May is one of the cooler months of the year in Newcastle, with average highs near 19.7°C and lows around 15.3°C (mean 17.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 87 mm of rainfall and 74% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Newcastle. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Newcastle was 2016 — when the month averaged 19°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 16.4°C. Typical May days reach 19.7°C with nights near 15.3°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Newcastle, averaging 87 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2001 with 298 mm, while the driest was 2016 at 5 mm.
Relative humidity in Newcastle during May averages 74%. The most humid May was 1990 at 83%, and the least humid was 2016 at 63%.
May receives about 3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Newcastle. 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 Newcastle during May is 2.9 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2003, 2011 and 2020, among others at 3.3 m/s, while the calmest was 2008 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 17.3°C | 17.5°C | 17.4°C | 17.8°C | 17.5°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 19.4°C | 19.5°C | 19.5°C | 20.3°C | 19.5°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg Low | 15.1°C | 15.5°C | 15.2°C | 15.3°C | 15.4°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 84 mm | 120 mm | 101 mm | 49 mm | 74 mm | -10 mm |
May temperatures in Newcastle have risen by about 0.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 9.1°C (2000) to a record high of 25.6°C (1995).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 87 mm, with a wettest year of 298 mm.
A quieter season to visit Newcastle
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of December and March tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Newcastle. That said, May — with days averaging 19.7°C and nights around 15.3°C (mean 17.5°C) and higher rainfall (87 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 | 20.1°C | 18.5°C | 16.9°C | 23.1°C | 12.8°C | 178 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2024 | 19.5°C | 17.8°C | 16.1°C | 20.9°C | 11.8°C | 117 mm | 78% | 2.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2023 | 19.5°C | 16.6°C | 13.7°C | 23.2°C | 10.6°C | 26 mm | 67% | 3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2022 | 19.8°C | 17.9°C | 16.1°C | 23.9°C | 11.5°C | 44 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2021 | 19.3°C | 17.2°C | 15.0°C | 22.4°C | 10.4°C | 35 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2020 | 19.0°C | 16.9°C | 14.8°C | 23.1°C | 10.5°C | 46 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2019 | 21.6°C | 18.6°C | 15.6°C | 25.4°C | 9.5°C | 16 mm | 67% | 3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2018 | 20.6°C | 17.8°C | 15.0°C | 24.8°C | 12.0°C | 8 mm | 67% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2017 | 20.4°C | 18.1°C | 15.7°C | 23.1°C | 10.2°C | 15 mm | 71% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2016 🔥 | 22.2°C | 19.0°C | 15.8°C | 25.4°C | 11.2°C | 5 mm | 63% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2015 | 19.0°C | 17.1°C | 15.3°C | 22.9°C | 10.8°C | 67 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2014 | 21.1°C | 18.5°C | 15.9°C | 24.2°C | 11.5°C | 35 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2013 | 19.9°C | 17.5°C | 15.1°C | 25.1°C | 11.8°C | 66 mm | 71% | 3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 19.6°C | 16.9°C | 14.2°C | 24.6°C | 11.2°C | 34 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 18.7°C | 16.5°C | 14.3°C | 21.9°C | 10.0°C | 133 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2010 | 20.2°C | 17.9°C | 15.7°C | 24.8°C | 12.3°C | 107 mm | 73% | 2.9 m/s | 3 |
| 2009 | 19.8°C | 18.1°C | 16.4°C | 21.7°C | 13.3°C | 118 mm | 71% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2008 | 18.9°C | 16.6°C | 14.3°C | 21.4°C | 11.1°C | 19 mm | 75% | 2.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2007 | 20.7°C | 18.1°C | 15.6°C | 24.6°C | 11.4°C | 39 mm | 73% | 2.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2006 | 19.6°C | 17.1°C | 14.5°C | 24.4°C | 11.0°C | 53 mm | 68% | 2.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2005 | 19.6°C | 17.5°C | 15.5°C | 23.3°C | 11.7°C | 129 mm | 74% | 3.1 m/s | 3 |
| 2004 | 20.3°C | 17.4°C | 14.6°C | 23.5°C | 10.3°C | 22 mm | 64% | 3.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2003 | 19.4°C | 17.7°C | 16.0°C | 23.1°C | 12.4°C | 205 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2002 | 19.6°C | 17.5°C | 15.5°C | 23.1°C | 12.0°C | 92 mm | 73% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2001 🌧️ | 18.4°C | 16.9°C | 15.3°C | 22.2°C | 11.5°C | 298 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 19.0°C | 16.8°C | 14.5°C | 23.0°C | 9.1°C | 40 mm | 75% | 3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1999 | 20.2°C | 18.1°C | 16.1°C | 22.5°C | 11.4°C | 31 mm | 76% | 2.6 m/s | 3 |
| 1998 | 19.1°C | 17.1°C | 15.2°C | 21.7°C | 10.3°C | 258 mm | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1997 | 19.5°C | 17.8°C | 16.1°C | 24.0°C | 13.2°C | 175 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 20.1°C | 18.2°C | 16.3°C | 23.9°C | 12.4°C | 132 mm | 74% | 3.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1995 | 19.5°C | 17.5°C | 15.5°C | 25.6°C | 10.8°C | 151 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1994 | 19.4°C | 16.8°C | 14.3°C | 24.1°C | 10.7°C | 81 mm | 68% | 2.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1993 | 19.6°C | 17.4°C | 15.1°C | 23.3°C | 12.1°C | 39 mm | 73% | 2.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1992 | 18.8°C | 17.1°C | 15.4°C | 22.4°C | 12.6°C | 74 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 19.4°C | 17.6°C | 15.7°C | 24.6°C | 13.8°C | 140 mm | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1990 | 19.3°C | 17.4°C | 15.6°C | 22.2°C | 12.7°C | 121 mm | 83% | 2.9 m/s | 3 |
| 1989 | 19.8°C | 18.1°C | 16.4°C | 22.3°C | 11.7°C | 105 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1988 | 19.3°C | 17.5°C | 15.7°C | 22.3°C | 12.7°C | 56 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1987 | 19.5°C | 17.1°C | 14.7°C | 22.7°C | 9.6°C | 96 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1986 | 20.1°C | 17.8°C | 15.4°C | 22.8°C | 13.0°C | 41 mm | 73% | 2.8 m/s | 3 |
| 1985 | 18.9°C | 17.2°C | 15.5°C | 22.6°C | 10.7°C | 125 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 18.5°C | 16.4°C | 14.2°C | 22.3°C | 11.7°C | 67 mm | 77% | 2.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1983 | 19.0°C | 16.9°C | 14.8°C | 21.6°C | 10.8°C | 99 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.6°C | 17.5°C | 14.4°C | 23.7°C | 10.3°C | 19 mm | 65% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 19.1°C | 16.9°C | 14.8°C | 21.3°C | 11.5°C | 152 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 19.7°C with lows near 15.3°C (mean 17.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 87 mm of rainfall in Newcastle, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 298 mm in 2001.
The hottest May reached 25.6°C in 1995. The coldest dipped to 9.1°C in 2000.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 19.2°C to 19.6°C and overnight lows from 14.7°C to 15.6°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Newcastle and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 19.7°C daytime highs and 15.3°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Newcastle, averaging 17.5°C.
For May in Newcastle, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 19.7°C and lows of 15.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 74% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 2.9 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.3 m/s (1998).
The wettest May on record was 2001 with 298 mm. On average, May sees 87 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 Newcastle 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.
