May is one of the cooler months of the year in Darwin, with average highs near 30.4°C and lows around 23.6°C (mean 27°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 19 mm of rainfall and 69% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Darwin. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Darwin was 2016 — when the month averaged 29.6°C — while the coldest was 2011 at 24°C. Typical May days reach 30.4°C with nights near 23.6°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is one of the drier months in Darwin, averaging 19 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2004 with 84 mm, while the driest was 1999 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Darwin during May averages 69%. The most humid May was 2010 at 77%, and the least humid was 2005 at 60%.
May receives about 5.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Darwin. The sunniest Mays were 2002, 2006 and 2021 at 5.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2004 at 4.7.
Average wind speed in Darwin during May is 4.1 m/s. The windiest May was 2000 at 5.4 m/s, while the calmest was 1997 at 3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 27.1°C | 26.9°C | 26.8°C | 27.2°C | 27.1°C | 0°C |
| Avg High | 30.3°C | 30.3°C | 30.3°C | 30.4°C | 30.7°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Low | 23.9°C | 23.5°C | 23.3°C | 23.9°C | 23.4°C | -0.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 16 mm | 18 mm | 20 mm | 29 mm | 7 mm | -9 mm |
May temperatures in Darwin have risen by about 0.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 16.4°C (2006) to a record high of 33.7°C (1988).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 19 mm, with a wettest year of 84 mm.
One of the best times to visit Darwin
May is one of the best times to visit Darwin. Expect days averaging 30.4°C and nights around 23.6°C (mean 27°C) — cooler than Darwin's yearly average — with low rainfall (19 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29.6°C | 26.4°C | 23.3°C | 31.0°C | 18.0°C | 19 mm | 76% | 4.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2024 | 31.1°C | 27.5°C | 23.9°C | 32.2°C | 20.3°C | 4 mm | 73% | 4.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2023 | 30.2°C | 25.8°C | 21.3°C | 32.1°C | 17.0°C | 5 mm | 63% | 4.3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2022 | 31.7°C | 28.6°C | 25.6°C | 32.9°C | 23.0°C | 3 mm | 67% | 3.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2021 | 30.3°C | 26.5°C | 22.6°C | 31.6°C | 19.2°C | 1 mm | 68% | 4.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2020 | 31.5°C | 27.7°C | 23.9°C | 33.1°C | 20.3°C | 9 mm | 63% | 4.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2019 | 31.6°C | 28.1°C | 24.6°C | 33.0°C | 21.4°C | 23 mm | 63% | 4.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2018 | 31.1°C | 27.1°C | 23.0°C | 32.7°C | 18.9°C | 3 mm | 63% | 4.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2017 | 31.1°C | 27.7°C | 24.3°C | 32.9°C | 21.5°C | 3 mm | 68% | 3.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2016 🔥 | 32.2°C | 29.6°C | 26.9°C | 33.5°C | 23.5°C | 53 mm | 69% | 3.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2015 | 30.9°C | 27.0°C | 23.0°C | 32.3°C | 17.1°C | 10 mm | 63% | 3.5 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2014 | 30.5°C | 27.7°C | 24.8°C | 31.7°C | 22.0°C | 29 mm | 69% | 3.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2013 | 30.1°C | 27.5°C | 24.8°C | 31.9°C | 18.7°C | 68 mm | 75% | 4.1 m/s | 5 |
| 2012 | 29.2°C | 25.6°C | 21.9°C | 30.7°C | 17.2°C | 42 mm | 70% | 4.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2011 ❄️ | 27.6°C | 24.0°C | 20.4°C | 29.8°C | 16.8°C | 2 mm | 72% | 4.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2010 | 30.1°C | 27.5°C | 25.0°C | 31.4°C | 22.0°C | 59 mm | 77% | 4.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2009 | 31.0°C | 27.4°C | 23.8°C | 31.9°C | 19.3°C | 9 mm | 66% | 4 m/s | 5 |
