May is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua, with average highs near 14.8°C and lows around 8.7°C (mean 11.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 104 mm of rainfall and 85% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Rotorua was 2016 — when the month averaged 13.8°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 9.2°C. Typical May days reach 14.8°C with nights near 8.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Rotorua, averaging 104 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2023 with 261 mm, while the driest was 2007 at 27 mm.
Relative humidity in Rotorua during May averages 85%. The most humid May was 2023 at 91%, and the least humid was 2002 at 81%.
May receives about 2.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Rotorua. The sunniest May was 2024 at 2.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2001, 2016 and 2023 at 1.9.
Average wind speed in Rotorua during May is 1.7 m/s. The windiest May was 1994 at 2.4 m/s, while the calmest was 1997 at 1.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.3°C | 11.3°C | 12.0°C | 12.0°C | 12.3°C | +1°C |
| Avg High | 14.5°C | 14.3°C | 14.9°C | 15.2°C | 15.4°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | 8.2°C | 8.4°C | 9.1°C | 8.8°C | 9.1°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 95 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm | 104 mm | 131 mm | +36 mm |
May temperatures in Rotorua have risen by about 1.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 0.6°C (2001) to a record high of 20.9°C (2016).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 104 mm, with a wettest year of 261 mm.
A good time to visit Rotorua
May is a good time to visit Rotorua, with days averaging 14.8°C and nights around 8.7°C (mean 11.8°C, cooler than Rotorua's yearly average) and higher rainfall. February and January are marginally more temperate, but May still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15.8°C | 12.5°C | 9.3°C | 17.5°C | 5.0°C | 127 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2024 | 14.3°C | 11.0°C | 7.6°C | 16.8°C | 2.4°C | 106 mm | 83% | 1.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 15.4°C | 13.1°C | 10.8°C | 19.4°C | 4.7°C | 261 mm | 91% | 2.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2022 | 16.1°C | 12.9°C | 9.7°C | 20.5°C | 4.2°C | 122 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2021 | 15.5°C | 12.2°C | 8.9°C | 19.8°C | 3.2°C | 101 mm | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2020 | 15.3°C | 11.8°C | 8.3°C | 18.9°C | 3.7°C | 67 mm | 83% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2019 | 16.2°C | 12.7°C | 9.1°C | 19.0°C | 5.0°C | 47 mm | 83% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2018 | 15.2°C | 12.0°C | 8.9°C | 19.7°C | 3.1°C | 96 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2017 | 14.2°C | 10.9°C | 7.6°C | 18.1°C | 2.0°C | 146 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2016 🔥 | 16.6°C | 13.8°C | 11.0°C | 20.9°C | 5.8°C | 88 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2015 | 14.8°C | 11.4°C | 8.1°C | 19.1°C | 2.6°C | 71 mm | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 15.0°C | 11.5°C | 8.0°C | 18.7°C | 0.9°C | 37 mm | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2013 | 14.8°C | 11.9°C | 9.0°C | 18.9°C | 1.6°C | 117 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2012 | 14.2°C | 10.6°C | 7.0°C | 16.5°C | 1.2°C | 96 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2011 | 15.7°C | 13.1°C | 10.5°C | 19.2°C | 3.5°C | 160 mm | 89% | 1.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2010 | 15.2°C | 12.0°C | 8.9°C | 18.9°C | 3.6°C | 182 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2009 | 12.7°C | 9.7°C | 6.7°C | 17.0°C | 1.4°C | 79 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2008 | 13.7°C | 10.6°C | 7.6°C | 16.1°C | 4.4°C | 102 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 16.4°C | 13.0°C | 9.6°C | 19.2°C | 4.6°C | 27 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 14.4°C | 11.7°C | 8.9°C | 17.7°C | 3.2°C | 89 mm | 88% | 1.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2005 | 15.4°C | 12.6°C | 9.9°C | 18.0°C | 4.1°C | 233 mm | 89% | 1.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2004 | 14.9°C | 12.4°C | 9.9°C | 19.6°C | 6.4°C | 155 mm | 89% | 1.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2003 | 15.5°C | 12.5°C | 9.5°C | 17.9°C | 2.3°C | 83 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2002 | 15.2°C | 12.3°C | 9.4°C | 19.0°C | 3.7°C | 50 mm | 81% | 2.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 14.6°C | 12.1°C | 9.7°C | 18.3°C | 0.6°C | 135 mm | 88% | 2.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2000 | 15.9°C | 12.6°C | 9.4°C | 20.0°C | 6.2°C | 43 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 16.0°C | 12.8°C | 9.5°C | 18.1°C | 4.9°C | 55 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1998 | 15.5°C | 12.3°C | 9.1°C | 18.8°C | 4.1°C | 57 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 15.3°C | 12.6°C | 9.8°C | 18.7°C | 7.4°C | 93 mm | 85% | 1.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1996 | 13.9°C | 10.8°C | 7.6°C | 17.2°C | 2.3°C | 94 mm | 84% | 1.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1995 | 14.4°C | 11.6°C | 8.8°C | 18.5°C | 4.0°C | 143 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1994 | 14.3°C | 11.6°C | 9.0°C | 19.6°C | 3.4°C | 124 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1993 | 13.7°C | 10.8°C | 7.9°C | 16.6°C | 4.0°C | 83 mm | 88% | 1.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 12.0°C | 9.2°C | 6.5°C | 18.0°C | 2.2°C | 143 mm | 88% | 1.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1991 | 12.9°C | 10.2°C | 7.5°C | 15.2°C | 4.5°C | 96 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1990 | 14.5°C | 11.6°C | 8.7°C | 17.4°C | 3.6°C | 117 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1989 | 14.7°C | 11.7°C | 8.6°C | 20.2°C | 3.0°C | 192 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1988 | 15.1°C | 11.9°C | 8.8°C | 18.6°C | 4.0°C | 102 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | 2 |
| 1987 | 14.6°C | 11.3°C | 8.0°C | 16.2°C | 4.2°C | 72 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1986 | 15.1°C | 11.8°C | 8.5°C | 17.8°C | 3.7°C | 98 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1985 | 13.9°C | 10.9°C | 7.8°C | 18.4°C | 4.6°C | 92 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1984 | 14.1°C | 10.9°C | 7.8°C | 17.4°C | 1.6°C | 83 mm | 84% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1983 | 13.7°C | 10.8°C | 7.8°C | 17.6°C | 2.5°C | 64 mm | 85% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 14.5°C | 11.1°C | 7.8°C | 16.7°C | 3.2°C | 93 mm | 83% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.5°C | 11.4°C | 8.3°C | 18.2°C | 4.4°C | 58 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 14.8°C with lows near 8.7°C (mean 11.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 104 mm of rainfall in Rotorua, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 261 mm in 2023.
The hottest May reached 20.9°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to 0.6°C in 2001.
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 14.1°C to 15.4°C and overnight lows from 7.9°C to 9.3°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 14.8°C daytime highs and 8.7°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Rotorua, averaging 11.8°C.
For May in Rotorua, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 14.8°C and lows of 8.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 85% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1.7 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 2.4 m/s (1994).
The wettest May on record was 2023 with 261 mm. On average, May sees 104 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 Rotorua 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.
