May is one of the cooler months of the year in Peterborough, with average highs near 17.9°C and lows around 6.7°C (mean 12.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 30 mm of rainfall and 69% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Peterborough. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Peterborough was 2005 — when the month averaged 14.6°C — while the coldest was 2006 at 10.4°C. Typical May days reach 17.9°C with nights near 6.7°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Peterborough, averaging 30 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2013 with 67 mm, while the driest was 1996 at 1 mm.
Relative humidity in Peterborough during May averages 69%. The most humid May was 1989 at 78%, and the least humid was 2005 at 55%.
May receives about 3.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Peterborough. The sunniest May was 2025 at 3.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1988 at 2.9.
Average wind speed in Peterborough during May is 2.8 m/s. The windiest May was 2016 at 3.8 m/s, while the calmest were 1996 and 2009 at 2.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 12.1°C | 12.4°C | 12.5°C | 12.4°C | 12.2°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg High | 17.5°C | 18.1°C | 18.1°C | 17.7°C | 18.1°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | 6.6°C | 6.7°C | 6.9°C | 7.0°C | 6.3°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 35 mm | 25 mm | 27 mm | 42 mm | 14 mm | -22 mm |
May temperatures in Peterborough have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -0.6°C (1985) to a record high of 28°C (2005).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 30 mm, with a wettest year of 67 mm.
A quieter season to visit Peterborough
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of December and March tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Peterborough. That said, May — with days averaging 17.9°C and nights around 6.7°C (mean 12.3°C) and low rainfall (30 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 | 19.8°C | 13.3°C | 6.8°C | 25.8°C | 0.8°C | 7 mm | 59% | 2.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2024 | 19.6°C | 13.1°C | 6.6°C | 23.2°C | 1.3°C | 8 mm | 60% | 2.4 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2023 | 17.2°C | 11.7°C | 6.2°C | 21.7°C | 1.4°C | 23 mm | 73% | 2.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2022 | 17.2°C | 11.9°C | 6.7°C | 21.1°C | 2.3°C | 27 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2021 | 18.7°C | 12.7°C | 6.7°C | 25.6°C | 2.0°C | 7 mm | 60% | 2.7 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2020 | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 5.0°C | 21.7°C | 1.1°C | 12 mm | 71% | 3.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2019 | 17.8°C | 12.3°C | 6.7°C | 24.8°C | 2.6°C | 49 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2018 | 17.9°C | 12.3°C | 6.7°C | 24.7°C | 2.5°C | 28 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2017 | 17.9°C | 12.1°C | 6.3°C | 23.0°C | 0.2°C | 10 mm | 65% | 2.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2016 | 18.8°C | 13.4°C | 8.0°C | 26.2°C | 4.8°C | 44 mm | 68% | 3.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2015 | 16.7°C | 11.6°C | 6.4°C | 24.2°C | 2.9°C | 26 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 3 |
| 2014 | 18.4°C | 13.5°C | 8.6°C | 23.6°C | 2.1°C | 64 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2013 🌧️ | 18.8°C | 13.6°C | 8.4°C | 26.1°C | 2.3°C | 67 mm | 69% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2012 | 17.6°C | 11.8°C | 5.9°C | 26.2°C | 2.2°C | 29 mm | 68% | 2.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2011 | 15.8°C | 11.0°C | 6.1°C | 21.7°C | 1.3°C | 41 mm | 75% | 2.7 m/s | 3 |
