May is one of the cooler months of the year in Ipswich, with average highs near 22.4°C and lows around 11.5°C (mean 17°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 74 mm of rainfall and 76% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Ipswich. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Ipswich was 2007 — when the month averaged 19.8°C — while the coldest was 2011 at 15.3°C. Typical May days reach 22.4°C with nights near 11.5°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Ipswich, averaging 74 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1996 with 395 mm, while the driest were 2004 and 2016 at 15 mm.
Relative humidity in Ipswich during May averages 76%. The most humid May was 1989 at 90%, and the least humid was 2016 at 59%.
May receives about 3.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Ipswich. The sunniest May was 2006 at 4.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2022 at 2.5.
Average wind speed in Ipswich during May is 1.1 m/s. The windiest Mays were 1996, 2000 and 2022, among others at 1.3 m/s, while the calmest were 2016, 2017 and 2021, among others at 1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 16.7°C | 17.0°C | 17.1°C | 17.0°C | 17.1°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 21.6°C | 21.9°C | 23.2°C | 22.9°C | 22.4°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 11.8°C | 12.0°C | 11.1°C | 11.1°C | 11.8°C | 0°C |
| Avg Rain | 90 mm | 113 mm | 50 mm | 46 mm | 71 mm | -19 mm |
May temperatures in Ipswich have risen by about 0.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 1.6°C (2000) to a record high of 32.3°C (2007).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 74 mm, with a wettest year of 395 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.4°C per decade while lows fell 0.1°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Ipswich
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of October and November tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Ipswich. That said, May — with days averaging 22.4°C and nights around 11.5°C (mean 17°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 | 22.4°C | 17.8°C | 13.2°C | 26.8°C | 8.7°C | 78 mm | 82% | 1.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2024 | 23.1°C | 17.7°C | 12.3°C | 25.1°C | 8.1°C | 35 mm | 79% | 1.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2023 | 22.9°C | 16.1°C | 9.3°C | 27.0°C | 3.5°C | 51 mm | 64% | 1.1 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2022 | 21.3°C | 17.9°C | 14.4°C | 26.4°C | 9.0°C | 185 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2021 | 22.1°C | 16.2°C | 10.3°C | 26.7°C | 5.6°C | 60 mm | 78% | 1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2020 | 22.8°C | 16.9°C | 11.1°C | 27.4°C | 3.7°C | 16 mm | 67% | 1.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2019 | 23.7°C | 17.5°C | 11.3°C | 27.1°C | 2.3°C | 20 mm | 69% | 1.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2018 | 24.1°C | 17.6°C | 11.1°C | 28.5°C | 5.3°C | 28 mm | 67% | 1.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2017 | 23.8°C | 18.1°C | 12.4°C | 27.7°C | 6.9°C | 32 mm | 76% | 1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2016 | 26.7°C | 19.6°C | 12.5°C | 29.9°C | 6.1°C | 15 mm | 59% | 1 m/s | 4 |
| 2015 | 21.7°C | 16.2°C | 10.8°C | 25.4°C | 4.2°C | 119 mm | 80% | 1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2014 | 22.7°C | 17.2°C | 11.7°C | 27.0°C | 4.8°C | 37 mm | 75% | 1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2013 | 21.0°C | 15.7°C | 10.5°C | 26.4°C | 5.3°C | 44 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2012 | 22.0°C | 15.9°C | 9.7°C | 26.3°C | 4.0°C | 39 mm | 76% | 1 m/s | 4 |
| 2011 ❄️ | 21.0°C | 15.3°C | 9.7°C | 25.3°C | 5.1°C | 77 mm | 76% | 1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2010 | 22.3°C | 16.6°C | 11.0°C | 26.9°C | 6.2°C | 50 mm | 74% | 1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2009 | 21.1°C | 16.2°C | 11.3°C | 24.0°C | 7.2°C | 153 mm | 81% | 1.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2008 | 23.3°C | 16.9°C | 10.4°C | 26.9°C | 6.2°C | 36 mm | 68% | 1 m/s | 4 |
