May is one of the warmer months of the year in Tirunelveli, with average highs near 35.6°C and lows around 22.7°C (mean 29.2°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 2024 — when the month averaged 31.9°C — while the coldest was 2001 at 26.3°C. Typical May days reach 35.6°C with nights near 22.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 28.5°C | 29.5°C | 28.7°C | 29.5°C | 29.8°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg High | 34.6°C | 36.5°C | 34.5°C | 36.2°C | 36.3°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg Low | 22.5°C | 22.4°C | 22.9°C | 22.9°C | 23.2°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 169 mm | 181 mm | 168 mm | 94 mm | 163 mm | -6 mm |
May temperatures in Tirunelveli have risen by about 1.3°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 35.6°C and nights around 22.7°C (mean 29.2°C) and higher rainfall (154 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 | 35.6°C | 23.0°C | 29.3°C | 135 mm | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 5 |
| 2024 🔥 | 39.5°C | 24.2°C | 31.9°C | 228 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 34.4°C | 22.7°C | 28.6°C | 115 mm | 79% | 2.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2022 | 35.1°C | 22.9°C | 29.0°C | 89 mm | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2021 | 34.8°C | 22.3°C | 28.5°C | 288 mm | 84% | 2.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2020 | 38.3°C | 24.0°C | 31.2°C | 126 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2019 | 38.9°C | 23.8°C | 31.4°C | 26 mm | 70% | 3.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2018 | 34.9°C | 23.4°C | 29.2°C | 88 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2017 | 37.7°C | 23.7°C | 30.7°C | 85 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2016 | 39.0°C | 22.9°C | 31.0°C | 146 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2015 | 33.8°C | 22.7°C | 28.2°C | 187 mm | 84% | 2.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2014 | 34.7°C | 22.6°C | 28.7°C | 176 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2013 | 34.7°C | 23.2°C | 29.0°C | 61 mm | 77% | 3.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2012 | 36.7°C | 22.2°C | 29.5°C | 70 mm | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2011 | 37.0°C | 20.5°C | 28.7°C | 21 mm | 72% | 3.6 m/s | 6 |
| 2010 | 34.7°C | 23.5°C | 29.1°C | 77 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2009 | 37.5°C | 23.3°C | 30.4°C | 114 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2008 | 31.6°C | 22.9°C | 27.2°C | 69 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2007 | 35.8°C | 22.8°C | 29.3°C | 115 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 6 |
| 2006 | 36.3°C | 23.0°C | 29.7°C | 221 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2005 | 33.9°C | 22.6°C | 28.2°C | 183 mm | 83% | 2.5 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 32.7°C | 23.0°C | 27.8°C | 461 mm | 88% | 3.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2003 | 35.0°C | 22.9°C | 29.0°C | 72 mm | 78% | 3.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2002 | 36.3°C | 23.7°C | 30.0°C | 255 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2001 ❄️ | 30.5°C | 22.1°C | 26.3°C | 176 mm | 88% | 3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 35.8°C | 22.9°C | 29.4°C | 16 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 6 |
| 1999 | 35.3°C | 22.2°C | 28.8°C | 335 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1998 | 36.9°C | 23.2°C | 30.1°C | 289 mm | 81% | 2.5 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1997 | 35.3°C | 22.1°C | 28.7°C | 117 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1996 | 36.5°C | 22.6°C | 29.5°C | 23 mm | 73% | 3.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1995 | 33.9°C | 20.7°C | 27.3°C | 293 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1994 | 37.3°C | 23.3°C | 30.3°C | 184 mm | 72% | 3.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1993 | 37.0°C | 22.6°C | 29.8°C | 133 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1992 | 36.3°C | 22.6°C | 29.5°C | 136 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1991 | 38.9°C | 22.8°C | 30.8°C | 37 mm | 68% | 2.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1990 | 37.5°C | 22.3°C | 29.9°C | 261 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1989 | 36.1°C | 22.5°C | 29.3°C | 120 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1988 | 34.2°C | 23.6°C | 28.9°C | 33 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1987 | 36.5°C | 22.7°C | 29.6°C | 188 mm | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1986 | 33.5°C | 22.0°C | 27.8°C | 141 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1985 | 38.5°C | 22.5°C | 30.5°C | 180 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1984 | 32.6°C | 22.6°C | 27.6°C | 135 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 36.0°C | 22.9°C | 29.4°C | 88 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 31.3°C | 21.7°C | 26.5°C | 319 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 32.4°C | 21.9°C | 27.1°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 35.6°C with lows near 22.7°C (mean 29.2°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 1.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 34.2°C to 35.9°C and overnight lows from 22.3°C to 23°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 35.6°C daytime highs and 22.7°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 11th coolest month in Tirunelveli, averaging 29.2°C.
For May in Tirunelveli, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 35.6°C and lows of 22.7°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.
