May is one of the cooler months of the year in Atherton, with average highs near 22.8°C and lows around 16.6°C (mean 19.7°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 138 mm of rainfall and 89% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Atherton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Atherton was 2016 — when the month averaged 22.1°C — while the coldest were 2008 and 2011 at 17.6°C. Typical May days reach 22.8°C with nights near 16.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is one of the drier months in Atherton, averaging 138 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1983 with 368 mm, while the driest was 2001 at 13 mm.
Relative humidity in Atherton during May averages 89%. The most humid May was 1990 at 92%, and the least humid was 2015 at 77%.
May receives about 4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Atherton. The sunniest May was 2001 at 5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2006 at 3.1.
Average wind speed in Atherton during May is 1.1 m/s. The windiest May was 2024 at 1.4 m/s, while the calmest were 1997 and 2022 at 0.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 19.6°C | 19.5°C | 19.2°C | 20.1°C | 20.4°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg High | 22.4°C | 22.4°C | 22.4°C | 23.6°C | 23.8°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Low | 16.7°C | 16.6°C | 16.1°C | 16.7°C | 17.0°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 195 mm | 179 mm | 125 mm | 105 mm | 59 mm | -136 mm |
May temperatures in Atherton have risen by about 1.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 7.2°C (2011) to a record high of 29°C (2015).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 138 mm, with a wettest year of 368 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.4°C per decade while lows rose 0.1°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Atherton
May is a good time to visit Atherton, with days averaging 22.8°C and nights around 16.6°C (mean 19.7°C, cooler than Atherton's yearly average) and higher rainfall. October and September are marginally more temperate, but May still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24.4°C | 21.2°C | 18.1°C | 26.7°C | 13.8°C | 54 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2024 | 23.2°C | 20.5°C | 17.7°C | 24.8°C | 12.9°C | 58 mm | 89% | 1.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2023 | 24.0°C | 20.1°C | 16.1°C | 27.2°C | 11.6°C | 24 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2022 | 24.4°C | 21.3°C | 18.2°C | 25.5°C | 14.5°C | 101 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2021 | 22.6°C | 19.5°C | 16.3°C | 25.6°C | 12.4°C | 36 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2020 | 23.9°C | 19.7°C | 15.5°C | 27.0°C | 8.0°C | 82 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2019 | 24.2°C | 20.8°C | 17.5°C | 26.0°C | 13.8°C | 32 mm | 84% | 1.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2018 | 23.6°C | 20.0°C | 16.4°C | 26.7°C | 12.2°C | 28 mm | 82% | 1.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2017 | 25.5°C | 21.4°C | 17.3°C | 27.7°C | 14.6°C | 39 mm | 81% | 1.2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2016 🔥 | 25.3°C | 22.1°C | 19.0°C | 28.3°C | 17.2°C | 118 mm | 86% | 1.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2015 | 26.4°C | 21.5°C | 16.6°C | 29.0°C | 11.8°C | 30 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2014 | 22.6°C | 19.6°C | 16.6°C | 26.2°C | 10.4°C | 210 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2013 | 22.7°C | 19.8°C | 16.8°C | 26.1°C | 9.2°C | 278 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2012 | 21.4°C | 18.6°C | 15.8°C | 24.3°C | 11.6°C | 201 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2011 | 21.4°C | 17.6°C | 13.8°C | 25.3°C | 7.2°C | 56 mm | 86% | 1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2010 | 23.0°C | 19.9°C | 16.8°C | 26.4°C | 13.9°C | 58 mm | 90% | 1 m/s | 4 |
| 2009 | 21.9°C | 18.9°C | 16.0°C | 24.0°C | 9.5°C | 185 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2008 ❄️ | 21.1°C | 17.6°C | 14.2°C | 23.0°C | 8.8°C | 105 mm | 86% | 1.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2007 | 23.3°C | 20.5°C | 17.7°C | 25.8°C | 15.6°C | 205 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2006 | 22.1°C | 19.7°C | 17.3°C | 24.8°C | 15.1°C | 152 mm | 92% | 1.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2005 | 22.2°C | 18.7°C | 15.1°C | 25.9°C | 11.0°C | 43 mm | 87% | 1.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2004 | 22.6°C | 19.9°C | 17.1°C | 24.5°C | 14.0°C | 92 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2003 | 22.5°C | 19.5°C | 16.5°C | 25.6°C | 13.2°C | 186 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2002 | 23.1°C | 19.8°C | 16.4°C | 25.6°C | 13.6°C | 148 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2001 | 22.2°C | 18.2°C | 14.1°C | 24.8°C | 9.4°C | 13 mm | 83% | 1 m/s | 5 |
| 2000 | 22.7°C | 19.6°C | 16.5°C | 26.3°C | 9.0°C | 120 mm | 89% | 1.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1999 | 22.5°C | 19.5°C | 16.5°C | 24.9°C | 12.8°C | 94 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1998 | 23.2°C | 20.5°C | 17.8°C | 26.4°C | 12.3°C | 213 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1997 | 22.2°C | 18.6°C | 15.1°C | 24.2°C | 11.1°C | 90 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1996 | 22.6°C | 19.8°C | 17.0°C | 26.4°C | 12.6°C | 190 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1995 | 22.4°C | 19.8°C | 17.2°C | 24.3°C | 12.1°C | 164 mm | 92% | 1.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1994 | 21.7°C | 19.0°C | 16.2°C | 24.4°C | 12.8°C | 125 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1993 | 21.9°C | 19.0°C | 16.2°C | 23.7°C | 14.9°C | 173 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1992 | 23.0°C | 20.2°C | 17.5°C | 25.0°C | 14.7°C | 228 mm | 92% | 1.1 m/s | 4 |
| 1991 | 21.6°C | 18.5°C | 15.3°C | 23.1°C | 10.0°C | 164 mm | 89% | 1.2 m/s | 4 |
| 1990 | 22.6°C | 19.9°C | 17.3°C | 26.2°C | 11.0°C | 348 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1989 | 23.0°C | 20.2°C | 17.4°C | 24.5°C | 13.5°C | 301 mm | 92% | 1.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1988 | 23.1°C | 20.0°C | 16.8°C | 26.0°C | 13.0°C | 115 mm | 90% | 1 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1987 | 22.4°C | 19.4°C | 16.5°C | 24.9°C | 11.2°C | 187 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 4 |
| 1986 | 22.6°C | 19.5°C | 16.3°C | 24.8°C | 10.1°C | 126 mm | 90% | 1 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1985 | 21.4°C | 19.0°C | 16.6°C | 25.0°C | 11.7°C | 185 mm | 91% | 1.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1984 | 22.1°C | 19.3°C | 16.6°C | 25.0°C | 14.5°C | 123 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 4 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 23.3°C | 20.7°C | 18.1°C | 26.0°C | 13.6°C | 368 mm | 92% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 21.6°C | 18.5°C | 15.4°C | 24.1°C | 12.5°C | 85 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 22.4°C | 19.7°C | 16.9°C | 24.7°C | 13.1°C | 266 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 22.8°C with lows near 16.6°C (mean 19.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 138 mm of rainfall in Atherton, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 368 mm in 1983.
The hottest May reached 29°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to 7.2°C in 2011.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 22.2°C to 23.7°C and overnight lows from 16.7°C to 17.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Atherton and one of the drier months, so plan for around 22.8°C daytime highs and 16.6°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 4th coolest month in Atherton, averaging 19.7°C.
For May in Atherton, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22.8°C and lows of 16.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 89% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1.1 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 1.4 m/s (2024).
The wettest May on record was 1983 with 368 mm. On average, May sees 138 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 Atherton 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.
