May is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond, with average highs near 11.9°C and lows around 4.7°C (mean 8.3°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 99 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Mays in Richmond were 1999 and 2019 — when the month averaged 10.1°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 5.5°C. Typical May days reach 11.9°C with nights near 4.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is a relatively wet time of year in Richmond, averaging 99 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1987 with 185 mm, while the driest was 2008 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Richmond during May averages 88%. The most humid May was 2023 at 94%, and the least humid was 2009 at 82%.
May receives about 2.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Richmond. The sunniest Mays were 1991, 2008 and 2024 at 2.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 1.8.
Average wind speed in Richmond during May is 1.3 m/s. The windiest May was 1983 at 1.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2006 and 2020 at 1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 7.8°C | 8.1°C | 8.4°C | 8.6°C | 8.9°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 11.4°C | 11.7°C | 12.0°C | 12.1°C | 12.4°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | 4.2°C | 4.5°C | 4.8°C | 5.1°C | 5.3°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 103 mm | 94 mm | 74 mm | 114 mm | 120 mm | +17 mm |
May temperatures in Richmond have risen by about 1.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -2.2°C (2001) to a record high of 20.1°C (2002).
Rainfall in May is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 99 mm, with a wettest year of 185 mm.
A good time to visit Richmond
May is a good time to visit Richmond, with days averaging 11.9°C and nights around 4.7°C (mean 8.3°C, cooler than Richmond'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 | 12.5°C | 8.8°C | 5.1°C | 15.1°C | 1.6°C | 140 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2024 | 11.1°C | 7.4°C | 3.6°C | 15.4°C | -1.3°C | 46 mm | 86% | 1.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2023 | 12.8°C | 10.0°C | 7.2°C | 17.1°C | 0.8°C | 182 mm | 94% | 1.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2022 | 13.5°C | 9.9°C | 6.3°C | 18.7°C | 1.4°C | 116 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2021 | 12.0°C | 8.4°C | 4.9°C | 17.8°C | 0.4°C | 147 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2020 | 12.6°C | 8.7°C | 4.7°C | 16.7°C | 0.2°C | 90 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2019 | 13.8°C | 10.1°C | 6.3°C | 17.8°C | 1.0°C | 108 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2018 | 11.1°C | 8.0°C | 5.0°C | 16.7°C | 0.1°C | 126 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2017 | 11.5°C | 7.9°C | 4.3°C | 14.3°C | 1.0°C | 121 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2016 | 12.9°C | 9.6°C | 6.4°C | 19.0°C | 0.8°C | 162 mm | 89% | 1.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2015 | 11.3°C | 7.7°C | 4.1°C | 16.2°C | -0.7°C | 87 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 12.1°C | 8.4°C | 4.7°C | 15.5°C | -1.1°C | 82 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2013 | 11.7°C | 8.2°C | 4.8°C | 17.9°C | -0.9°C | 92 mm | 87% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2012 | 11.6°C | 7.6°C | 3.6°C | 15.1°C | -0.4°C | 45 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2011 | 12.9°C | 9.9°C | 7.0°C | 17.1°C | 1.6°C | 176 mm | 90% | 1.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2010 | 11.7°C | 8.2°C | 4.7°C | 17.9°C | -0.9°C | 139 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2009 | 9.8°C | 6.0°C | 2.3°C | 13.9°C | -0.7°C | 58 mm | 82% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 11.0°C | 7.0°C | 2.9°C | 14.2°C | -1.2°C | 25 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 13.7°C | 10.0°C | 6.3°C | 17.0°C | 0.9°C | 92 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2006 | 12.0°C | 8.3°C | 4.6°C | 15.8°C | -0.3°C | 101 mm | 88% | 1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2005 | 12.3°C | 8.6°C | 4.9°C | 16.0°C | -0.6°C | 100 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2004 | 11.6°C | 8.5°C | 5.4°C | 15.3°C | 0.2°C | 103 mm | 91% | 1.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2003 | 12.8°C | 8.9°C | 5.1°C | 16.2°C | 0.1°C | 88 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2002 | 12.4°C | 9.0°C | 5.6°C | 20.1°C | 1.0°C | 56 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 12.2°C | 8.7°C | 5.2°C | 17.4°C | -2.2°C | 53 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2000 | 12.6°C | 9.0°C | 5.3°C | 18.2°C | 0.6°C | 68 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1999 🔥 | 14.1°C | 10.1°C | 6.0°C | 16.8°C | 0.0°C | 53 mm | 82% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1998 | 12.6°C | 9.0°C | 5.3°C | 15.1°C | 0.2°C | 66 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1997 | 12.9°C | 9.2°C | 5.6°C | 18.3°C | 2.4°C | 57 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1996 | 11.2°C | 7.6°C | 4.0°C | 15.6°C | -1.1°C | 76 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1995 | 11.5°C | 8.0°C | 4.5°C | 15.3°C | -1.2°C | 154 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1994 | 11.1°C | 7.8°C | 4.4°C | 14.9°C | 0.7°C | 148 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1993 | 11.3°C | 7.8°C | 4.2°C | 14.1°C | -0.8°C | 160 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 9.1°C | 5.5°C | 1.9°C | 14.3°C | -1.7°C | 81 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1991 | 11.6°C | 7.8°C | 4.0°C | 14.0°C | 1.6°C | 48 mm | 87% | 1.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1990 | 11.4°C | 8.0°C | 4.6°C | 15.2°C | 0.9°C | 99 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1989 | 11.9°C | 8.4°C | 4.8°C | 16.4°C | -0.8°C | 89 mm | 87% | 1.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1988 | 11.4°C | 7.5°C | 3.6°C | 18.6°C | -0.9°C | 130 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1987 🌧️ | 12.1°C | 8.3°C | 4.5°C | 16.0°C | 1.4°C | 185 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1986 | 11.9°C | 8.3°C | 4.7°C | 16.1°C | 0.3°C | 88 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1985 | 11.1°C | 7.7°C | 4.3°C | 15.4°C | 0.3°C | 43 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1984 | 10.5°C | 6.9°C | 3.3°C | 15.7°C | -0.9°C | 92 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1983 | 10.6°C | 7.2°C | 3.8°C | 15.2°C | -0.3°C | 75 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 12.1°C | 8.4°C | 4.8°C | 16.0°C | 1.0°C | 92 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 11.4°C | 7.7°C | 4.0°C | 16.1°C | -0.7°C | 134 mm | 89% | 1.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 11.9°C with lows near 4.7°C (mean 8.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 99 mm of rainfall in Richmond, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 185 mm in 1987.
The hottest May reached 20.1°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to -2.2°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 11.1°C to 12.4°C and overnight lows from 4°C to 5.4°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 11.9°C daytime highs and 4.7°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Richmond, averaging 8.3°C.
For May in Richmond, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 11.9°C and lows of 4.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1.3 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 1.7 m/s (1983).
The wettest May on record was 1987 with 185 mm. On average, May sees 99 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 Richmond 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.
