May is one of the warmer months of the year in Peterborough, with average highs near 18.9°C and lows around 6.4°C (mean 12.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 59 mm of rainfall and 72% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Peterborough. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Peterborough was 2012 — when the month averaged 16.1°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 8.7°C. Typical May days reach 18.9°C with nights near 6.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Peterborough, averaging 59 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2002 with 146 mm, while the driest was 2021 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in Peterborough during May averages 72%. The most humid May was 2004 at 81%, and the least humid was 2021 at 58%.
May receives about 5.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Peterborough. The sunniest May was 2023 at 6.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 4.2.
Average wind speed in Peterborough during May is 0.5 m/s. The windiest Mays were 1997, 2002 and 2009, among others at 0.6 m/s, while the calmest were 1982 and 2007 at 0.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 12.5°C | 12.2°C | 11.6°C | 13.7°C | 13.7°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg High | 18.6°C | 18.4°C | 17.6°C | 20.2°C | 20.4°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg Low | 6.4°C | 6.0°C | 5.6°C | 7.2°C | 7.0°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 63 mm | 61 mm | 85 mm | 45 mm | 29 mm | -34 mm |
May temperatures in Peterborough have risen by about 2.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -3.7°C (2020) to a record high of 34.4°C (2010).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 59 mm, with a wettest year of 146 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.5°C per decade while lows rose 0.2°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Peterborough
May is a good time to visit Peterborough, with days averaging 18.9°C and nights around 6.4°C (mean 12.6°C, warmer than Peterborough'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 | 19.3°C | 13.1°C | 6.9°C | 28.8°C | 1.1°C | 57 mm | 69% | 0.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2024 | 22.3°C | 16.0°C | 9.7°C | 30.2°C | 4.7°C | 29 mm | 68% | 0.5 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2023 | 20.5°C | 13.1°C | 5.7°C | 33.2°C | -1.1°C | 21 mm | 60% | 0.5 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2022 | 22.1°C | 15.0°C | 7.8°C | 31.8°C | 0.2°C | 30 mm | 64% | 0.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2021 | 20.2°C | 13.2°C | 6.2°C | 30.5°C | -3.4°C | 12 mm | 58% | 0.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 17.9°C | 11.7°C | 5.4°C | 31.8°C | -3.7°C | 23 mm | 66% | 0.5 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2019 | 16.4°C | 10.5°C | 4.6°C | 21.9°C | 0.2°C | 58 mm | 78% | 0.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2018 | 22.5°C | 15.1°C | 7.8°C | 30.4°C | 0.2°C | 42 mm | 70% | 0.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2017 | 16.1°C | 11.1°C | 6.1°C | 26.7°C | -2.3°C | 105 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2016 | 19.7°C | 13.1°C | 6.4°C | 30.2°C | -1.1°C | 22 mm | 70% | 0.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2015 | 22.6°C | 15.4°C | 8.2°C | 28.3°C | -1.7°C | 31 mm | 63% | 0.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2014 | 19.6°C | 13.3°C | 7.0°C | 27.4°C | 0.8°C | 40 mm | 71% | 0.5 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2013 | 21.4°C | 14.4°C | 7.3°C | 29.8°C | -1.2°C | 34 mm | 65% | 0.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2012 🔥 | 23.4°C | 16.1°C | 8.8°C | 31.0°C | 1.9°C | 19 mm | 62% | 0.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2011 | 19.1°C | 13.4°C | 7.6°C | 29.4°C | 0.9°C | 49 mm | 78% | 0.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2010 | 21.5°C | 14.9°C | 8.3°C | 34.4°C | -1.8°C | 46 mm | 68% | 0.5 m/s | 6 |
