May is one of the cooler months of the year in Mackay, with average highs near 24.2°C and lows around 22.1°C (mean 23.2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 78 mm of rainfall and 75% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Mackay. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Mackay was 2016 — when the month averaged 24.8°C — while the coldest was 2011 at 21.4°C. Typical May days reach 24.2°C with nights near 22.1°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is one of the drier months in Mackay, averaging 78 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1983 with 384 mm, while the driest was 2016 at 11 mm.
Relative humidity in Mackay during May averages 75%. The most humid May was 1983 at 84%, and the least humid was 2001 at 64%.
May receives about 4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Mackay. The sunniest Mays were 2001 and 2023 at 4.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1989 at 3.4.
Average wind speed in Mackay during May is 4.5 m/s. The windiest May was 1983 at 5.2 m/s, while the calmest was 2001 at 3.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 23.1°C | 23.0°C | 23.2°C | 23.1°C | 23.3°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 24.1°C | 24.0°C | 24.3°C | 24.1°C | 24.4°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 22.1°C | 22.0°C | 22.1°C | 22.0°C | 22.2°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 124 mm | 90 mm | 61 mm | 50 mm | 65 mm | -59 mm |
May temperatures in Mackay have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 15.5°C (2011) to a record high of 28.1°C (2016).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 78 mm, with a wettest year of 384 mm.
A good time to visit Mackay
May is a good time to visit Mackay, with days averaging 24.2°C and nights around 22.1°C (mean 23.2°C, close to Mackay's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. September and August 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 | 24.8°C | 23.7°C | 22.6°C | 26.1°C | 18.8°C | 81 mm | 78% | 4.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2024 | 24.7°C | 23.7°C | 22.7°C | 26.0°C | 18.3°C | 68 mm | 77% | 5.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2023 | 24.0°C | 22.7°C | 21.4°C | 26.4°C | 17.1°C | 29 mm | 69% | 4.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2022 | 25.1°C | 24.0°C | 23.0°C | 26.4°C | 20.8°C | 100 mm | 82% | 4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2021 | 24.2°C | 23.2°C | 22.1°C | 26.4°C | 18.6°C | 41 mm | 72% | 4.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2020 | 23.8°C | 22.6°C | 21.4°C | 26.2°C | 15.6°C | 71 mm | 70% | 4.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2019 | 24.3°C | 23.3°C | 22.3°C | 26.1°C | 18.3°C | 30 mm | 76% | 4.9 m/s | 4 |
| 2018 | 24.1°C | 22.9°C | 21.8°C | 26.8°C | 18.9°C | 31 mm | 73% | 4.8 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2017 | 24.2°C | 23.2°C | 22.2°C | 25.1°C | 19.0°C | 98 mm | 80% | 4.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2016 🔥 | 25.8°C | 24.8°C | 23.7°C | 28.1°C | 21.3°C | 11 mm | 75% | 3.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2015 | 24.8°C | 23.5°C | 22.2°C | 26.5°C | 18.2°C | 23 mm | 71% | 4.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2014 | 24.2°C | 23.3°C | 22.4°C | 26.7°C | 17.9°C | 61 mm | 74% | 4.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2013 | 23.8°C | 22.8°C | 21.8°C | 25.5°C | 18.0°C | 105 mm | 74% | 4.6 m/s | 4 |
| 2012 | 23.5°C | 22.5°C | 21.4°C | 25.4°C | 16.2°C | 67 mm | 76% | 5 m/s | 4 |
