May is one of the warmer months of the year in Tirunelveli, with average highs near 31.4°C and lows around 24.3°C (mean 27.9°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 154 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Tirunelveli. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Tirunelveli was 2019 — when the month averaged 30.2°C — while the coldest was 1999 at 26.1°C. Typical May days reach 31.4°C with nights near 24.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
May is a relatively wet time of year in Tirunelveli, averaging 154 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2004 with 461 mm, while the driest was 2000 at 16 mm.
Relative humidity in Tirunelveli during May averages 79%. The most humid Mays were 2001 and 2004 at 88%, and the least humid was 1991 at 68%.
May receives about 5.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Tirunelveli. The sunniest May was 2008 at 6.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2024 at 4.5.
Average wind speed in Tirunelveli during May is 3.1 m/s. The windiest Mays were 1988, 1989 and 2022 at 3.7 m/s, while the calmest was 1987 at 1.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 27.3°C | 27.9°C | 27.5°C | 28.3°C | 28.2°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 30.9°C | 31.7°C | 30.7°C | 32.0°C | 31.7°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 23.7°C | 24.2°C | 24.2°C | 24.7°C | 24.8°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 169 mm | 181 mm | 168 mm | 94 mm | 163 mm | -6 mm |
May temperatures in Tirunelveli have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 20.5°C (2011) to a record high of 39.5°C (2024).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 154 mm, with a wettest year of 461 mm.
A quieter season to visit Tirunelveli
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of January and December tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Tirunelveli. That said, May — with days averaging 31.4°C and nights around 24.3°C (mean 27.9°C) and higher rainfall (154 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the warmth, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32.1°C | 28.5°C | 25.0°C | 35.6°C | 23.0°C | 135 mm | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 5 |
| 2024 | 32.7°C | 29.2°C | 25.7°C | 39.5°C | 24.2°C | 228 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 32.0°C | 28.2°C | 24.4°C | 34.4°C | 22.7°C | 115 mm | 79% | 2.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2022 | 30.9°C | 27.6°C | 24.3°C | 35.1°C | 22.9°C | 89 mm | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2021 | 30.0°C | 27.1°C | 24.2°C | 34.8°C | 22.3°C | 288 mm | 84% | 2.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2020 | 32.5°C | 28.8°C | 25.1°C | 38.3°C | 24.0°C | 126 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2019 🔥 | 34.7°C | 30.2°C | 25.7°C | 38.9°C | 23.8°C | 26 mm | 70% | 3.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2018 | 31.1°C | 27.8°C | 24.4°C | 34.9°C | 23.4°C | 88 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2017 | 33.2°C | 29.2°C | 25.2°C | 37.7°C | 23.7°C | 85 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2016 | 32.4°C | 28.8°C | 25.1°C | 39.0°C | 22.9°C | 146 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2015 | 30.1°C | 27.1°C | 24.1°C | 33.8°C | 22.7°C | 187 mm | 84% | 2.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2014 | 30.5°C | 27.4°C | 24.3°C | 34.7°C | 22.6°C | 176 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2013 | 31.5°C | 28.1°C | 24.6°C | 34.7°C | 23.2°C | 61 mm | 77% | 3.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2012 | 31.5°C | 27.9°C | 24.2°C | 36.7°C | 22.2°C | 70 mm | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2011 | 33.0°C | 28.5°C | 24.0°C | 37.0°C | 20.5°C | 21 mm | 72% | 3.6 m/s | 6 |
| 2010 | 31.7°C | 28.4°C | 25.0°C | 34.7°C | 23.5°C | 77 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2009 | 32.2°C | 28.6°C | 24.9°C | 37.5°C | 23.3°C | 114 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2008 | 29.8°C | 26.8°C | 23.8°C | 31.6°C | 22.9°C | 69 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2007 | 31.7°C | 28.0°C | 24.2°C | 35.8°C | 22.8°C | 115 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 6 |
| 2006 | 30.9°C | 27.6°C | 24.4°C | 36.3°C | 23.0°C | 221 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2005 | 30.9°C | 27.5°C | 24.0°C | 33.9°C | 22.6°C | 183 mm | 83% | 2.5 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 28.6°C | 26.2°C | 23.9°C | 32.7°C | 23.0°C | 461 mm | 88% | 3.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2003 | 32.0°C | 28.3°C | 24.5°C | 35.0°C | 22.9°C | 72 mm | 78% | 3.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2002 | 30.3°C | 27.3°C | 24.3°C | 36.3°C | 23.7°C | 255 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2001 | 28.8°C | 26.3°C | 23.8°C | 30.5°C | 22.1°C | 176 mm | 88% | 3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 32.2°C | 28.2°C | 24.2°C | 35.8°C | 22.9°C | 16 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 6 |
| 1999 ❄️ | 28.7°C | 26.1°C | 23.4°C | 35.3°C | 22.2°C | 335 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1998 | 31.6°C | 28.1°C | 24.7°C | 36.9°C | 23.2°C | 289 mm | 81% | 2.5 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1997 | 31.4°C | 27.6°C | 23.8°C | 35.3°C | 22.1°C | 117 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1996 | 33.6°C | 28.8°C | 24.1°C | 36.5°C | 22.6°C | 23 mm | 73% | 3.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1995 | 29.0°C | 26.2°C | 23.4°C | 33.9°C | 20.7°C | 293 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1994 | 33.1°C | 28.9°C | 24.6°C | 37.3°C | 23.3°C | 184 mm | 72% | 3.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1993 | 32.4°C | 28.4°C | 24.3°C | 37.0°C | 22.6°C | 133 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1992 | 32.2°C | 28.0°C | 23.8°C | 36.3°C | 22.6°C | 136 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1991 | 34.6°C | 30.0°C | 25.3°C | 38.9°C | 22.8°C | 37 mm | 68% | 2.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1990 | 30.5°C | 27.3°C | 24.1°C | 37.5°C | 22.3°C | 261 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1989 | 31.0°C | 27.4°C | 23.7°C | 36.1°C | 22.5°C | 120 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1988 | 31.6°C | 28.0°C | 24.5°C | 34.2°C | 23.6°C | 33 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1987 | 32.3°C | 28.0°C | 23.8°C | 36.5°C | 22.7°C | 188 mm | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1986 | 30.1°C | 26.7°C | 23.3°C | 33.5°C | 22.0°C | 141 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1985 | 32.1°C | 28.1°C | 24.1°C | 38.5°C | 22.5°C | 180 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1984 | 29.6°C | 26.5°C | 23.3°C | 32.6°C | 22.6°C | 135 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 32.0°C | 28.1°C | 24.3°C | 36.0°C | 22.9°C | 88 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 29.5°C | 26.3°C | 23.1°C | 31.3°C | 21.7°C | 319 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 29.8°C | 26.7°C | 23.6°C | 32.4°C | 21.9°C | 322 mm | 83% | 2.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 31.4°C with lows near 24.3°C (mean 27.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 154 mm of rainfall in Tirunelveli, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 461 mm in 2004.
The hottest May reached 39.5°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to 20.5°C in 2011.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 30.6°C to 31.5°C and overnight lows from 23.7°C to 24.7°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Tirunelveli and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 31.4°C daytime highs and 24.3°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 10th coolest month in Tirunelveli, averaging 27.9°C.
For May in Tirunelveli, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 31.4°C and lows of 24.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.1 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.7 m/s (1988).
The wettest May on record was 2004 with 461 mm. On average, May sees 154 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 Tirunelveli 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.
