May is one of the cooler months of the year in Taupo, with average highs near 13.3°C and lows around 6.4°C (mean 9.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 96 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Taupo. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Taupo was 2016 — when the month averaged 12°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 7.4°C. Typical May days reach 13.3°C with nights near 6.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Taupo, averaging 96 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2023 with 210 mm, while the driest was 2007 at 24 mm.
Relative humidity in Taupo during May averages 87%. The most humid May was 1991 at 93%, and the least humid was 1999 at 83%.
May receives about 2.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Taupo. 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 Taupo during May is 0.6 m/s. The windiest Mays were 1990, 1994 and 2002, among others at 0.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2020, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.5°C | 9.4°C | 10.1°C | 10.1°C | 10.4°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 13.0°C | 12.6°C | 13.4°C | 13.8°C | 14.0°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | 6.0°C | 6.3°C | 6.8°C | 6.5°C | 6.8°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 92 mm | 105 mm | 87 mm | 91 mm | 108 mm | +16 mm |
May temperatures in Taupo have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -2.1°C (1984) to a record high of 19.9°C (2016).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 96 mm, with a wettest year of 210 mm.
A good time to visit Taupo
May is a good time to visit Taupo, with days averaging 13.3°C and nights around 6.4°C (mean 9.9°C, cooler than Taupo'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 | 14.4°C | 10.6°C | 6.8°C | 16.7°C | 1.5°C | 109 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2024 | 12.9°C | 9.1°C | 5.4°C | 16.4°C | 0.5°C | 93 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 13.9°C | 11.3°C | 8.7°C | 18.3°C | 2.4°C | 210 mm | 93% | 0.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2022 | 14.6°C | 10.9°C | 7.2°C | 19.1°C | 1.6°C | 98 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2021 | 14.2°C | 10.5°C | 6.8°C | 19.1°C | 1.2°C | 83 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2020 | 14.1°C | 10.0°C | 5.9°C | 18.3°C | 0.2°C | 56 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2019 | 14.9°C | 10.9°C | 6.8°C | 18.8°C | 1.9°C | 39 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2018 | 13.7°C | 10.2°C | 6.8°C | 18.7°C | 0.3°C | 92 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2017 | 12.6°C | 9.0°C | 5.4°C | 15.9°C | -0.6°C | 148 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2016 🔥 | 15.0°C | 12.0°C | 9.0°C | 19.9°C | 2.6°C | 71 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2015 | 13.2°C | 9.4°C | 5.6°C | 18.0°C | 0.9°C | 65 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 13.8°C | 9.7°C | 5.6°C | 18.2°C | -1.3°C | 37 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2013 | 13.5°C | 10.1°C | 6.7°C | 19.2°C | -1.4°C | 92 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2012 | 12.7°C | 8.8°C | 4.8°C | 15.3°C | -1.9°C | 89 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2011 | 14.1°C | 11.2°C | 8.2°C | 18.0°C | 0.1°C | 136 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2010 | 14.0°C | 10.1°C | 6.2°C | 18.2°C | 0.3°C | 143 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2009 | 10.8°C | 7.8°C | 4.8°C | 15.5°C | -2.1°C | 79 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2008 | 11.9°C | 8.3°C | 4.8°C | 14.5°C | 1.0°C | 88 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 15.2°C | 11.2°C | 7.3°C | 17.7°C | 1.6°C | 24 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 12.8°C | 9.8°C | 6.8°C | 16.6°C | 1.5°C | 80 mm | 91% | 0.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2005 | 13.9°C | 10.8°C | 7.8°C | 17.0°C | 1.4°C | 184 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2004 | 13.4°C | 10.7°C | 8.0°C | 18.4°C | 3.2°C | 129 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2003 | 14.2°C | 10.7°C | 7.2°C | 17.0°C | -0.9°C | 89 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2002 | 13.8°C | 10.3°C | 6.8°C | 18.4°C | 1.2°C | 44 mm | 83% | 0.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 13.0°C | 10.2°C | 7.5°C | 17.4°C | -1.6°C | 114 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2000 | 14.8°C | 10.8°C | 6.8°C | 19.1°C | 2.5°C | 36 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 14.7°C | 11.1°C | 7.5°C | 17.1°C | 1.2°C | 55 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1998 | 14.0°C | 10.3°C | 6.5°C | 17.6°C | 1.1°C | 66 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 14.2°C | 10.9°C | 7.6°C | 18.5°C | 3.8°C | 78 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1996 | 12.2°C | 8.8°C | 5.5°C | 15.5°C | -0.1°C | 81 mm | 87% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1995 | 12.5°C | 9.5°C | 6.4°C | 17.6°C | 0.8°C | 132 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1994 | 12.3°C | 9.7°C | 7.1°C | 18.7°C | 1.6°C | 173 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1993 | 11.9°C | 8.9°C | 5.8°C | 15.3°C | 1.8°C | 107 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 10.4°C | 7.4°C | 4.4°C | 18.2°C | -1.3°C | 128 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1991 | 11.2°C | 8.2°C | 5.3°C | 13.9°C | 1.3°C | 117 mm | 93% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1990 | 12.7°C | 9.6°C | 6.5°C | 15.8°C | 0.9°C | 111 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1989 | 13.2°C | 9.9°C | 6.7°C | 19.7°C | 0.8°C | 209 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1988 | 13.6°C | 10.1°C | 6.7°C | 18.2°C | 0.8°C | 85 mm | 87% | 0.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1987 | 13.3°C | 9.5°C | 5.8°C | 15.6°C | 1.4°C | 60 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1986 | 13.7°C | 9.9°C | 6.1°C | 17.2°C | 0.0°C | 78 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1985 | 12.4°C | 9.2°C | 5.9°C | 17.6°C | 2.8°C | 78 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1984 | 12.5°C | 8.9°C | 5.3°C | 16.2°C | -2.1°C | 71 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1983 | 12.0°C | 8.9°C | 5.9°C | 16.5°C | -0.3°C | 77 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 12.9°C | 9.2°C | 5.4°C | 15.8°C | -0.7°C | 113 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 13.3°C | 9.5°C | 5.8°C | 17.5°C | 0.4°C | 56 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 13.3°C with lows near 6.4°C (mean 9.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 96 mm of rainfall in Taupo, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 210 mm in 2023.
The hottest May reached 19.9°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to -2.1°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 12.6°C to 14°C and overnight lows from 5.7°C to 7°C over the same span.
May is one of the cooler months of the year in Taupo and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 13.3°C daytime highs and 6.4°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 5th coolest month in Taupo, averaging 9.9°C.
For May in Taupo, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 13.3°C and lows of 6.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.6 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.7 m/s (1982).
The wettest May on record was 2023 with 210 mm. On average, May sees 96 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 Taupo 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.