| 2007 🔥 | 25.8°C | 19.8°C | 13.9°C | 32.3°C | 9.3°C | 30 mm | 70% | 1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2006 | 23.6°C | 16.9°C | 10.3°C | 27.6°C | 4.7°C | 16 mm | 62% | 1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2005 | 23.4°C | 17.3°C | 11.2°C | 30.1°C | 5.4°C | 50 mm | 70% | 1.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2004 | 23.6°C | 16.8°C | 9.9°C | 27.5°C | 4.0°C | 15 mm | 65% | 1 m/s | 4 |
| 2003 | 22.4°C | 16.9°C | 11.3°C | 29.4°C | 6.0°C | 65 mm | 74% | 1.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2002 | 23.2°C | 17.0°C | 10.9°C | 28.5°C | 5.0°C | 33 mm | 66% | 1.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2001 | 22.7°C | 16.5°C | 10.4°C | 26.5°C | 5.0°C | 38 mm | 71% | 1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2000 | 22.5°C | 17.0°C | 11.6°C | 27.2°C | 1.6°C | 60 mm | 76% | 1.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1999 | 22.3°C | 17.6°C | 12.8°C | 27.2°C | 9.1°C | 83 mm | 81% | 1.2 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1998 | 22.0°C | 16.8°C | 11.6°C | 26.0°C | 4.9°C | 104 mm | 79% | 1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1997 | 22.0°C | 17.0°C | 11.9°C | 25.3°C | 7.3°C | 104 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 20.6°C | 16.8°C | 12.9°C | 25.4°C | 6.9°C | 395 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1995 | 22.2°C | 17.2°C | 12.2°C | 28.9°C | 6.1°C | 47 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1994 | 22.9°C | 16.3°C | 9.8°C | 26.9°C | 4.9°C | 41 mm | 67% | 1 m/s | 4 |
| 1993 | 23.0°C | 17.7°C | 12.5°C | 28.4°C | 8.4°C | 47 mm | 76% | 1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1992 | 20.4°C | 15.9°C | 11.4°C | 25.5°C | 5.7°C | 90 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1991 | 22.8°C | 18.0°C | 13.1°C | 29.2°C | 9.7°C | 67 mm | 78% | 1.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1990 | 21.0°C | 16.5°C | 12.0°C | 23.9°C | 7.7°C | 157 mm | 86% | 1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1989 | 20.8°C | 17.4°C | 14.1°C | 24.3°C | 8.0°C | 144 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1988 | 20.4°C | 15.8°C | 11.1°C | 24.2°C | 5.3°C | 22 mm | 85% | 1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1987 | 21.7°C | 16.8°C | 12.0°C | 25.9°C | 2.3°C | 101 mm | 80% | 1.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1986 | 22.6°C | 17.3°C | 12.0°C | 26.4°C | 5.9°C | 93 mm | 77% | 1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1985 | 21.6°C | 16.7°C | 11.7°C | 26.2°C | 5.6°C | 64 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1984 | 21.4°C | 15.9°C | 10.4°C | 24.9°C | 4.1°C | 28 mm | 75% | 1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1983 | 20.3°C | 16.4°C | 12.4°C | 23.3°C | 5.5°C | 221 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 23.2°C | 17.2°C | 11.2°C | 26.7°C | 6.2°C | 59 mm | 68% | 1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 22.0°C | 16.4°C | 10.9°C | 26.8°C | 6.3°C | 78 mm | 73% | 1.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 22.4°C with lows near 11.5°C (mean 17°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 74 mm of rainfall in Ipswich, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 395 mm in 1996.
The hottest May reached 32.3°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to 1.6°C in 2000.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 21.7°C to 22.4°C and overnight lows from 11.3°C to 11.9°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Ipswich and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 22.4°C daytime highs and 11.5°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 4th coolest month in Ipswich, averaging 17°C.
For May in Ipswich, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22.4°C and lows of 11.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 76% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1.1 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 1.3 m/s (1981).
The wettest May on record was 1996 with 395 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 Ipswich 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.
