May is one of the warmer months of the year in Nilgiris, with average highs near 36.7°C and lows around 19.6°C (mean 28.2°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 97 mm of rainfall and 71% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Nilgiris. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Mays in Nilgiris were 1991 and 2016 — when the month averaged 29.9°C — while the coldest was 2014 at 25.9°C. Typical May days reach 36.7°C with nights near 19.6°C. The long-term trend is cooling, 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 | 28.3°C | 28.5°C | 28.2°C | 27.7°C | 27.9°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg High | 36.9°C | 37.4°C | 36.7°C | 36.0°C | 36.2°C | -0.7°C |
| Avg Low | 19.7°C | 19.6°C | 19.6°C | 19.5°C | 19.6°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 60 mm | 78 mm | 101 mm | 107 mm | 157 mm | +97 mm |
May temperatures in Nilgiris have fallen by about 0.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 18.1°C (2014) to a record high of 40°C (2024).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 97 mm, with a wettest year of 261 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs fell about 0.3°C per decade while lows rose 0°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Nilgiris
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and December tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Nilgiris. That said, May — with days averaging 36.7°C and nights around 19.6°C (mean 28.2°C) and higher rainfall (97 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 | 34.9°C | 20.2°C | 27.6°C | 207 mm | 77% | 2.3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2024 | 40.0°C | 19.2°C | 29.6°C | 197 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2023 | 35.9°C | 19.8°C | 27.8°C | 110 mm | 75% | 1.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2022 | 35.3°C | 18.6°C | 26.9°C | 153 mm | 79% | 2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2021 | 34.1°C | 18.9°C | 26.5°C | 215 mm | 79% | 1.9 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2020 | 37.2°C | 20.9°C | 29.1°C | 61 mm | 68% | 1.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2019 | 37.1°C | 20.0°C | 28.5°C | 77 mm | 69% | 1.7 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2018 | 34.0°C | 20.2°C | 27.1°C | 163 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2017 | 36.1°C | 19.6°C | 27.8°C | 144 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2016 | 39.3°C | 20.6°C | 29.9°C | 95 mm | 70% | 1.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2015 | 35.1°C | 18.2°C | 26.6°C | 138 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 5 |
| 2014 ❄️ | 33.8°C | 18.1°C | 25.9°C | 196 mm | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2013 | 37.0°C | 19.7°C | 28.4°C | 83 mm | 70% | 2.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2012 | 36.4°C | 19.8°C | 28.1°C | 31 mm | 72% | 2 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2011 | 35.3°C | 19.8°C | 27.5°C | 58 mm | 73% | 1.7 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2010 | 35.7°C | 19.2°C | 27.5°C | 84 mm | 74% | 2 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2009 | 35.9°C | 19.4°C | 27.7°C | 99 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2008 | 35.2°C | 20.0°C | 27.6°C | 55 mm | 72% | 2.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2007 | 36.2°C | 19.5°C | 27.8°C | 101 mm | 73% | 2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2006 | 38.3°C | 19.9°C | 29.1°C | 174 mm | 72% | 2.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2005 | 38.8°C | 19.8°C | 29.3°C | 91 mm | 68% | 1.5 m/s | 6 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 36.1°C | 19.2°C | 27.6°C | 261 mm | 83% | 2.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2003 | 37.0°C | 21.1°C | 29.0°C | 30 mm | 69% | 2.4 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2002 | 38.3°C | 19.4°C | 28.8°C | 100 mm | 73% | 2.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2001 | 34.9°C | 18.6°C | 26.7°C | 61 mm | 76% | 2.2 m/s | 6 |
| 2000 | 36.5°C | 19.4°C | 27.9°C | 42 mm | 67% | 2.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1999 | 35.1°C | 18.8°C | 26.9°C | 113 mm | 79% | 2.2 m/s | 5 |
| 1998 | 38.9°C | 20.7°C | 29.8°C | 70 mm | 66% | 2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1997 | 36.8°C | 19.2°C | 28.0°C | 39 mm | 63% | 2 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1996 | 38.3°C | 19.6°C | 28.9°C | 58 mm | 65% | 2 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1995 | 36.2°C | 19.4°C | 27.8°C | 128 mm | 73% | 2.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1994 | 37.2°C | 19.5°C | 28.4°C | 61 mm | 71% | 2 m/s | 6 |
| 1993 | 38.5°C | 19.5°C | 29.0°C | 96 mm | 68% | 1.8 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1992 | 37.3°C | 18.7°C | 28.0°C | 85 mm | 69% | 1.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1991 🔥 | 39.0°C | 20.7°C | 29.9°C | 5 mm | 56% | 1.8 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1990 | 36.5°C | 19.6°C | 28.0°C | 129 mm | 72% | 2.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1989 | 36.7°C | 19.6°C | 28.1°C | 59 mm | 69% | 2.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1988 | 36.0°C | 19.4°C | 27.7°C | 69 mm | 72% | 2.3 m/s | 6 |
| 1987 | 37.4°C | 19.7°C | 28.5°C | 54 mm | 60% | 1.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1986 | 37.8°C | 19.2°C | 28.5°C | 43 mm | 66% | 2.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1985 | 38.8°C | 20.3°C | 29.5°C | 56 mm | 61% | 2.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1984 | 37.0°C | 19.5°C | 28.3°C | 31 mm | 66% | 2.2 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1983 | 39.0°C | 20.2°C | 29.6°C | 27 mm | 63% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 34.9°C | 20.1°C | 27.5°C | 73 mm | 70% | 1.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 34.4°C | 19.6°C | 27.0°C | 125 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 36.7°C with lows near 19.6°C (mean 28.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 97 mm of rainfall in Nilgiris, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 261 mm in 2004.
The hottest May reached 40°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to 18.1°C in 2014.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have fallen by about 0.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 36.8°C to 36°C and overnight lows from 19.9°C to 19.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Nilgiris and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 36.7°C daytime highs and 19.6°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 11th coolest month in Nilgiris, averaging 28.2°C.
For May in Nilgiris, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 36.7°C and lows of 19.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 71% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 2.7 m/s (1990).
The wettest May on record was 2004 with 261 mm. On average, May sees 97 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 Nilgiris 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.
