May is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North, with average highs near 14.3°C and lows around 7.5°C (mean 10.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 85 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Palmerston North was 2016 — when the month averaged 12.9°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 8.1°C. Typical May days reach 14.3°C with nights near 7.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Palmerston North, averaging 85 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2016 with 162 mm, while the driest was 2007 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Palmerston North during May averages 88%. The most humid May was 2023 at 92%, and the least humid was 2002 at 84%.
May receives about 2.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palmerston North. The sunniest Mays were 2008, 2020 and 2024, among others at 2.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2009, 2011 and 2016, among others at 1.9.
Average wind speed in Palmerston North during May is 3.5 m/s. The windiest May was 1983 at 4.8 m/s, while the calmest was 2020 at 2.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 10.6°C | 10.6°C | 11.1°C | 11.2°C | 11.2°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg High | 13.9°C | 13.9°C | 14.4°C | 14.5°C | 14.7°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 7.2°C | 7.3°C | 7.8°C | 7.8°C | 7.7°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 88 mm | 79 mm | 70 mm | 98 mm | 92 mm | +4 mm |
May temperatures in Palmerston North have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 0.2°C (1992) to a record high of 21.3°C (1981).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 85 mm, with a wettest year of 162 mm.
A good time to visit Palmerston North
May is a good time to visit Palmerston North, with days averaging 14.3°C and nights around 7.5°C (mean 10.9°C, cooler than Palmerston North'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 | 14.7°C | 11.2°C | 7.6°C | 18.9°C | 2.7°C | 90 mm | 89% | 3.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2024 | 13.2°C | 9.7°C | 6.2°C | 16.4°C | 0.4°C | 81 mm | 88% | 2.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2023 | 15.6°C | 12.4°C | 9.2°C | 21.2°C | 3.7°C | 117 mm | 92% | 2.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2022 | 15.2°C | 11.7°C | 8.3°C | 18.9°C | 3.3°C | 116 mm | 90% | 3.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2021 | 14.9°C | 11.5°C | 8.1°C | 19.7°C | 2.4°C | 63 mm | 86% | 3.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2020 | 14.8°C | 10.9°C | 7.0°C | 17.8°C | 2.0°C | 86 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2019 | 16.0°C | 12.3°C | 8.6°C | 19.0°C | 3.7°C | 66 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 14.0°C | 11.0°C | 8.0°C | 17.8°C | 3.8°C | 105 mm | 90% | 3.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2017 | 13.4°C | 10.2°C | 6.9°C | 18.0°C | 2.7°C | 103 mm | 90% | 3 m/s | 2 |
| 2016 🔥 🌧️ | 15.7°C | 12.9°C | 10.1°C | 20.1°C | 2.7°C | 162 mm | 87% | 4.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2015 | 13.4°C | 10.4°C | 7.4°C | 18.0°C | 1.5°C | 142 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2014 | 14.4°C | 11.1°C | 7.9°C | 19.5°C | 1.7°C | 86 mm | 88% | 3.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2013 | 14.5°C | 10.8°C | 7.0°C | 18.7°C | 1.9°C | 64 mm | 88% | 3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 13.3°C | 9.6°C | 5.9°C | 18.1°C | 0.9°C | 63 mm | 88% | 3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2011 | 15.6°C | 12.2°C | 8.8°C | 19.8°C | 4.2°C | 81 mm | 90% | 3.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2010 | 14.9°C | 11.1°C | 7.4°C | 19.7°C | 2.5°C | 110 mm | 87% | 2.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2009 | 11.7°C | 8.9°C | 6.2°C | 16.6°C | 1.4°C | 105 mm | 88% | 4.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2008 | 12.8°C | 9.3°C | 5.8°C | 16.2°C | 2.5°C | 63 mm | 89% | 2.