May is one of the cooler months of the year in Coffs Harbour, with average highs near 20.2°C and lows around 16.2°C (mean 18.2°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 119 mm of rainfall and 75% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Coffs Harbour. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Coffs Harbour was 2016 — when the month averaged 20.2°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 16.8°C. Typical May days reach 20.2°C with nights near 16.2°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Coffs Harbour, averaging 119 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1996 with 538 mm, while the driest was 2004 at 9 mm.
Relative humidity in Coffs Harbour during May averages 75%. The most humid May was 1990 at 81%, and the least humid was 2016 at 63%.
May receives about 3.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Coffs Harbour. The sunniest May was 2004 at 3.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1997 at 2.6.
Average wind speed in Coffs Harbour during May is 3.1 m/s. The windiest May was 1996 at 4 m/s, while the calmest were 1982 and 1984 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 17.9°C | 18.3°C | 18.1°C | 18.4°C | 18.2°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg High | 19.8°C | 20.1°C | 20.2°C | 20.7°C | 20.1°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 16.1°C | 16.4°C | 16.1°C | 16.2°C | 16.4°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 149 mm | 179 mm | 100 mm | 70 mm | 85 mm | -64 mm |
May temperatures in Coffs Harbour have risen by about 0.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 9.6°C (2000) to a record high of 26.6°C (2007).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 119 mm, with a wettest year of 538 mm.
A quieter season to visit Coffs Harbour
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of December and November tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Coffs Harbour. That said, May — with days averaging 20.2°C and nights around 16.2°C (mean 18.2°C) and higher rainfall (119 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 | 20.8°C | 19.3°C | 17.8°C | 22.5°C | 13.5°C | 176 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2024 | 20.2°C | 18.6°C | 17.0°C | 21.7°C | 13.8°C | 97 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 20.3°C | 17.5°C | 14.7°C | 24.1°C | 11.0°C | 30 mm | 67% | 3.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2022 | 20.1°C | 18.7°C | 17.3°C | 23.8°C | 12.4°C | 102 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | 19.6°C | 17.7°C | 15.9°C | 22.3°C | 11.7°C | 64 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2020 | 19.4°C | 17.5°C | 15.5°C | 22.3°C | 10.7°C | 40 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2019 | 21.9°C | 19.1°C | 16.4°C | 24.5°C | 10.4°C | 24 mm | 67% | 2.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2018 | 20.9°C | 18.6°C | 16.2°C | 24.3°C | 13.2°C | 22 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2017 | 20.1°C | 18.2°C | 16.3°C | 23.0°C | 12.3°C | 53 mm | 78% | 2.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2016 🔥 | 23.3°C | 20.2°C | 17.1°C | 26.3°C | 12.6°C | 18 mm | 63% | 2.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2015 | 20.2°C | 18.2°C | 16.2°C | 23.8°C | 11.6°C | 194 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 3 |
| 2014 | 21.1°C | 18.9°C | 16.7°C | 25.2°C | 11.3°C | 40 mm | 70% | 2.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2013 | 19.5°C | 17.7°C | 15.9°C | 23.7°C | 12.1°C | 190 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2012 | 19.7°C | 17.5°C | 15.3°C | 22.5°C | 12.1°C | 41 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 18.9°C | 17.0°C | 15.0°C | 21.3°C | 11.7°C | 65 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2010 | 21.0°C | 18.8°C | 16.5°C | 25.3°C | 13.7°C | 55 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2009 | 19.4°C | 18.0°C | 16.6°C | 21.1°C | 13.8°C | 231 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2008 | 19.4°C | 17.3°C | 15.3°C | 22.2°C | 11.6°C | 40 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2007 | 22.4°C | 19.9°C | 17.4°C | 26.6°C | 13.7°C | 32 mm | 72% | 2.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2006 | 20.4°C | 17.9°C | 15.4°C | 24.1°C | 12.3°C | 29 mm | 67% | 2.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2005 | 20.3°C | 18.2°C | 16.2°C | 24.6°C | 12.7°C | 131 mm | 74% | 3.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2004 | 20.8°C | 18.1°C | 15.4°C | 22.9°C | 11.7°C | 9 mm | 66% | 3 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2003 | 19.9°C | 18.1°C | 16.3°C | 24.1°C | 12.8°C | 199 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2002 | 20.3°C | 18.2°C | 16.2°C | 23.7°C | 12.7°C | 73 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2001 | 19.4°C | 17.6°C | 15.8°C | 22.7°C | 12.6°C | 181 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 3 |
| 2000 | 19.9°C | 18.0°C | 16.1°C | 23.4°C | 9.6°C | 71 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1999 | 20.2°C | 18.7°C | 17.2°C | 22.3°C | 14.9°C | 180 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1998 | 20.9°C | 18.6°C | 16.3°C | 23.1°C | 12.3°C | 86 mm | 73% | 3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1997 | 20.1°C | 18.3°C | 16.6°C | 22.6°C | 13.0°C | 116 mm | 80% | 3.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 19.7°C | 18.2°C | 16.7°C | 23.1°C | 13.2°C | 538 mm | 79% | 4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1995 | 19.7°C | 18.0°C | 16.4°C | 22.9°C | 11.0°C | 227 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1994 | 20.3°C | 17.8°C | 15.4°C | 23.9°C | 11.9°C | 122 mm | 69% | 2.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1993 | 20.6°C | 18.6°C | 16.6°C | 23.9°C | 14.5°C | 43 mm | 75% | 3.2 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1992 | 19.1°C | 17.6°C | 16.0°C | 21.1°C | 12.9°C | 72 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 20.2°C | 18.4°C | 16.6°C | 25.9°C | 15.1°C | 141 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1990 | 20.2°C | 18.3°C | 16.5°C | 22.4°C | 12.6°C | 266 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1989 | 20.3°C | 18.9°C | 17.4°C | 22.7°C | 12.7°C | 152 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1988 | 20.0°C | 18.2°C | 16.4°C | 22.4°C | 13.1°C | 49 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1987 | 19.5°C | 17.6°C | 15.7°C | 22.6°C | 9.9°C | 279 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1986 | 20.4°C | 18.4°C | 16.4°C | 23.3°C | 13.2°C | 123 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1985 | 19.3°C | 17.7°C | 16.1°C | 22.9°C | 12.2°C | 270 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 18.7°C | 16.8°C | 14.9°C | 21.1°C | 12.2°C | 96 mm | 76% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1983 | 19.8°C | 18.1°C | 16.4°C | 21.3°C | 11.9°C | 173 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.5°C | 18.1°C | 15.6°C | 23.3°C | 11.2°C | 52 mm | 69% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 19.5°C | 17.5°C | 15.6°C | 21.5°C | 12.7°C | 146 mm | 75% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 20.2°C with lows near 16.2°C (mean 18.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 119 mm of rainfall in Coffs Harbour, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 538 mm in 1996.
The hottest May reached 26.6°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to 9.6°C in 2000.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 19.6°C to 20.2°C and overnight lows from 15.7°C to 16.5°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Coffs Harbour and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 20.2°C daytime highs and 16.2°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Coffs Harbour, averaging 18.2°C.
For May in Coffs Harbour, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 20.2°C and lows of 16.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 75% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.1 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4 m/s (1996).
The wettest May on record was 1996 with 538 mm. On average, May sees 119 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 Coffs Harbour 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.
