May is one of the cooler months of the year in Goonellabah, with average highs near 21.5°C and lows around 13.8°C (mean 17.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 114 mm of rainfall and 77% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Goonellabah. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Goonellabah was 2007 — when the month averaged 20.2°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 16.2°C. Typical May days reach 21.5°C with nights near 13.8°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Goonellabah, averaging 114 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1996 with 509 mm, while the driest was 2004 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in Goonellabah during May averages 77%. The most humid May was 1989 at 85%, and the least humid was 2016 at 63%.
May receives about 3.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Goonellabah. The sunniest May was 2006 at 3.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2022 at 2.4.
Average wind speed in Goonellabah during May is 2.2 m/s. The windiest May was 1996 at 3.1 m/s, while the calmest were 1982 and 2017 at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 17.4°C | 17.7°C | 17.7°C | 17.8°C | 17.8°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 20.9°C | 21.2°C | 21.9°C | 22.1°C | 21.4°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Low | 13.9°C | 14.2°C | 13.5°C | 13.5°C | 14.2°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 144 mm | 163 mm | 98 mm | 66 mm | 94 mm | -50 mm |
May temperatures in Goonellabah have risen by about 0.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 4.7°C (2000) to a record high of 31°C (2007).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 114 mm, with a wettest year of 509 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.3°C per decade while lows rose 0°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Goonellabah
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of October and November tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Goonellabah. That said, May — with days averaging 21.5°C and nights around 13.8°C (mean 17.7°C) and higher rainfall (114 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 | 21.6°C | 18.5°C | 15.5°C | 24.7°C | 10.3°C | 165 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2024 | 21.4°C | 18.0°C | 14.7°C | 23.4°C | 10.2°C | 102 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 22.4°C | 17.2°C | 12.1°C | 26.7°C | 8.1°C | 46 mm | 65% | 2.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2022 | 20.9°C | 18.5°C | 16.0°C | 26.5°C | 9.4°C | 136 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2021 | 20.9°C | 17.1°C | 13.4°C | 24.5°C | 7.7°C | 63 mm | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2020 | 21.2°C | 17.2°C | 13.2°C | 24.5°C | 7.9°C | 50 mm | 74% | 2.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2019 | 23.4°C | 18.6°C | 13.9°C | 27.1°C | 6.0°C | 32 mm | 68% | 1.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2018 | 22.9°C | 18.4°C | 13.8°C | 27.3°C | 9.3°C | 28 mm | 69% | 2.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2017 | 21.8°C | 18.0°C | 14.2°C | 25.5°C | 8.5°C | 54 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 25.3°C | 19.7°C | 14.1°C | 28.7°C | 8.7°C | 17 mm | 63% | 1.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2015 | 21.3°C | 17.4°C | 13.5°C | 25.5°C | 8.3°C | 175 mm | 79% | 2.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2014 | 22.1°C | 18.2°C | 14.2°C | 26.5°C | 8.1°C | 55 mm | 74% | 1.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2013 | 20.2°C | 16.8°C | 13.3°C | 25.6°C | 7.9°C | 100 mm | 78% | 2.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 21.2°C | 16.7°C | 12.2°C | 26.1°C | 8.6°C | 60 mm | 76% | 1.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2011 | 20.3°C | 16.3°C | 12.3°C | 23.1°C | 8.0°C | 59 mm | 77% | 2.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2010 | 22.0°C | 17.9°C | 13.8°C | 26.8°C | 9.8°C | 83 mm | 74% | 2.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2009 | 20.3°C | 17.3°C | 14.2°C | 22.8°C | 9.0°C | 339 mm | 79% | 2.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2008 | 21.5°C | 17.0°C | 12.4°C | 25.2°C | 9.4°C | 62 mm | 74% | 2.