May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kanyakumari, with average highs near 31.7°C and lows around 26.6°C (mean 29.2°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 151 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kanyakumari. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Kanyakumari was 2016 — when the month averaged 30.5°C — while the coldest was 1999 at 28°C. Typical May days reach 31.7°C with nights near 26.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 28.8°C | 29.1°C | 28.9°C | 29.5°C | 29.6°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg High | 31.3°C | 31.7°C | 31.3°C | 32.1°C | 32.2°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | 26.3°C | 26.5°C | 26.5°C | 27.0°C | 27.0°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 171 mm | 183 mm | 164 mm | 88 mm | 147 mm | -23 mm |
May temperatures in Kanyakumari have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 25.2°C (1995) to a record high of 34°C (2016).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 151 mm, with a wettest year of 448 mm.
A quieter season to visit Kanyakumari
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and February tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Kanyakumari. That said, May — with days averaging 31.7°C and nights around 26.6°C (mean 29.2°C) and higher rainfall (151 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the warmth, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32.3°C | 27.4°C | 29.9°C | 189 mm | 80% | 5 m/s | 5 |
| 2024 | 33.3°C | 27.6°C | 30.4°C | 145 mm | 79% | 4.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 32.4°C | 27.2°C | 29.8°C | 65 mm | 78% | 4.3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2022 | 31.3°C | 26.2°C | 28.8°C | 136 mm | 85% | 5.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2021 | 30.9°C | 26.9°C | 28.9°C | 227 mm | 83% | 4.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2020 | 33.1°C | 26.9°C | 30.0°C | 121 mm | 79% | 4.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2019 | 32.5°C | 27.6°C | 30.1°C | 31 mm | 78% | 4.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2018 | 31.8°C | 26.9°C | 29.4°C | 84 mm | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2017 | 32.4°C | 27.1°C | 29.7°C | 106 mm | 79% | 4.9 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2016 🔥 | 34.0°C | 27.1°C | 30.5°C | 139 mm | 78% | 4.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2015 | 32.1°C | 27.1°C | 29.6°C | 133 mm | 81% | 4.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2014 | 31.9°C | 26.6°C | 29.2°C | 169 mm | 81% | 4.5 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2013 | 31.1°C | 26.6°C | 28.9°C | 59 mm | 80% | 5.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2012 | 31.5°C | 26.8°C | 29.2°C | 65 mm | 79% | 5.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2011 | 31.4°C | 26.2°C | 28.8°C | 17 mm | 77% | 5.2 m/s | 6 |
| 2010 | 32.4°C | 27.5°C | 29.9°C | 81 mm | 80% | 5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2009 | 31.4°C | 26.1°C | 28.7°C | 112 mm | 82% | 5.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2008 | 29.9°C | 26.6°C | 28.2°C | 66 mm | 82% | 5.1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2007 | 31.7°C | 26.6°C | 29.1°C | 112 mm | 80% | 5 m/s | 6 |
| 2006 | 30.9°C | 26.1°C | 28.5°C | 215 mm | 82% | 5.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2005 | 31.3°C | 27.4°C | 29.4°C | 181 mm | 80% | 4.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 31.3°C | 26.0°C | 28.7°C | 448 mm | 87% | 5.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2003 | 32.0°C | 26.9°C | 29.4°C | 68 mm | 80% | 5.3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2002 | 32.4°C | 26.9°C | 29.6°C | 256 mm | 83% | 5.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2001 | 30.3°C | 26.0°C | 28.2°C | 175 mm | 85% | 5.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 31.7°C | 26.3°C | 29.0°C | 10 mm | 80% | 5.2 m/s | 6 |
| 1999 ❄️ | 30.3°C | 25.8°C | 28.0°C | 337 mm | 86% | 5.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1998 | 32.9°C | 27.3°C | 30.1°C | 295 mm | 81% | 4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1997 | 31.8°C | 26.9°C | 29.4°C | 119 mm | 78% | 4.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1996 | 31.1°C | 26.3°C | 28.7°C | 24 mm | 79% | 4.9 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1995 | 31.4°C | 25.2°C | 28.3°C | 309 mm | 84% | 4.9 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1994 | 31.6°C | 26.5°C | 29.1°C | 175 mm | 80% | 5.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1993 | 31.5°C | 26.4°C | 28.9°C | 135 mm | 80% | 4.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1992 | 32.2°C | 26.9°C | 29.6°C | 136 mm | 79% | 4.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1991 | 32.1°C | 27.0°C | 29.5°C | 38 mm | 77% | 4.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1990 | 31.6°C | 26.2°C | 28.9°C | 261 mm | 83% | 5.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1989 | 31.9°C | 25.3°C | 28.6°C | 118 mm | 82% | 5.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1988 | 31.7°C | 26.7°C | 29.2°C | 33 mm | 80% | 5.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1987 | 32.4°C | 26.9°C | 29.7°C | 193 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1986 | 30.4°C | 26.1°C | 28.3°C | 135 mm | 82% | 4.7 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1985 | 32.4°C | 26.2°C | 29.3°C | 177 mm | 79% | 5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1984 | 30.7°C | 25.8°C | 28.2°C | 138 mm | 84% | 4.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 31.8°C | 26.8°C | 29.3°C | 94 mm | 78% | 4.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 30.0°C | 26.3°C | 28.1°C | 319 mm | 82% | 3.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 30.4°C | 26.3°C | 28.4°C | 329 mm | 82% | 4.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 31.7°C with lows near 26.6°C (mean 29.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 151 mm of rainfall in Kanyakumari, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 448 mm in 2004.
The hottest May reached 34°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to 25.2°C in 1995.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 31.1°C to 32°C and overnight lows from 26.3°C to 27.1°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kanyakumari and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 31.7°C daytime highs and 26.6°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 11th coolest month in Kanyakumari, averaging 29.2°C.
For May in Kanyakumari, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 31.7°C and lows of 26.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 4.8 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 5.5 m/s (2004).
The wettest May on record was 2004 with 448 mm. On average, May sees 151 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 Kanyakumari 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.
