May is one of the warmer months of the year in Madurai, with average highs near 40.2°C and lows around 23.5°C (mean 31.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 92 mm of rainfall and 63% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Madurai. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Madurai was 1991 — when the month averaged 33.7°C — while the coldest was 2004 at 29.9°C. Typical May days reach 40.2°C with nights near 23.5°C. The long-term May temperature trend is broadly flat.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 31.9°C | 32.1°C | 31.8°C | 31.8°C | 31.6°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg High | 40.4°C | 40.7°C | 40.3°C | 39.8°C | 39.6°C | -0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 23.5°C | 23.4°C | 23.3°C | 23.7°C | 23.5°C | 0°C |
| Avg Rain | 72 mm | 80 mm | 110 mm | 95 mm | 104 mm | +32 mm |
May temperatures in Madurai have fallen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 22.1°C (2022) to a record high of 42.7°C (1991).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 92 mm, with a wettest year of 298 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs fell about 0.2°C per decade while lows rose 0.1°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Madurai
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and December tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Madurai. That said, May — with days averaging 40.2°C and nights around 23.5°C (mean 31.9°C) and higher rainfall (92 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 | 38.3°C | 24.3°C | 31.3°C | 114 mm | 68% | 2.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2024 | 42.5°C | 24.2°C | 33.4°C | 162 mm | 68% | 1.9 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2023 | 38.1°C | 23.3°C | 30.7°C | 98 mm | 72% | 1.5 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2022 | 38.6°C | 22.1°C | 30.4°C | 97 mm | 67% | 2 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2021 | 38.6°C | 22.8°C | 30.7°C | 90 mm | 71% | 2.2 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2020 | 41.2°C | 24.5°C | 32.9°C | 61 mm | 61% | 2.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2019 | 41.6°C | 24.9°C | 33.2°C | 25 mm | 50% | 1.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2018 | 37.7°C | 23.5°C | 30.6°C | 134 mm | 71% | 1.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2017 | 40.2°C | 23.6°C | 31.9°C | 106 mm | 63% | 1.9 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2016 | 42.3°C | 23.5°C | 32.9°C | 101 mm | 62% | 2.2 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2015 | 37.7°C | 23.2°C | 30.5°C | 178 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2014 | 38.2°C | 23.5°C | 30.9°C | 162 mm | 70% | 1.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2013 | 41.2°C | 24.4°C | 32.8°C | 36 mm | 53% | 2.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2012 | 39.5°C | 23.3°C | 31.4°C | 66 mm | 66% | 1.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2011 | 40.3°C | 22.4°C | 31.3°C | 67 mm | 59% | 1.8 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2010 | 39.4°C | 24.8°C | 32.1°C | 74 mm | 64% | 2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2009 | 42.5°C | 23.8°C | 33.1°C | 36 mm | 55% | 1.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2008 | 39.9°C | 22.8°C | 31.3°C | 56 mm | 62% | 1.8 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2007 | 41.3°C | 23.8°C | 32.5°C | 49 mm | 58% | 1.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2006 | 41.6°C | 23.4°C | 32.5°C | 138 mm | 63% | 2.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2005 | 39.4°C | 23.5°C | 31.5°C | 77 mm | 68% | 1.6 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2004 ❄️ 🌧️ | 37.3°C | 22.6°C | 29.9°C | 298 mm | 78% | 2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2003 | 40.8°C | 23.9°C | 32.4°C | 129 mm | 65% | 2 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2002 | 40.7°C | 23.7°C | 32.2°C | 134 mm | 68% | 2.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2001 | 38.3°C | 22.4°C | 30.3°C | 87 mm | 67% | 2 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2000 | 41.3°C | 22.9°C | 32.1°C | 94 mm | 55% | 1.9 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1999 | 40.0°C | 22.6°C | 31.3°C | 152 mm | 72% | 2 m/s | 6 |
| 1998 | 40.9°C | 24.1°C | 32.5°C | 87 mm | 61% | 2.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1997 | 41.0°C | 22.9°C | 32.0°C | 68 mm | 60% | 1.9 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1996 | 40.7°C | 23.8°C | 32.2°C | 15 mm | 59% | 1.6 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1995 | 38.5°C | 22.3°C | 30.4°C | 90 mm | 66% | 2.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1994 | 39.3°C | 22.8°C | 31.0°C | 139 mm | 66% | 1.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1993 | 42.1°C | 23.9°C | 33.0°C | 55 mm | 57% | 2.1 m/s | 6 |
| 1992 | 41.5°C | 23.3°C | 32.4°C | 63 mm | 58% | 2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1991 🔥 | 42.7°C | 24.6°C | 33.7°C | 11 mm | 50% | 2.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1990 | 40.7°C | 23.6°C | 32.2°C | 121 mm | 64% | 2.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1989 | 42.2°C | 23.2°C | 32.7°C | 49 mm | 55% | 2.3 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1988 | 39.8°C | 23.7°C | 31.8°C | 51 mm | 61% | 2 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1987 | 39.8°C | 23.9°C | 31.8°C | 50 mm | 58% | 1.9 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1986 | 41.4°C | 23.7°C | 32.5°C | 45 mm | 55% | 2.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1985 | 41.6°C | 23.7°C | 32.6°C | 59 mm | 56% | 2.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1984 | 39.6°C | 23.4°C | 31.5°C | 34 mm | 62% | 2.1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1983 | 42.3°C | 24.1°C | 33.2°C | 74 mm | 56% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 38.1°C | 22.5°C | 30.3°C | 145 mm | 68% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 38.6°C | 23.1°C | 30.9°C | 143 mm | 68% | 1.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 40.2°C with lows near 23.5°C (mean 31.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 92 mm of rainfall in Madurai, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 298 mm in 2004.
The hottest May reached 42.7°C in 1991. The coldest dipped to 22.1°C in 2022.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have fallen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 40°C to 39.2°C and overnight lows from 23.4°C to 23.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Madurai and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 40.2°C daytime highs and 23.5°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 11th coolest month in Madurai, averaging 31.9°C.
For May in Madurai, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 40.2°C and lows of 23.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 63% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 2.4 m/s (1990).
The wettest May on record was 2004 with 298 mm. On average, May sees 92 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 Madurai 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.
