May is one of the cooler months of the year in Launceston, with average highs near 13.8°C and lows around 5°C (mean 9.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Launceston. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Launceston was 2007 — when the month averaged 11°C — while the coldest was 2006 at 7.6°C. Typical May days reach 13.8°C with nights near 5°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
May is about average for rainfall in Launceston, averaging 78 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2007 with 200 mm, while the driest was 1991 at 14 mm.
Relative humidity in Launceston during May averages 87%. The most humid May was 1984 at 90%, and the least humid was 2002 at 82%.
May receives about 2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Launceston. The sunniest May was 2025 at 2.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1988 at 1.7.
Average wind speed in Launceston during May is 2.2 m/s. The windiest May was 2016 at 3.2 m/s, while the calmest was 1991 at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.4°C | 9.2°C | 9.5°C | 9.3°C | 9.6°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 13.6°C | 13.5°C | 14.1°C | 13.7°C | 14.4°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 5.3°C | 4.9°C | 5.0°C | 5.0°C | 4.9°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 102 mm | 81 mm | 73 mm | 82 mm | 41 mm | -61 mm |
May temperatures in Launceston have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -1.7°C (1981) to a record high of 22.3°C (2002).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm, with a wettest year of 200 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.2°C per decade while lows rose 0°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Launceston
May is a good time to visit Launceston, with days averaging 13.8°C and nights around 5°C (mean 9.4°C, cooler than Launceston's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. February and January 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 | 16.0°C | 10.6°C | 5.2°C | 20.5°C | -1.3°C | 27 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2024 | 15.3°C | 10.1°C | 4.9°C | 19.2°C | -0.1°C | 38 mm | 83% | 1.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2023 | 13.9°C | 9.0°C | 4.1°C | 17.1°C | 0.0°C | 44 mm | 83% | 2.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2022 | 13.8°C | 9.8°C | 5.9°C | 18.4°C | 0.7°C | 69 mm | 88% | 2.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2021 | 14.3°C | 9.3°C | 4.3°C | 20.4°C | -1.3°C | 38 mm | 83% | 2.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2020 | 13.1°C | 9.0°C | 4.8°C | 15.9°C | 0.2°C | 33 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2019 | 14.7°C | 10.1°C | 5.4°C | 21.3°C | 1.2°C | 57 mm | 86% | 2.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 14.2°C | 9.8°C | 5.3°C | 18.9°C | 1.1°C | 72 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2017 | 14.3°C | 9.8°C | 5.2°C | 18.3°C | 0.7°C | 71 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 2 |
| 2016 | 13.6°C | 9.5°C | 5.5°C | 17.3°C | 0.8°C | 99 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2015 | 12.8°C | 8.6°C | 4.5°C | 16.9°C | 0.1°C | 114 mm | 88% | 2.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2014 | 14.0°C | 9.8°C | 5.6°C | 17.5°C | 0.0°C | 76 mm | 89% | 2.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2013 | 13.7°C | 9.2°C | 4.7°C | 21.6°C | 0.0°C | 106 mm | 88% | 2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 13.5°C | 9.4°C | 5.3°C | 16.7°C | 1.5°C | 131 mm | 88% | 2.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2011 | 12.9°C | 8.2°C | 3.5°C | 16.3°C | 0.0°C | 38 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2010 | 13.7°C | 9.1°C | 4.5°C | 16.9°C | -1.6°C | 58 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2009 | 14.0°C | 9.5°C | 4.9°C | 18.1°C | 0.8°C | 42 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 14.2°C | 10.0°C | 5.7°C | 18.1°C | 0.9°C | 51 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2007 🔥 🌧️ | 14.9°C | 11.0°C | 7.1°C | 20.5°C | 2.5°C | 200 mm | 89% | 3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2006 ❄️ | 12.5°C | 7.6°C | 2.8°C | 16.4°C | -0.8°C | 65 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2005 | 14.2°C | 9.5°C | 4.7°C | 19.1°C | 0.5°C | 28 mm | 83% | 2.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2004 | 13.3°C | 8.7°C | 4.1°C | 16.8°C | -0.2°C | 79 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2003 | 14.6°C | 10.2°C | 5.8°C | 17.9°C | -1.0°C | 77 mm | 88% | 1.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2002 | 15.8°C | 10.2°C | 4.7°C | 22.3°C | 0.3°C | 41 mm | 82% | 1.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 13.8°C | 9.0°C | 4.1°C | 17.0°C | -0.1°C | 46 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2000 | 13.2°C | 9.4°C | 5.6°C | 16.7°C | 0.7°C | 97 mm | 87% | 3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1999 | 14.5°C | 10.8°C | 7.1°C | 19.0°C | 1.0°C | 111 mm | 90% | 2.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1998 | 13.4°C | 9.2°C | 5.0°C | 18.3°C | 0.9°C | 40 mm | 88% | 2.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 13.0°C | 8.7°C | 4.4°C | 20.2°C | 0.6°C | 164 mm | 89% | 2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1996 | 13.5°C | 8.9°C | 4.2°C | 17.8°C | -0.2°C | 27 mm | 88% | 2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 13.0°C | 8.8°C | 4.5°C | 16.5°C | 0.2°C | 61 mm | 89% | 1.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1994 | 12.6°C | 8.5°C | 4.3°C | 18.0°C | -0.9°C | 149 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1993 | 13.8°C | 9.5°C | 5.2°C | 19.2°C | -0.7°C | 65 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 13.0°C | 8.9°C | 4.8°C | 17.6°C | 0.0°C | 121 mm | 90% | 2.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 | 14.8°C | 9.8°C | 4.8°C | 17.3°C | 1.7°C | 14 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1990 | 13.5°C | 8.9°C | 4.3°C | 18.3°C | -0.6°C | 56 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1989 | 13.2°C | 9.0°C | 4.7°C | 17.3°C | -1.2°C | 98 mm | 89% | 2 m/s | 2 |
| 1988 | 14.4°C | 10.7°C | 7.1°C | 20.5°C | 3.0°C | 128 mm | 90% | 2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1987 | 13.8°C | 9.7°C | 5.6°C | 19.2°C | -1.1°C | 123 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 2 |
| 1986 | 13.2°C | 9.0°C | 4.8°C | 19.7°C | 1.1°C | 114 mm | 89% | 1.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1985 | 13.8°C | 9.6°C | 5.5°C | 21.0°C | -0.5°C | 151 mm | 90% | 1.9 m/s | 2 |
| 1984 | 13.5°C | 9.1°C | 4.7°C | 17.9°C | 0.7°C | 74 mm | 90% | 1.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1983 | 13.7°C | 9.5°C | 5.4°C | 17.3°C | -0.2°C | 75 mm | 89% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 13.1°C | 8.9°C | 4.7°C | 17.1°C | -0.3°C | 87 mm | 90% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 13.5°C | 9.3°C | 5.1°C | 17.9°C | -1.7°C | 71 mm | 89% | 2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 13.8°C with lows near 5°C (mean 9.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 78 mm of rainfall in Launceston, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 200 mm in 2007.
The hottest May reached 22.3°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to -1.7°C in 1981.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.5°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Daytime highs rose from 13.5°C to 14.7°C while overnight lows fell from 5.1°C to 4.9°C, widening the gap between day and night.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Launceston and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 13.8°C daytime highs and 5°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Launceston, averaging 9.4°C.
For May in Launceston, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 13.8°C and lows of 5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 2.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.2 m/s (2016).
The wettest May on record was 2007 with 200 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 Launceston 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.
