | 18.4°C | 14.1°C | 9.9°C | 21.4°C | 4.7°C | 120 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.9°C | 14.5°C | 8.1°C | 24.8°C | 2.2°C | 12 mm | 62% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 19.0°C | 14.3°C | 9.5°C | 22.9°C | 5.0°C | 148 mm | 77% | 0.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 19.5°C with lows near 9.8°C (mean 14.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 63 mm of rainfall in Cessnock, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 188 mm in 1998.
The hottest May reached 27.7°C in 2013. The coldest dipped to 1.1°C in 1987.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.2°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Overnight lows rose from 9.3°C to 10°C while daytime highs eased from 19°C to 18.8°C, narrowing the gap between day and night.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Cessnock and one of the drier months, so plan for around 19.5°C daytime highs and 9.8°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 4th coolest month in Cessnock, averaging 14.7°C.
For May in Cessnock, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 19.5°C and lows of 9.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 77% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.6 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.6 m/s (1981).
The wettest May on record was 1998 with 188 mm. On average, May sees 63 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Cessnock behaves each May, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for May specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
