May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kolkata, with average highs near 42.3°C and lows around 24.7°C (mean 33.5°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 141 mm of rainfall and 67% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kolkata. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Kolkata was 1991 — when the month averaged 36.5°C — while the coldest was 1981 at 30.6°C. Typical May days reach 42.3°C with nights near 24.7°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 | 32.8°C | 34.3°C | 33.6°C | 33.5°C | 33.0°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 41.5°C | 43.8°C | 41.9°C | 42.1°C | 41.7°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 23.9°C | 24.9°C | 25.2°C | 24.8°C | 24.3°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 121 mm | 115 mm | 151 mm | 128 mm | 215 mm | +94 mm |
May temperatures in Kolkata have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 22.3°C (1987) to a record high of 46.8°C (2002).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 141 mm, with a wettest year of 319 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs fell about 0.1°C per decade while lows rose 0.1°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Kolkata
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of February and November tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Kolkata. That said, May — with days averaging 42.3°C and nights around 24.7°C (mean 33.5°C) and higher rainfall (141 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 | 42.5°C | 23.8°C | 33.1°C | 178 mm | 69% | 2.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2024 | 45.4°C | 25.2°C | 35.3°C | 265 mm | 67% | 2.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2023 | 42.0°C | 24.4°C | 33.2°C | 96 mm | 61% | 2.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2022 | 39.3°C | 25.0°C | 32.1°C | 176 mm | 71% | 3.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2021 | 40.6°C | 24.2°C | 32.4°C | 279 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2020 | 40.2°C | 23.5°C | 31.9°C | 298 mm | 73% | 2.9 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2019 | 41.3°C | 24.6°C | 33.0°C | 105 mm | 67% | 3.7 m/s | 6 |
| 2018 | 41.0°C | 24.5°C | 32.8°C | 89 mm | 69% | 3.2 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2017 | 41.7°C | 25.1°C | 33.4°C | 103 mm | 65% | 2.8 m/s | 6 |
| 2016 | 43.8°C | 25.8°C | 34.8°C | 165 mm | 64% | 2.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2015 | 42.4°C | 25.1°C | 33.8°C | 52 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2014 | 44.6°C | 25.1°C | 34.9°C | 133 mm | 61% | 3.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2013 | 43.4°C | 24.8°C | 34.1°C | 199 mm | 72% | 3.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2012 | 42.3°C | 23.5°C | 32.9°C | 70 mm | 65% | 3 m/s | 6 |
| 2011 | 40.2°C | 24.6°C | 32.4°C | 184 mm | 73% | 2.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2010 | 39.9°C | 25.1°C | 32.5°C | 184 mm | 74% | 3.2 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2009 | 42.0°C | 25.1°C | 33.6°C | 262 mm | 73% | 2.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2008 | 41.3°C | 25.7°C | 33.5°C | 128 mm | 67% | 2.4 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2007 | 41.2°C | 25.5°C | 33.4°C | 74 mm | 63% | 2.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2006 | 40.0°C | 25.6°C | 32.8°C | 149 mm | 70% | 2.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2005 | 41.7°C | 24.6°C | 33.1°C | 128 mm | 69% | 3.1 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2004 | 44.4°C | 25.3°C | 34.8°C | 52 mm | 61% | 3.2 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2003 | 43.3°C | 25.4°C | 34.3°C | 86 mm | 59% | 2.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2002 | 46.8°C | 25.5°C | 36.2°C | 164 mm | 62% | 3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2001 | 40.7°C | 25.1°C | 32.9°C | 256 mm | 72% | 2.8 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2000 | 38.0°C | 23.8°C | 30.9°C | 213 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1999 | 44.6°C | 25.7°C | 35.1°C | 114 mm | 67% | 3.3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1998 | 42.2°C | 25.7°C | 34.0°C | 81 mm | 65% | 3.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1997 | 43.6°C | 24.8°C | 34.2°C | 104 mm | 64% | 2.8 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1996 | 45.5°C | 24.0°C | 34.8°C | 26 mm | 59% | 3.8 m/s | 6 |
| 1995 | 45.0°C | 22.7°C | 33.8°C | 219 mm | 71% | 3.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1994 | 44.0°C | 25.6°C | 34.8°C | 87 mm | 63% | 3.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1993 | 41.6°C | 25.5°C | 33.5°C | 134 mm | 69% | 3.7 m/s | 6 |
| 1992 | 42.7°C | 23.7°C | 33.2°C | 216 mm | 65% | 3.2 m/s | 6 |
| 1991 🔥 | 46.2°C | 26.7°C | 36.5°C | 5 mm | 61% | 4.9 m/s | 6 |
| 1990 | 42.2°C | 24.4°C | 33.3°C | 167 mm | 70% | 3.3 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1989 | 45.1°C | 25.1°C | 35.1°C | 87 mm | 64% | 3.9 m/s | 6 |
| 1988 | 42.6°C | 24.8°C | 33.7°C | 92 mm | 67% | 3.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1987 | 42.9°C | 22.3°C | 32.6°C | 90 mm | 66% | 2.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1986 | 40.4°C | 23.1°C | 31.8°C | 113 mm | 64% | 2.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1985 | 40.6°C | 24.4°C | 32.5°C | 61 mm | 63% | 3.5 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1984 | 41.6°C | 24.9°C | 33.3°C | 110 mm | 70% | 4.1 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1983 | 39.7°C | 25.0°C | 32.4°C | 154 mm | 67% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 42.2°C | 23.3°C | 32.8°C | 63 mm | 62% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ 🌧️ | 38.7°C | 22.6°C | 30.6°C | 319 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 42.3°C with lows near 24.7°C (mean 33.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 141 mm of rainfall in Kolkata, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 319 mm in 1981.
The hottest May reached 46.8°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to 22.3°C in 1987.
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 40.6°C to 42°C and overnight lows from 24°C to 24.5°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kolkata and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 42.3°C daytime highs and 24.7°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 12th coolest month in Kolkata, averaging 33.5°C.
For May in Kolkata, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 42.3°C and lows of 24.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 67% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.9 m/s (1991).
The wettest May on record was 1981 with 319 mm. On average, May sees 141 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 Kolkata 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.