| 2010 | 17.7°C | 12.3°C | 6.9°C | 24.7°C | 2.1°C | 65 mm | 69% | 2.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2009 | 17.2°C | 12.0°C | 6.9°C | 20.9°C | 1.9°C | 6 mm | 76% | 2.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2008 | 18.3°C | 12.6°C | 6.9°C | 22.4°C | 4.4°C | 33 mm | 70% | 2.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2007 | 18.7°C | 13.4°C | 8.0°C | 23.5°C | 3.6°C | 23 mm | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2006 ❄️ | 16.0°C | 10.4°C | 4.8°C | 20.1°C | 0.1°C | 21 mm | 75% | 2.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2005 🔥 | 21.0°C | 14.6°C | 8.3°C | 28.0°C | 2.7°C | 5 mm | 55% | 2.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2004 | 17.5°C | 11.5°C | 5.5°C | 21.4°C | 3.2°C | 21 mm | 65% | 2.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2003 | 18.9°C | 13.3°C | 7.7°C | 23.3°C | 2.4°C | 48 mm | 66% | 3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2002 | 18.9°C | 13.3°C | 7.8°C | 26.4°C | 1.5°C | 41 mm | 62% | 2.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2001 | 18.1°C | 12.5°C | 6.9°C | 25.9°C | 0.7°C | 35 mm | 67% | 2.7 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2000 | 16.4°C | 11.2°C | 6.0°C | 23.1°C | 2.4°C | 37 mm | 75% | 3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1999 | 19.3°C | 13.5°C | 7.7°C | 26.0°C | 3.3°C | 40 mm | 60% | 3.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 18.6°C | 12.6°C | 6.7°C | 23.7°C | 1.8°C | 6 mm | 65% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1997 | 17.7°C | 12.2°C | 6.8°C | 27.6°C | 1.6°C | 21 mm | 69% | 2.6 m/s | 3 |
| 1996 | 19.2°C | 12.9°C | 6.6°C | 26.3°C | 2.4°C | 1 mm | 65% | 2.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1995 | 16.2°C | 10.9°C | 5.6°C | 24.8°C | 1.8°C | 36 mm | 75% | 2.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1994 | 18.8°C | 12.8°C | 6.7°C | 26.0°C | 2.0°C | 6 mm | 60% | 3.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1993 | 18.8°C | 13.0°C | 7.2°C | 25.6°C | 2.2°C | 25 mm | 66% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1992 | 16.3°C | 11.2°C | 6.0°C | 25.2°C | 1.3°C | 54 mm | 75% | 2.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1991 | 17.9°C | 11.9°C | 5.9°C | 21.5°C | 1.9°C | 4 mm | 65% | 2.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1990 | 18.4°C | 13.1°C | 7.7°C | 26.3°C | 1.7°C | 51 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1989 | 16.7°C | 11.7°C | 6.6°C | 21.0°C | 2.3°C | 38 mm | 78% | 2.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1988 | 18.2°C | 13.3°C | 8.5°C | 27.4°C | 3.0°C | 56 mm | 74% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1987 | 16.6°C | 11.5°C | 6.3°C | 22.3°C | 0.6°C | 54 mm | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1986 | 17.7°C | 12.1°C | 6.5°C | 22.6°C | 1.4°C | 24 mm | 68% | 2.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 17.5°C | 11.6°C | 5.6°C | 26.0°C | -0.6°C | 28 mm | 65% | 2.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1984 | 18.1°C | 12.3°C | 6.5°C | 24.4°C | 2.3°C | 15 mm | 68% | 2.7 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1983 | 17.6°C | 12.1°C | 6.6°C | 22.6°C | 1.9°C | 34 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 17.8°C | 12.0°C | 6.2°C | 24.2°C | 2.6°C | 19 mm | 66% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.2°C | 12.0°C | 6.8°C | 25.9°C | 1.9°C | 50 mm | 67% | 3.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 17.9°C with lows near 6.7°C (mean 12.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 30 mm of rainfall in Peterborough, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 67 mm in 2013.
The hottest May reached 28°C in 2005. The coldest dipped to -0.6°C in 1985.
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 17.6°C to 18.5°C and overnight lows from 6.3°C to 6.6°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Peterborough and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 17.9°C daytime highs and 6.7°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 4th coolest month in Peterborough, averaging 12.3°C.
For May in Peterborough, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 17.9°C and lows of 6.7°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 69% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 2.8 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.8 m/s (2016).
The wettest May on record was 2013 with 67 mm. On average, May sees 30 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 Peterborough 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.