| 2011 ❄️ | 22.6°C | 21.4°C | 20.2°C | 24.8°C | 15.5°C | 35 mm | 72% | 4.2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2010 | 24.1°C | 22.9°C | 21.7°C | 25.8°C | 17.1°C | 43 mm | 70% | 3.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2009 | 23.9°C | 22.9°C | 21.9°C | 25.4°C | 19.2°C | 48 mm | 73% | 4.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2008 | 23.6°C | 22.4°C | 21.3°C | 25.0°C | 17.5°C | 36 mm | 71% | 4.3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2007 | 25.0°C | 24.1°C | 23.1°C | 26.1°C | 22.3°C | 74 mm | 77% | 4.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2006 | 24.1°C | 23.1°C | 22.2°C | 25.9°C | 18.8°C | 84 mm | 74% | 4.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2005 | 24.2°C | 22.9°C | 21.7°C | 25.7°C | 19.2°C | 79 mm | 70% | 4.2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2004 | 24.5°C | 23.5°C | 22.4°C | 25.6°C | 19.4°C | 36 mm | 73% | 4.1 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2003 | 24.5°C | 23.4°C | 22.3°C | 26.6°C | 20.6°C | 76 mm | 75% | 4.8 m/s | 4 |
| 2002 | 25.0°C | 23.9°C | 22.8°C | 27.1°C | 19.6°C | 62 mm | 72% | 4.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2001 | 24.8°C | 23.4°C | 21.9°C | 26.6°C | 18.2°C | 14 mm | 64% | 3.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2000 | 23.1°C | 22.3°C | 21.5°C | 25.3°C | 15.7°C | 100 mm | 81% | 4.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1999 | 23.7°C | 22.8°C | 21.9°C | 24.7°C | 20.5°C | 58 mm | 80% | 4.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1998 | 25.1°C | 24.1°C | 23.0°C | 27.5°C | 19.0°C | 112 mm | 74% | 4.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1997 | 23.3°C | 22.1°C | 20.9°C | 24.8°C | 18.2°C | 75 mm | 76% | 3.9 m/s | 4 |
| 1996 | 24.5°C | 23.4°C | 22.2°C | 27.0°C | 19.3°C | 51 mm | 75% | 4.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1995 | 24.5°C | 23.6°C | 22.7°C | 25.9°C | 18.2°C | 60 mm | 76% | 4.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1994 | 23.3°C | 22.4°C | 21.4°C | 24.6°C | 18.9°C | 64 mm | 77% | 4.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1993 | 23.9°C | 22.9°C | 22.0°C | 24.9°C | 21.2°C | 57 mm | 77% | 4.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1992 | 24.6°C | 23.5°C | 22.4°C | 26.3°C | 18.8°C | 88 mm | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1991 | 23.7°C | 22.6°C | 21.6°C | 24.9°C | 18.7°C | 67 mm | 77% | 4.8 m/s | 4 |
| 1990 | 23.6°C | 22.7°C | 21.8°C | 26.2°C | 17.2°C | 272 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1989 | 23.9°C | 23.1°C | 22.3°C | 25.4°C | 18.7°C | 198 mm | 83% | 4.7 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1988 | 24.5°C | 23.3°C | 22.1°C | 26.0°C | 19.2°C | 80 mm | 73% | 4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1987 | 24.2°C | 23.0°C | 21.9°C | 26.6°C | 16.5°C | 60 mm | 76% | 4.4 m/s | 4 |
| 1986 | 24.2°C | 23.1°C | 22.1°C | 26.2°C | 19.0°C | 55 mm | 76% | 4.1 m/s | 4 |
| 1985 | 23.5°C | 22.6°C | 21.6°C | 25.1°C | 17.2°C | 116 mm | 78% | 5.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1984 | 24.1°C | 23.1°C | 22.1°C | 25.5°C | 20.5°C | 43 mm | 73% | 4.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 24.0°C | 23.3°C | 22.5°C | 25.9°C | 19.6°C | 384 mm | 84% | 5.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 24.0°C | 22.9°C | 21.9°C | 25.4°C | 20.2°C | 47 mm | 72% | 4.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 24.2°C | 23.1°C | 22.1°C | 25.9°C | 19.0°C | 134 mm | 72% | 4.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 24.2°C with lows near 22.1°C (mean 23.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 78 mm of rainfall in Mackay, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 384 mm in 1983.
The hottest May reached 28.1°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to 15.5°C in 2011.
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 24°C to 24.6°C and overnight lows from 22°C to 22.4°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Mackay and one of the drier months, so plan for around 24.2°C daytime highs and 22.1°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Mackay, averaging 23.2°C.
For May in Mackay, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 24.2°C and lows of 22.1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 75% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 4.5 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 5.2 m/s (1983).
The wettest May on record was 1983 with 384 mm. On average, May sees 78 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 Mackay 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.