| 2009 | 17.2°C | 11.2°C | 5.1°C | 23.8°C | -1.3°C | 81 mm | 75% | 0.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2008 | 16.1°C | 10.3°C | 4.5°C | 21.9°C | -0.6°C | 82 mm | 76% | 0.5 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2007 | 19.7°C | 12.6°C | 5.5°C | 27.8°C | -0.4°C | 56 mm | 71% | 0.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2006 | 19.5°C | 13.6°C | 7.8°C | 32.0°C | 0.1°C | 64 mm | 75% | 0.5 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2005 | 17.0°C | 10.7°C | 4.3°C | 23.6°C | -2.8°C | 15 mm | 72% | 0.5 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2004 | 17.8°C | 12.0°C | 6.1°C | 25.9°C | -2.0°C | 109 mm | 81% | 0.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2003 | 16.7°C | 11.2°C | 5.8°C | 21.6°C | -0.5°C | 96 mm | 78% | 0.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2002 🌧️ | 14.7°C | 9.0°C | 3.4°C | 23.9°C | -1.8°C | 146 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2001 | 19.1°C | 13.1°C | 7.1°C | 25.4°C | -0.1°C | 84 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2000 | 18.0°C | 12.2°C | 6.3°C | 25.7°C | 0.4°C | 112 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1999 | 20.9°C | 14.1°C | 7.4°C | 29.5°C | 1.6°C | 56 mm | 69% | 0.5 m/s | 6 |
| 1998 | 22.0°C | 15.8°C | 9.6°C | 28.7°C | 4.0°C | 43 mm | 71% | 0.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 14.4°C | 8.7°C | 3.0°C | 23.1°C | -2.6°C | 52 mm | 72% | 0.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1996 | 17.0°C | 10.7°C | 4.4°C | 25.2°C | -1.7°C | 43 mm | 69% | 0.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1995 | 19.2°C | 12.5°C | 5.9°C | 28.2°C | -1.8°C | 45 mm | 66% | 0.5 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1994 | 17.1°C | 11.0°C | 4.8°C | 27.9°C | -0.5°C | 97 mm | 73% | 0.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1993 | 18.6°C | 12.2°C | 5.8°C | 28.4°C | -0.4°C | 64 mm | 72% | 0.5 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1992 | 18.3°C | 11.8°C | 5.3°C | 26.8°C | -0.7°C | 60 mm | 71% | 0.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1991 | 21.0°C | 14.9°C | 8.7°C | 27.4°C | -1.0°C | 70 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1990 | 15.7°C | 10.2°C | 4.7°C | 24.0°C | -2.7°C | 84 mm | 76% | 0.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1989 | 19.0°C | 13.1°C | 7.3°C | 28.2°C | 0.3°C | 53 mm | 71% | 0.6 m/s | 5 |
| 1988 | 21.0°C | 14.1°C | 7.2°C | 29.7°C | 0.5°C | 63 mm | 67% | 0.5 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1987 | 21.1°C | 14.3°C | 7.4°C | 31.3°C | -1.2°C | 29 mm | 65% | 0.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1986 | 20.5°C | 14.5°C | 8.5°C | 29.5°C | -3.5°C | 52 mm | 71% | 0.5 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1985 | 18.8°C | 12.5°C | 6.2°C | 25.2°C | -2.2°C | 73 mm | 74% | 0.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1984 | 14.5°C | 9.2°C | 4.0°C | 23.8°C | -2.6°C | 66 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1983 | 15.0°C | 9.4°C | 3.8°C | 21.7°C | -2.9°C | 102 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.0°C | 14.0°C | 8.0°C | 25.8°C | 2.4°C | 49 mm | 77% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.7°C | 11.5°C | 5.3°C | 25.3°C | -2.3°C | 78 mm | 74% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 18.9°C with lows near 6.4°C (mean 12.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 59 mm of rainfall in Peterborough, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 146 mm in 2002.
The hottest May reached 34.4°C in 2010. The coldest dipped to -3.7°C in 2020.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 2.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 17.2°C to 20.9°C and overnight lows from 5.5°C to 7.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Peterborough and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 18.9°C daytime highs and 6.4°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Peterborough, averaging 12.6°C.
For May in Peterborough, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 18.9°C and lows of 6.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 72% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.5 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.6 m/s (1983).
The wettest May on record was 2002 with 146 mm. On average, May sees 59 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.
