May is one of the cooler months of the year in Wollongong, with average highs near 17°C and lows around 9.2°C (mean 13.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 74 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Wollongong. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Wollongong was 2016 — when the month averaged 15°C — while the coldest was 2012 at 11.6°C. Typical May days reach 17°C with nights near 9.2°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Wollongong, averaging 74 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2003 with 258 mm, while the driest was 2019 at 7 mm.
Relative humidity in Wollongong during May averages 79%. The most humid May was 1989 at 90%, and the least humid was 1982 at 63%.
May receives about 2.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Wollongong. The sunniest May was 2012 at 3.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1989 and 1995 at 2.5.
Average wind speed in Wollongong during May is 0.6 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2021, 2023 and 2025, among others at 0.6 m/s, while the calmest were 2013, 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 | 12.9°C | 13.2°C | 13.3°C | 13.3°C | 12.9°C | 0°C |
| Avg High | 16.6°C | 16.8°C | 17.4°C | 17.5°C | 16.5°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Low | 9.1°C | 9.5°C | 9.2°C | 9.0°C | 9.3°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 90 mm | 98 mm | 65 mm | 45 mm | 75 mm | -15 mm |
May temperatures in Wollongong have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 2.3°C (1987) to a record high of 25.4°C (2018).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 74 mm, with a wettest year of 258 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.2°C per decade while lows rose 0°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Wollongong
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and December tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Wollongong. That said, May — with days averaging 17°C and nights around 9.2°C (mean 13.1°C) and moderate rainfall (74 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 | 17.8°C | 14.2°C | 10.7°C | 23.6°C | 6.9°C | 113 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2024 | 16.4°C | 13.1°C | 9.8°C | 19.4°C | 5.2°C | 101 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2023 | 16.4°C | 12.0°C | 7.6°C | 20.7°C | 3.9°C | 22 mm | 73% | 0.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2022 | 16.3°C | 13.2°C | 10.1°C | 21.9°C | 4.0°C | 85 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2021 | 16.5°C | 12.9°C | 9.2°C | 22.8°C | 3.0°C | 78 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2020 | 15.6°C | 12.1°C | 8.6°C | 21.6°C | 3.7°C | 51 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2019 | 19.2°C | 14.3°C | 9.4°C | 25.1°C | 4.9°C | 7 mm | 68% | 0.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2018 | 19.0°C | 14.0°C | 8.9°C | 25.4°C | 5.7°C | 8 mm | 66% | 0.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2017 | 17.2°C | 13.0°C | 8.8°C | 20.2°C | 3.3°C | 16 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2016 🔥 | 19.8°C | 15.0°C | 10.2°C | 25.2°C | 3.7°C | 38 mm | 64% | 0.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2015 | 15.9°C | 12.5°C | 9.2°C | 20.8°C | 5.1°C | 58 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2014 | 18.2°C | 14.1°C | 10.0°C | 23.7°C | 6.0°C | 22 mm | 76% | 0.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2013 | 17.1°C | 13.1°C | 9.1°C | 22.9°C | 4.9°C | 81 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2012 ❄️ | 15.8°C | 11.6°C | 7.3°C | 20.5°C | 4.9°C | 16 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2011 | 15.7°C | 11.7°C | 7.7°C | 20.7°C | 3.0°C | 89 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | 3 |
| 2010 | 17.3°C | 13.5°C | 9.6°C | 23.9°C | 6.8°C | 110 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2009 | 17.1°C | 13.6°C | 10.1°C | 20.7°C | 5.9°C | 65 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2008 | 18.3°C | 13.3°C | 8.2°C | 21.4°C | 4.9°C | 8 mm | 73% | 0.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2007 | 19.5°C | 14.7°C | 10.0°C | 24.1°C | 4.6°C | 28 mm | 73% | 0.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2006 | 17.2°C | 12.6°C | 8.1°C | 22.1°C | 4.7°C | 47 mm | 72% | 0.6 m/s | 3 |
| 2005 | 17.8°C | 13.7°C | 9.6°C | 23.4°C | 5.6°C | 56 mm | 76% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2004 | 17.7°C | 13.3°C | 8.8°C | 20.5°C | 4.8°C | 20 mm | 68% | 0.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2003 🌧️ | 16.2°C | 13.2°C | 10.2°C | 21.0°C | 5.1°C | 258 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 16.7°C | 12.9°C | 9.2°C | 22.9°C | 5.8°C | 55 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2001 | 16.5°C | 12.9°C | 9.2°C | 21.9°C | 5.6°C | 67 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2000 | 16.9°C | 12.7°C | 8.6°C | 21.1°C | 3.9°C | 43 mm | 77% | 0.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1999 | 18.3°C | 13.9°C | 9.4°C | 21.0°C | 2.8°C | 25 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1998 | 16.2°C | 13.2°C | 10.3°C | 18.9°C | 4.2°C | 148 mm | 80% | 0.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1997 | 17.0°C | 13.7°C | 10.3°C | 23.9°C | 4.7°C | 97 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 16.4°C | 13.0°C | 9.6°C | 21.7°C | 4.1°C | 134 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1995 | 16.0°C | 13.1°C | 10.2°C | 22.8°C | 6.1°C | 217 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1994 | 16.5°C | 12.4°C | 8.2°C | 23.0°C | 4.3°C | 32 mm | 74% | 0.6 m/s | 3 |
| 1993 | 18.0°C | 13.5°C | 8.9°C | 23.0°C | 5.7°C | 24 mm | 74% | 0.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1992 | 15.9°C | 12.4°C | 8.9°C | 21.3°C | 3.9°C | 59 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 17.3°C | 13.3°C | 9.3°C | 23.4°C | 4.8°C | 66 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1990 | 16.2°C | 13.0°C | 9.7°C | 21.2°C | 4.8°C | 181 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1989 | 16.4°C | 13.8°C | 11.2°C | 21.1°C | 4.5°C | 126 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1988 | 16.4°C | 13.2°C | 9.9°C | 21.5°C | 5.9°C | 73 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1987 | 16.8°C | 12.9°C | 9.0°C | 22.6°C | 2.3°C | 77 mm | 78% | 0.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 | 17.2°C | 13.0°C | 8.8°C | 21.3°C | 4.8°C | 36 mm | 81% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 | 15.7°C | 12.5°C | 9.4°C | 22.0°C | 3.9°C | 122 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1984 | 15.5°C | 11.7°C | 8.0°C | 20.4°C | 5.1°C | 62 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1983 | 16.0°C | 12.8°C | 9.5°C | 19.1°C | 4.5°C | 186 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 18.6°C | 13.1°C | 7.7°C | 22.8°C | 2.8°C | 7 mm | 63% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.5°C | 12.7°C | 8.8°C | 22.1°C | 4.5°C | 120 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 17°C with lows near 9.2°C (mean 13.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 74 mm of rainfall in Wollongong, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 258 mm in 2003.
The hottest May reached 25.4°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to 2.3°C in 1987.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 16.5°C to 16.7°C and overnight lows from 8.7°C to 9.5°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Wollongong and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 17°C daytime highs and 9.2°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Wollongong, averaging 13.1°C.
For May in Wollongong, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 17°C and lows of 9.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.6 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.6 m/s (1982).
The wettest May on record was 2003 with 258 mm. On average, May sees 74 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 Wollongong 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.
