May is one of the warmer months of the year in Thoothukudi, with average highs near 37.7°C and lows around 24.8°C (mean 31.3°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 112 mm of rainfall and 72% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Thoothukudi. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Thoothukudi was 2024 — when the month averaged 33.6°C — while the coldest was 2001 at 28.5°C. Typical May days reach 37.7°C with nights near 24.8°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 | 30.8°C | 31.5°C | 30.9°C | 31.8°C | 31.6°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg High | 37.0°C | 38.3°C | 37.1°C | 38.3°C | 38.2°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Low | 24.6°C | 24.7°C | 24.7°C | 25.3°C | 25.2°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 129 mm | 135 mm | 134 mm | 63 mm | 90 mm | -38 mm |
May temperatures in Thoothukudi have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 23.7°C (1995) to a record high of 41.4°C (2024).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 112 mm, with a wettest year of 386 mm.
A quieter season to visit Thoothukudi
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and December tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Thoothukudi. That said, May — with days averaging 37.7°C and nights around 24.8°C (mean 31.3°C) and higher rainfall (112 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 | 37.6°C | 24.8°C | 31.2°C | 74 mm | 70% | 3.7 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2024 🔥 | 41.4°C | 25.8°C | 33.6°C | 148 mm | 72% | 3.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2023 | 37.7°C | 25.0°C | 31.3°C | 84 mm | 73% | 3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2022 | 37.7°C | 25.0°C | 31.3°C | 51 mm | 72% | 4.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2021 | 35.6°C | 24.5°C | 30.1°C | 123 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2020 | 38.9°C | 25.8°C | 32.3°C | 63 mm | 69% | 3.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2019 | 40.0°C | 26.2°C | 33.1°C | 12 mm | 60% | 3.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2018 | 37.1°C | 25.5°C | 31.3°C | 46 mm | 71% | 3.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2017 | 38.3°C | 26.0°C | 32.1°C | 46 mm | 67% | 3.6 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2016 | 40.0°C | 25.2°C | 32.6°C | 83 mm | 68% | 3.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2015 | 35.5°C | 24.9°C | 30.2°C | 140 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2014 | 36.7°C | 24.8°C | 30.7°C | 150 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2013 | 39.0°C | 25.7°C | 32.3°C | 34 mm | 67% | 4.1 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2012 | 38.9°C | 24.7°C | 31.8°C | 53 mm | 71% | 4.1 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2011 | 39.4°C | 24.2°C | 31.8°C | 27 mm | 64% | 4.1 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2010 | 37.8°C | 25.4°C | 31.6°C | 38 mm | 71% | 3.9 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2009 | 39.5°C | 24.9°C | 32.2°C | 48 mm | 66% | 3.9 m/s | 6 |
| 2008 | 35.6°C | 24.9°C | 30.2°C | 37 mm | 73% | 4.1 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2007 | 38.8°C | 24.7°C | 31.8°C | 53 mm | 68% | 3.9 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2006 | 39.0°C | 24.4°C | 31.7°C | 179 mm | 72% | 3.9 m/s | 6 |
| 2005 | 36.1°C | 24.8°C | 30.4°C | 141 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 6 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 33.5°C | 24.4°C | 28.9°C | 386 mm | 84% | 3.7 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2003 | 37.9°C | 25.3°C | 31.6°C | 100 mm | 73% | 3.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2002 | 37.4°C | 25.0°C | 31.2°C | 206 mm | 79% | 3.8 m/s | 6 |
| 2001 ❄️ | 33.3°C | 23.7°C | 28.5°C | 139 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2000 | 39.4°C | 24.5°C | 32.0°C | 50 mm | 65% | 3.9 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1999 | 37.9°C | 23.9°C | 30.9°C | 250 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 6 |
| 1998 | 38.9°C | 25.5°C | 32.2°C | 205 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1997 | 37.5°C | 24.3°C | 30.9°C | 103 mm | 72% | 3.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1996 | 38.8°C | 25.1°C | 32.0°C | 16 mm | 64% | 3.9 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1995 | 34.9°C | 23.7°C | 29.3°C | 136 mm | 77% | 3.6 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1994 | 38.5°C | 24.3°C | 31.4°C | 176 mm | 68% | 3.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1993 | 38.8°C | 25.2°C | 32.0°C | 104 mm | 68% | 3.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1992 | 38.0°C | 24.7°C | 31.3°C | 114 mm | 70% | 3.3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1991 | 40.7°C | 25.7°C | 33.2°C | 39 mm | 63% | 3.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1990 | 38.8°C | 24.3°C | 31.5°C | 208 mm | 75% | 3.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1989 | 38.0°C | 24.4°C | 31.2°C | 91 mm | 70% | 4.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1988 | 36.9°C | 25.4°C | 31.2°C | 34 mm | 71% | 4.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1987 | 37.7°C | 24.9°C | 31.3°C | 135 mm | 71% | 2.5 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1986 | 37.3°C | 24.3°C | 30.8°C | 85 mm | 73% | 3.9 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1985 | 39.9°C | 24.5°C | 32.2°C | 135 mm | 68% | 3.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1984 | 35.1°C | 24.5°C | 29.8°C | 96 mm | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1983 | 39.2°C | 25.1°C | 32.2°C | 76 mm | 67% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 34.0°C | 23.8°C | 28.9°C | 255 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 35.2°C | 24.3°C | 29.8°C | 252 mm | 77% | 3.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 37.7°C with lows near 24.8°C (mean 31.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 112 mm of rainfall in Thoothukudi, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 386 mm in 2004.
The hottest May reached 41.4°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to 23.7°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 36.7°C to 38°C and overnight lows from 24.4°C to 25°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Thoothukudi and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 37.7°C daytime highs and 24.8°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 11th coolest month in Thoothukudi, averaging 31.3°C.
For May in Thoothukudi, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 37.7°C and lows of 24.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 72% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.6 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.2 m/s (1988).
The wettest May on record was 2004 with 386 mm. On average, May sees 112 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 Thoothukudi 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.
