May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kingston, with average highs near 18.5°C and lows around 6.9°C (mean 12.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 66 mm of rainfall and 75% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kingston. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Kingston was 1998 — when the month averaged 16.1°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 9.4°C. Typical May days reach 18.5°C with nights near 6.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Kingston, averaging 66 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2017 with 128 mm, while the driest was 2005 at 23 mm.
Relative humidity in Kingston during May averages 75%. The most humid May was 2011 at 83%, and the least humid was 2021 at 67%.
May receives about 5.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kingston. The sunniest May was 2023 at 6.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 4.3.
Average wind speed in Kingston during May is 0.4 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.4 m/s, while the calmest were 2004, 2011 and 2012, among others at 0.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 12.2°C | 12.1°C | 12.2°C | 13.8°C | 13.4°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg High | 17.8°C | 17.9°C | 18.0°C | 19.7°C | 19.4°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg Low | 6.7°C | 6.3°C | 6.4°C | 7.8°C | 7.5°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 80 mm | 70 mm | 66 mm | 61 mm | 48 mm | -33 mm |
May temperatures in Kingston have risen by about 2.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -3.4°C (2020) to a record high of 33.9°C (2010).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 66 mm, with a wettest year of 128 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.6°C per decade while lows rose 0.3°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Kingston
May is a good time to visit Kingston, with days averaging 18.5°C and nights around 6.9°C (mean 12.7°C, warmer than Kingston's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. July 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 | 18.2°C | 12.8°C | 7.5°C | 25.5°C | 1.8°C | 68 mm | 78% | 0.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2024 | 21.0°C | 15.6°C | 10.3°C | 28.8°C | 5.2°C | 58 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2023 | 19.2°C | 12.6°C | 6.1°C | 28.5°C | 1.0°C | 42 mm | 68% | 0.4 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2022 | 21.6°C | 15.1°C | 8.6°C | 29.9°C | 0.4°C | 56 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2021 | 19.2°C | 13.0°C | 6.8°C | 29.5°C | -2.1°C | 24 mm | 67% | 0.4 m/s | 6 |
| 2020 | 17.2°C | 11.4°C | 5.5°C | 29.4°C | -3.4°C | 38 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2019 | 16.2°C | 10.8°C | 5.4°C | 22.7°C | 0.8°C | 92 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2018 | 20.8°C | 14.4°C | 8.0°C | 27.9°C | 1.4°C | 35 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 6 |
| 2017 🌧️ | 16.8°C | 11.9°C | 7.0°C | 26.5°C | -2.4°C | 128 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2016 | 19.6°C | 13.3°C | 7.1°C | 28.3°C | -0.6°C | 26 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2015 | 21.7°C | 15.0°C | 8.3°C | 28.1°C | -1.2°C | 45 mm | 69% | 0.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2014 | 19.2°C | 13.4°C | 7.7°C | 25.9°C | -0.7°C | 64 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2013 | 20.6°C | 14.3°C | 7.9°C | 28.8°C | -0.9°C | 53 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 6 |
| 2012 | 22.0°C | 15.9°C | 9.7°C | 28.7°C | 3.6°C | 38 mm | 72% | 0.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2011 | 18.6°C | 13.4°C | 8.1°C | 27.6°C | 0.6°C | 93 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2010 | 21.6°C | 15.1°C | 8.5°C | 33.9°C | -1.4°C | 39 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2009 | 17.8°C | 12.0°C | 6.2°C | 23.1°C | 0.3°C | 80 mm | 74% | 0.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2008 | 17.1°C | 11.3°C | 5.5°C | 22.1°C | 0.2°C | 54 mm | 74% | 0.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2007 | 19.2°C | 12.5°C | 5.9°C | 27.1°C | 0.2°C | 35 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2006 | 19.4°C | 13.7°C | 8.0°C | 30.1°C | -0.8°C | 49 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2005 | 17.2°C | 11.3°C | 5.4°C | 24.3°C | -1.7°C | 23 mm | 73% | 0.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2004 | 19.1°C | 13.2°C | 7.3°C | 27.6°C | -1.1°C | 74 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2003 | 17.8°C | 12.1°C | 6.5°C | 23.6°C | -0.5°C | 100 mm | 77% | 0.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2002 | 15.5°C | 9.9°C | 4.3°C | 25.1°C | -0.2°C | 91 mm | 74% | 0.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2001 | 19.1°C | 13.3°C | 7.5°C | 24.3°C | 1.5°C | 53 mm | 78% | 0.3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2000 | 18.0°C | 12.7°C | 7.3°C | 24.4°C | 1.6°C | 106 mm | 81% | 0.4 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1999 | 21.0°C | 14.4°C | 7.8°C | 27.2°C | 1.6°C | 41 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1998 🔥 | 22.0°C | 16.1°C | 10.1°C | 28.3°C | 5.2°C | 40 mm | 72% | 0.3 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 14.8°C | 9.4°C | 4.0°C | 22.0°C | -2.3°C | 56 mm | 74% | 0.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1996 | 16.1°C | 10.3°C | 4.5°C | 23.2°C | -0.6°C | 87 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1995 | 17.7°C | 11.8°C | 5.9°C | 23.7°C | -1.9°C | 66 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1994 | 16.3°C | 10.6°C | 4.9°C | 23.8°C | -0.3°C | 77 mm | 78% | 0.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1993 | 17.6°C | 11.9°C | 6.3°C | 26.1°C | 0.7°C | 72 mm | 78% | 0.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1992 | 17.8°C | 11.6°C | 5.4°C | 24.1°C | 0.2°C | 88 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1991 | 20.0°C | 14.2°C | 8.4°C | 25.8°C | 0.0°C | 86 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1990 | 15.4°C | 10.3°C | 5.2°C | 22.4°C | -2.6°C | 92 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 5 |
| 1989 | 17.9°C | 12.6°C | 7.4°C | 26.5°C | 1.3°C | 78 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1988 | 19.3°C | 13.3°C | 7.2°C | 26.7°C | 1.4°C | 51 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1987 | 18.7°C | 12.8°C | 6.9°C | 28.5°C | -1.3°C | 50 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1986 | 19.0°C | 13.6°C | 8.3°C | 26.5°C | -3.0°C | 87 mm | 78% | 0.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1985 | 18.2°C | 12.4°C | 6.6°C | 24.9°C | -1.4°C | 72 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1984 | 14.8°C | 9.9°C | 5.0°C | 23.8°C | -1.2°C | 102 mm | 81% | 0.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1983 | 15.2°C | 10.0°C | 4.7°C | 22.2°C | -2.2°C | 101 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 18.9°C | 13.4°C | 7.9°C | 23.4°C | 3.1°C | 93 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.9°C | 12.0°C | 6.1°C | 24.2°C | -1.8°C | 89 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 18.5°C with lows near 6.9°C (mean 12.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 66 mm of rainfall in Kingston, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 128 mm in 2017.
The hottest May reached 33.9°C in 2010. The coldest dipped to -3.4°C in 2020.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 2.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 17°C to 19.8°C and overnight lows from 6.1°C to 7.9°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kingston and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 18.5°C daytime highs and 6.9°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Kingston, averaging 12.7°C.
For May in Kingston, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 18.5°C and lows of 6.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 75% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.4 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.4 m/s (1981).
The wettest May on record was 2017 with 128 mm. On average, May sees 66 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 Kingston 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.
