May is one of the cooler months of the year in Brisbane, with average highs near 22.5°C and lows around 16°C (mean 19.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 108 mm of rainfall and 74% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Brisbane. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Brisbane was 2007 — when the month averaged 21.4°C — while the coldest was 2011 at 17.7°C. Typical May days reach 22.5°C with nights near 16°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Brisbane, averaging 108 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1996 with 513 mm, while the driest was 2016 at 19 mm.
Relative humidity in Brisbane during May averages 74%. The most humid May was 2022 at 84%, and the least humid was 2016 at 64%.
May receives about 3.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Brisbane. The sunniest May was 2023 at 4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2022 at 2.5.
Average wind speed in Brisbane during May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest May was 1996 at 4.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2016 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 19.1°C | 19.2°C | 19.4°C | 19.2°C | 19.3°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 22.0°C | 22.1°C | 22.9°C | 22.8°C | 22.6°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | 16.3°C | 16.4°C | 15.8°C | 15.7°C | 16.0°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 129 mm | 167 mm | 86 mm | 64 mm | 88 mm | -41 mm |
May temperatures in Brisbane have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 6.6°C (2000) to a record high of 28.8°C (2007).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 108 mm, with a wettest year of 513 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.2°C per decade while lows fell 0.1°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Brisbane
May is a good time to visit Brisbane, with days averaging 22.5°C and nights around 16°C (mean 19.3°C, cooler than Brisbane's yearly average) and higher rainfall. October and April 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 | 22.8°C | 20.0°C | 17.1°C | 26.7°C | 12.9°C | 94 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2024 | 23.1°C | 19.9°C | 16.7°C | 24.7°C | 12.8°C | 59 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2023 | 22.6°C | 18.3°C | 13.9°C | 25.6°C | 9.8°C | 58 mm | 65% | 3 m/s | 4 |
| 2022 | 22.2°C | 20.2°C | 18.2°C | 25.7°C | 13.2°C | 218 mm | 84% | 3.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2021 | 22.1°C | 18.4°C | 14.8°C | 25.7°C | 10.9°C | 70 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2020 | 22.6°C | 19.1°C | 15.6°C | 26.7°C | 8.8°C | 28 mm | 68% | 3.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2019 | 23.5°C | 19.8°C | 16.1°C | 26.3°C | 8.2°C | 35 mm | 68% | 3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2018 | 23.6°C | 19.7°C | 15.8°C | 26.7°C | 10.6°C | 52 mm | 69% | 3.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2017 | 23.4°C | 20.0°C | 16.6°C | 25.9°C | 12.1°C | 47 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2016 | 25.4°C | 21.2°C | 16.9°C | 28.3°C | 11.3°C | 19 mm | 64% | 2.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2015 | 22.1°C | 18.6°C | 15.2°C | 26.0°C | 9.4°C | 138 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2014 | 23.0°C | 19.7°C | 16.4°C | 26.1°C | 10.4°C | 53 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2013 | 21.4°C | 18.3°C | 15.2°C | 25.9°C | 10.7°C | 63 mm | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2012 | 21.8°C | 18.3°C | 14.8°C | 24.6°C | 9.7°C | 60 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2011 ❄️ | 21.2°C | 17.7°C | 14.2°C | 24.6°C | 10.6°C | 92 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2010 | 22.5°C | 19.1°C | 15.7°C | 26.3°C | 11.6°C | 82 mm | 73% | 3.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2009 | 21.6°C | 18.7°C | 15.8°C | 24.1°C | 11.4°C | 241 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2008 | 22.7°C | 18.9°C | 15.2°C | 26.1°C | 10.8°C | 68 mm | 69% | 3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2007 🔥 | 24.7°C | 21.4°C | 18.1°C | 28.8°C | 14.2°C | 55 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2006 | 23.0°C | 19.1°C | 15.2°C | 26.0°C | 10.5°C | 34 mm | 65% | 2.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2005 | 23.1°C | 19.5°C | 15.9°C | 27.7°C | 11.1°C | 95 mm | 71% | 3.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2004 | 23.5°C | 19.3°C | 15.1°C | 27.2°C | 10.0°C | 24 mm | 65% | 2.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2003 | 22.4°C | 19.1°C | 15.8°C | 26.9°C | 11.2°C | 150 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2002 | 23.0°C | 19.4°C | 15.7°C | 26.7°C | 11.0°C | 69 mm | 67% | 3.3 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2001 | 22.9°C | 19.1°C | 15.3°C | 25.2°C | 10.7°C | 51 mm | 71% | 2.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2000 | 22.5°C | 19.3°C | 16.1°C | 26.3°C | 6.6°C | 73 mm | 74% | 3.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1999 | 22.3°C | 19.5°C | 16.8°C | 25.2°C | 13.6°C | 116 mm | 80% | 3.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1998 | 22.8°C | 19.6°C | 16.4°C | 26.3°C | 10.7°C | 151 mm | 75% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1997 | 22.1°C | 19.0°C | 16.0°C | 24.0°C | 11.9°C | 170 mm | 79% | 3.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 21.7°C | 19.4°C | 17.1°C | 25.0°C | 12.2°C | 513 mm | 80% | 4.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1995 | 22.4°C | 19.5°C | 16.6°C | 26.7°C | 11.0°C | 62 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1994 | 22.2°C | 18.3°C | 14.5°C | 25.8°C | 10.2°C | 102 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1993 | 22.6°C | 19.7°C | 16.9°C | 26.3°C | 13.0°C | 60 mm | 75% | 3.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1992 | 21.0°C | 18.3°C | 15.7°C | 24.4°C | 10.2°C | 122 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1991 | 22.4°C | 19.8°C | 17.2°C | 27.6°C | 14.7°C | 156 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1990 | 21.7°C | 19.1°C | 16.4°C | 24.1°C | 11.9°C | 216 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1989 | 21.9°C | 20.1°C | 18.2°C | 24.3°C | 14.0°C | 192 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1988 | 21.5°C | 18.6°C | 15.7°C | 24.8°C | 11.2°C | 26 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1987 | 21.8°C | 19.0°C | 16.2°C | 25.8°C | 7.0°C | 205 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1986 | 22.9°C | 19.6°C | 16.4°C | 25.8°C | 11.4°C | 117 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1985 | 21.8°C | 19.0°C | 16.3°C | 25.8°C | 10.0°C | 114 mm | 78% | 3.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1984 | 21.5°C | 18.4°C | 15.3°C | 24.2°C | 9.5°C | 53 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1983 | 21.7°C | 19.3°C | 16.9°C | 24.2°C | 10.8°C | 256 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 23.1°C | 19.5°C | 15.9°C | 26.0°C | 11.5°C | 85 mm | 68% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 22.1°C | 18.8°C | 15.4°C | 26.4°C | 11.6°C | 115 mm | 72% | 3.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 22.5°C with lows near 16°C (mean 19.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 108 mm of rainfall in Brisbane, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 513 mm in 1996.
The hottest May reached 28.8°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to 6.6°C in 2000.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 22°C to 22.6°C and overnight lows from 16°C to 16.1°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Brisbane and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 22.5°C daytime highs and 16°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 4th coolest month in Brisbane, averaging 19.3°C.
For May in Brisbane, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22.5°C and lows of 16°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 74% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.1 m/s (1996).
The wettest May on record was 1996 with 513 mm. On average, May sees 108 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 Brisbane 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.