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2007 | 16.0°C | 12.3°C | 8.5°C | 18.4°C | 3.9°C | 25 mm | 87% | 3.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2006 | 14.2°C | 11.0°C | 7.7°C | 17.6°C | 2.4°C | 93 mm | 89% | 2.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2005 | 14.8°C | 11.9°C | 8.9°C | 18.8°C | 3.4°C | 84 mm | 90% | 3.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2004 | 14.3°C | 11.3°C | 8.4°C | 18.2°C | 4.0°C | 64 mm | 91% | 3.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2003 | 15.2°C | 11.5°C | 7.8°C | 18.9°C | 2.0°C | 86 mm | 86% | 3.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2002 | 14.8°C | 11.2°C | 7.7°C | 18.4°C | 2.6°C | 46 mm | 84% | 4.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2001 | 14.9°C | 11.8°C | 8.7°C | 21.0°C | 1.2°C | 76 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2000 | 15.4°C | 11.6°C | 7.8°C | 20.1°C | 2.0°C | 60 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1999 | 15.7°C | 12.3°C | 8.9°C | 19.7°C | 4.2°C | 87 mm | 88% | 3.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1998 | 14.7°C | 10.9°C | 7.1°C | 18.2°C | 3.3°C | 62 mm | 85% | 3.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 15.1°C | 11.7°C | 8.4°C | 18.5°C | 5.7°C | 36 mm | 90% | 2.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1996 | 13.2°C | 9.9°C | 6.7°C | 16.3°C | 2.0°C | 109 mm | 89% | 3.4 m/s | 2 |
| 1995 | 14.0°C | 10.6°C | 7.2°C | 18.4°C | 1.9°C | 93 mm | 89% | 3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1994 | 14.2°C | 11.1°C | 7.9°C | 18.0°C | 3.4°C | 94 mm | 86% | 4.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1993 | 13.7°C | 10.6°C | 7.4°C | 16.1°C | 4.4°C | 99 mm | 89% | 3.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 11.3°C | 8.1°C | 4.8°C | 17.3°C | 0.2°C | 59 mm | 88% | 3.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1991 | 13.2°C | 10.0°C | 6.7°C | 15.8°C | 4.2°C | 37 mm | 90% | 2.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1990 | 13.8°C | 10.8°C | 7.9°C | 16.5°C | 5.0°C | 118 mm | 89% | 4.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1989 | 14.3°C | 11.2°C | 8.1°C | 19.2°C | 3.9°C | 110 mm | 90% | 3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1988 | 14.1°C | 10.7°C | 7.3°C | 19.2°C | 0.8°C | 101 mm | 87% | 4 m/s | 2 |
| 1987 | 13.8°C | 10.6°C | 7.3°C | 16.1°C | 3.8°C | 94 mm | 90% | 3.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1986 | 14.5°C | 10.8°C | 7.1°C | 17.8°C | 1.3°C | 77 mm | 87% | 3.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1985 | 13.9°C | 10.4°C | 6.9°C | 17.6°C | 3.2°C | 36 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1984 | 13.3°C | 9.9°C | 6.5°C | 17.1°C | 1.9°C | 74 mm | 87% | 3.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1983 | 13.0°C | 10.0°C | 7.0°C | 20.0°C | 2.5°C | 92 mm | 89% | 4.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 14.2°C | 10.7°C | 7.2°C | 17.7°C | 2.9°C | 100 mm | 85% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.3°C | 10.7°C | 7.0°C | 21.3°C | 3.3°C | 109 mm | 87% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 14.3°C with lows near 7.5°C (mean 10.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 85 mm of rainfall in Palmerston North, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 162 mm in 2016.
The hottest May reached 21.3°C in 1981. The coldest dipped to 0.2°C in 1992.
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 13.7°C to 14.7°C and overnight lows from 6.9°C to 7.9°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 14.3°C daytime highs and 7.5°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Palmerston North, averaging 10.9°C.
For May in Palmerston North, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 14.3°C and lows of 7.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.5 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.8 m/s (1983).
The wettest May on record was 2016 with 162 mm. On average, May sees 85 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 Palmerston North 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.
