May is one of the cooler months of the year in Katoomba, with average highs near 14.7°C and lows around 5.6°C (mean 10.1°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 49 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Katoomba. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Katoomba was 2007 — when the month averaged 11.8°C — while the coldest was 2023 at 8.6°C. Typical May days reach 14.7°C with nights near 5.6°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is one of the drier months in Katoomba, averaging 49 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1995 with 136 mm, while the driest was 2018 at 7 mm.
Relative humidity in Katoomba during May averages 79%. The most humid May was 1989 at 91%, and the least humid was 2004 at 66%.
May receives about 3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Katoomba. The sunniest Mays were 2004, 2012 and 2018 at 3.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1989 at 2.4.
Average wind speed in Katoomba during May is 0.4 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2000, 2016 and 2019 at 0.5 m/s, while the calmest were 1991 and 1992 at 0.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 10.0°C | 10.4°C | 10.3°C | 10.1°C | 9.8°C | -0.2°C |
| Avg High | 14.3°C | 14.7°C | 15.1°C | 15.0°C | 14.1°C | -0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 5.7°C | 6.0°C | 5.5°C | 5.3°C | 5.6°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 70 mm | 61 mm | 38 mm | 31 mm | 49 mm | -21 mm |
May temperatures in Katoomba have risen by about 0.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -2.4°C (1999) to a record high of 23.7°C (2016).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 49 mm, with a wettest year of 136 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.1°C per decade while lows fell 0.1°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Katoomba
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and February tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Katoomba. That said, May — with days averaging 14.7°C and nights around 5.6°C (mean 10.1°C) and moderate rainfall (49 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 | 15.4°C | 11.3°C | 7.2°C | 20.3°C | 3.3°C | 109 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2024 | 14.4°C | 10.4°C | 6.3°C | 17.8°C | 0.8°C | 64 mm | 85% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2023 ❄️ | 13.6°C | 8.6°C | 3.6°C | 17.9°C | 0.0°C | 7 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2022 | 13.8°C | 10.1°C | 6.4°C | 19.6°C | 0.5°C | 53 mm | 88% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | 14.1°C | 9.8°C | 5.4°C | 18.5°C | -1.7°C | 32 mm | 81% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2020 | 13.0°C | 8.7°C | 4.5°C | 18.0°C | -0.2°C | 28 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2019 | 15.7°C | 10.6°C | 5.5°C | 21.6°C | -0.6°C | 16 mm | 73% | 0.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2018 | 16.3°C | 10.7°C | 5.1°C | 21.7°C | 2.1°C | 7 mm | 69% | 0.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2017 | 15.4°C | 10.4°C | 5.3°C | 17.8°C | -1.0°C | 9 mm | 77% | 0.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2016 | 16.7°C | 11.3°C | 6.0°C | 23.7°C | -1.9°C | 15 mm | 68% | 0.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2015 | 13.7°C | 9.8°C | 5.8°C | 19.4°C | 0.2°C | 41 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2014 | 15.6°C | 10.8°C | 6.0°C | 20.8°C | 1.3°C | 24 mm | 78% | 0.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2013 | 14.7°C | 10.1°C | 5.5°C | 21.9°C | 0.8°C | 34 mm | 78% | 0.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 13.8°C | 8.9°C | 3.9°C | 19.1°C | 0.6°C | 34 mm | 78% | 0.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 13.5°C | 8.8°C | 4.0°C | 18.3°C | -1.5°C | 69 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2010 | 14.4°C | 10.0°C | 5.6°C | 19.4°C | -0.2°C | 64 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2009 | 14.4°C | 10.3°C | 6.2°C | 17.9°C | 2.6°C | 72 mm | 82% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2008 | 15.7°C | 10.4°C | 5.0°C | 20.0°C | 1.2°C | 8 mm | 73% | 0.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2007 🔥 | 16.9°C | 11.8°C | 6.7°C | 21.1°C | -0.5°C | 57 mm | 73% | 0.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2006 | 14.8°C | 9.5°C | 4.2°C | 18.6°C | -1.1°C | 11 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2005 | 16.2°C | 11.1°C | 6.0°C | 20.2°C | 1.2°C | 12 mm | 73% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2004 | 15.9°C | 10.2°C | 4.5°C | 19.9°C | -0.7°C | 34 mm | 66% | 0.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2003 | 14.7°C | 10.6°C | 6.5°C | 19.7°C | 1.5°C | 52 mm | 81% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 14.0°C | 9.8°C | 5.6°C | 20.2°C | 1.5°C | 49 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 14.2°C | 9.7°C | 5.2°C | 18.8°C | 0.7°C | 22 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2000 | 13.7°C | 9.3°C | 4.9°C | 19.0°C | -0.8°C | 63 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1999 | 16.3°C | 11.2°C | 6.2°C | 19.0°C | -2.4°C | 19 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1998 | 14.2°C | 10.2°C | 6.1°C | 18.8°C | -0.4°C | 94 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1997 | 15.0°C | 10.7°C | 6.4°C | 21.0°C | -1.4°C | 49 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1996 | 15.0°C | 10.7°C | 6.5°C | 19.8°C | 0.4°C | 92 mm | 82% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1995 🌧️ | 13.4°C | 9.9°C | 6.4°C | 18.6°C | 1.8°C | 136 mm | 86% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1994 | 14.8°C | 9.9°C | 4.9°C | 21.1°C | 0.6°C | 16 mm | 71% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1993 | 15.4°C | 10.5°C | 5.6°C | 20.3°C | 1.1°C | 30 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1992 | 13.7°C | 9.6°C | 5.5°C | 19.0°C | -0.4°C | 32 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1991 | 15.3°C | 10.7°C | 6.2°C | 20.1°C | 1.4°C | 48 mm | 78% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1990 | 14.2°C | 10.3°C | 6.4°C | 18.5°C | 0.6°C | 90 mm | 87% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1989 | 14.1°C | 11.0°C | 7.8°C | 18.8°C | 0.6°C | 84 mm | 91% | 0.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1988 | 14.2°C | 10.2°C | 6.2°C | 20.1°C | 2.3°C | 62 mm | 86% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1987 | 13.8°C | 9.4°C | 5.1°C | 18.4°C | -1.9°C | 81 mm | 81% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 | 15.3°C | 10.5°C | 5.7°C | 19.1°C | 1.6°C | 43 mm | 77% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1985 | 14.1°C | 10.0°C | 5.8°C | 19.6°C | 1.2°C | 61 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1984 | 13.7°C | 9.4°C | 5.2°C | 19.7°C | 0.8°C | 42 mm | 82% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1983 | 13.8°C | 9.9°C | 6.0°C | 17.4°C | -0.5°C | 134 mm | 85% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 15.5°C | 9.7°C | 3.9°C | 19.2°C | -1.7°C | 14 mm | 66% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.1°C | 9.7°C | 5.2°C | 19.3°C | 0.0°C | 106 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 14.7°C with lows near 5.6°C (mean 10.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 49 mm of rainfall in Katoomba, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 136 mm in 1995.
The hottest May reached 23.7°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to -2.4°C in 1999.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 14.2°C to 14.3°C and overnight lows from 5.2°C to 5.8°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Katoomba and one of the drier months, so plan for around 14.7°C daytime highs and 5.6°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 4th coolest month in Katoomba, averaging 10.1°C.
For May in Katoomba, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 14.7°C and lows of 5.6°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.4 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.5 m/s (2000).
The wettest May on record was 1995 with 136 mm. On average, May sees 49 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 Katoomba 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.