| 2008 | 30.3°C | 26.0°C | 21.8°C | 31.8°C | 18.4°C | 0 mm | 62% | 4.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2007 | 30.9°C | 27.8°C | 24.8°C | 31.8°C | 20.8°C | 51 mm | 74% | 3.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2006 | 27.5°C | 24.3°C | 21.2°C | 28.9°C | 16.4°C | 8 mm | 75% | 5.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2005 | 31.5°C | 27.6°C | 23.7°C | 33.2°C | 19.5°C | 1 mm | 60% | 4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 30.1°C | 27.3°C | 24.5°C | 32.1°C | 20.5°C | 84 mm | 75% | 4.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2003 | 31.8°C | 28.2°C | 24.5°C | 33.6°C | 19.6°C | 6 mm | 62% | 3.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2002 | 31.6°C | 28.2°C | 24.8°C | 33.2°C | 18.3°C | 14 mm | 63% | 3.6 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2001 | 29.3°C | 25.4°C | 21.6°C | 31.3°C | 17.1°C | 12 mm | 68% | 4.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2000 | 28.7°C | 25.5°C | 22.3°C | 30.0°C | 16.7°C | 19 mm | 77% | 5.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1999 | 28.9°C | 24.9°C | 21.0°C | 30.6°C | 17.4°C | 0 mm | 69% | 4.3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1998 | 31.6°C | 27.9°C | 24.3°C | 32.7°C | 19.8°C | 7 mm | 68% | 4.3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1997 | 30.8°C | 27.9°C | 24.9°C | 32.3°C | 20.9°C | 30 mm | 63% | 3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1996 | 29.6°C | 26.0°C | 22.4°C | 31.2°C | 18.6°C | 2 mm | 66% | 4.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1995 | 29.4°C | 26.5°C | 23.5°C | 30.7°C | 18.1°C | 28 mm | 71% | 4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1994 | 31.0°C | 26.9°C | 22.8°C | 32.3°C | 19.2°C | 7 mm | 64% | 4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1993 | 31.3°C | 27.9°C | 24.4°C | 32.4°C | 22.2°C | 10 mm | 67% | 4.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1992 | 30.6°C | 28.0°C | 25.4°C | 32.3°C | 21.9°C | 17 mm | 73% | 3.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1991 | 29.8°C | 26.2°C | 22.5°C | 31.3°C | 18.8°C | 3 mm | 67% | 4.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1990 | 29.9°C | 26.9°C | 24.0°C | 31.8°C | 17.1°C | 73 mm | 71% | 3.9 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1989 | 29.6°C | 26.7°C | 23.8°C | 30.5°C | 21.3°C | 3 mm | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1988 | 31.7°C | 28.8°C | 26.0°C | 33.7°C | 23.0°C | 12 mm | 69% | 3.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1987 | 31.3°C | 27.8°C | 24.3°C | 32.7°C | 19.6°C | 56 mm | 67% | 3.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1986 | 30.1°C | 27.5°C | 24.8°C | 31.2°C | 21.9°C | 32 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1985 | 29.5°C | 26.5°C | 23.6°C | 30.6°C | 21.1°C | 4 mm | 74% | 4.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1984 | 30.5°C | 27.2°C | 23.9°C | 31.8°C | 22.3°C | 6 mm | 73% | 4.6 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1983 | 29.2°C | 25.8°C | 22.4°C | 30.6°C | 17.7°C | 13 mm | 71% | 4.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 30.5°C | 26.7°C | 22.8°C | 31.7°C | 18.2°C | 2 mm | 63% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 30.4°C | 27.1°C | 23.8°C | 31.9°C | 21.6°C | 15 mm | 67% | 4.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 30.4°C with lows near 23.6°C (mean 27°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 19 mm of rainfall in Darwin, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 84 mm in 2004.
The hottest May reached 33.7°C in 1988. The coldest dipped to 16.4°C in 2006.
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 30°C to 30.6°C and overnight lows from 23.3°C to 23.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Darwin and one of the drier months, so plan for around 30.4°C daytime highs and 23.6°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 3rd coolest month in Darwin, averaging 27°C.
For May in Darwin, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 30.4°C and lows of 23.6°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 69% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 4.1 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 5.4 m/s (2000).
The wettest May on record was 2004 with 84 mm. On average, May sees 19 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 Darwin 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.