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2007 🔥 | 24.8°C | 20.2°C | 15.7°C | 31.0°C | 12.0°C | 33 mm | 71% | 1.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2006 | 21.9°C | 17.0°C | 12.2°C | 26.3°C | 7.5°C | 29 mm | 68% | 1.8 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2005 | 21.9°C | 18.0°C | 14.0°C | 29.3°C | 9.8°C | 101 mm | 73% | 2.7 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2004 | 22.7°C | 17.6°C | 12.5°C | 25.6°C | 8.1°C | 12 mm | 66% | 1.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2003 | 21.1°C | 17.6°C | 14.0°C | 27.3°C | 9.6°C | 157 mm | 79% | 2.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2002 | 22.1°C | 17.8°C | 13.6°C | 26.6°C | 8.8°C | 62 mm | 70% | 2.2 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2001 | 20.8°C | 16.7°C | 12.7°C | 25.8°C | 7.8°C | 104 mm | 78% | 2.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2000 | 21.7°C | 17.8°C | 14.0°C | 25.8°C | 4.7°C | 80 mm | 75% | 2.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1999 | 21.2°C | 18.0°C | 14.8°C | 24.5°C | 11.3°C | 149 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1998 | 22.4°C | 18.0°C | 13.7°C | 25.9°C | 8.7°C | 90 mm | 75% | 2 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1997 | 20.8°C | 17.5°C | 14.1°C | 25.0°C | 9.9°C | 164 mm | 82% | 2.6 m/s | 3 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 20.4°C | 17.6°C | 14.9°C | 25.1°C | 8.9°C | 509 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1995 | 21.4°C | 18.0°C | 14.6°C | 27.3°C | 8.4°C | 103 mm | 78% | 2.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1994 | 21.2°C | 16.5°C | 11.8°C | 25.8°C | 7.0°C | 85 mm | 72% | 2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1993 | 22.1°C | 18.4°C | 14.7°C | 26.5°C | 11.9°C | 59 mm | 76% | 2.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1992 | 20.2°C | 17.0°C | 13.7°C | 24.9°C | 10.0°C | 105 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 3 |
| 1991 | 21.6°C | 18.3°C | 15.1°C | 29.2°C | 12.7°C | 136 mm | 78% | 2.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1990 | 20.9°C | 17.6°C | 14.3°C | 24.2°C | 9.5°C | 225 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1989 | 20.9°C | 18.3°C | 15.8°C | 24.9°C | 10.8°C | 150 mm | 85% | 2.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1988 | 20.8°C | 17.2°C | 13.6°C | 24.5°C | 8.6°C | 28 mm | 82% | 2.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1987 | 20.5°C | 17.1°C | 13.7°C | 24.5°C | 5.1°C | 294 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 3 |
| 1986 | 22.1°C | 18.2°C | 14.3°C | 26.6°C | 9.3°C | 121 mm | 77% | 2.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1985 | 20.2°C | 17.2°C | 14.3°C | 25.0°C | 8.6°C | 188 mm | 83% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 20.0°C | 16.2°C | 12.4°C | 23.2°C | 8.1°C | 78 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1983 | 20.8°C | 17.5°C | 14.3°C | 22.8°C | 7.8°C | 238 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 22.5°C | 17.9°C | 13.2°C | 26.2°C | 9.1°C | 61 mm | 70% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 20.7°C | 16.9°C | 13.1°C | 24.8°C | 8.9°C | 138 mm | 77% | 2.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 21.5°C with lows near 13.8°C (mean 17.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 114 mm of rainfall in Goonellabah, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 509 mm in 1996.
The hottest May reached 31°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to 4.7°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 20.8°C to 21.4°C and overnight lows from 13.5°C to 14.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Goonellabah and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 21.5°C daytime highs and 13.8°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 4th coolest month in Goonellabah, averaging 17.7°C.
For May in Goonellabah, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 21.5°C and lows of 13.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 77% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 2.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.1 m/s (1996).
The wettest May on record was 1996 with 509 mm. On average, May sees 114 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 Goonellabah 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.
