May is one of the warmer months of the year in Colchester, with average highs near 16.4°C and lows around 7.2°C (mean 11.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 54 mm of rainfall and 80% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Colchester. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Colchester was 2024 — when the month averaged 13.7°C — while the coldest was 1996 at 9°C. Typical May days reach 16.4°C with nights near 7.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Colchester, averaging 54 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2007 with 122 mm, while the driest was 2020 at 4 mm.
Relative humidity in Colchester during May averages 80%. The most humid May was 1981 at 85%, and the least humid was 2020 at 74%.
May receives about 4.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Colchester. The sunniest May was 2020 at 6.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 4.
Average wind speed in Colchester during May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest May was 1986 at 4.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2004 at 2.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.0°C | 11.6°C | 12.1°C | 11.9°C | 12.5°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg High | 15.3°C | 16.4°C | 16.5°C | 16.6°C | 17.2°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Low | 6.6°C | 6.8°C | 7.7°C | 7.3°C | 7.7°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 60 mm | 40 mm | 68 mm | 54 mm | 46 mm | -14 mm |
May temperatures in Colchester have risen by about 1.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -0.5°C (1981) to a record high of 25.4°C (2005).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 54 mm, with a wettest year of 122 mm.
A good time to visit Colchester
May is a good time to visit Colchester, with days averaging 16.4°C and nights around 7.2°C (mean 11.8°C, warmer than Colchester's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. August and July 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 | 18.3°C | 13.1°C | 8.0°C | 23.8°C | 4.0°C | 21 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2024 🔥 | 18.2°C | 13.7°C | 9.2°C | 21.4°C | 5.6°C | 77 mm | 84% | 2.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2023 | 17.0°C | 12.3°C | 7.6°C | 20.1°C | 3.9°C | 42 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2022 | 17.7°C | 13.1°C | 8.4°C | 22.0°C | 4.3°C | 50 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2021 | 14.2°C | 10.1°C | 5.9°C | 20.2°C | 1.5°C | 86 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2020 | 17.8°C | 12.4°C | 7.0°C | 24.0°C | 0.9°C | 4 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2019 | 16.4°C | 11.6°C | 6.7°C | 22.6°C | 2.1°C | 40 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 5 |
| 2018 | 18.8°C | 13.3°C | 7.9°C | 23.8°C | 2.2°C | 50 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2017 | 17.6°C | 13.2°C | 8.8°C | 22.8°C | 4.0°C | 72 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2016 | 16.9°C | 12.3°C | 7.8°C | 21.6°C | 1.0°C | 47 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 5 |
| 2015 | 15.7°C | 11.1°C | 6.6°C | 19.9°C | 1.1°C | 62 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2014 | 16.6°C | 12.4°C | 8.1°C | 21.6°C | 0.8°C | 88 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2013 | 14.7°C | 10.4°C | 6.1°C | 19.4°C | 1.0°C | 58 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2012 | 16.8°C | 12.2°C | 7.7°C | 24.8°C | 2.9°C | 55 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2011 | 17.1°C | 12.4°C | 7.6°C | 20.1°C | 1.5°C | 25 mm | 76% | 3.7 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2010 | 15.1°C | 10.3°C | 5.6°C | 23.8°C | 0.2°C | 37 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2009 | 16.8°C | 12.4°C | 7.9°C | 21.2°C | 3.2°C | 37 mm | 79% | 3.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2008 | 17.8°C | 13.2°C | 8.5°C | 22.8°C | 3.2°C | 74 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2007 🌧️ | 16.2°C | 12.2°C | 8.1°C | 23.1°C | 2.8°C | 122 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2006 | 16.8°C | 12.4°C | 8.0°C | 22.1°C | 3.6°C | 105 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2005 | 15.7°C | 11.2°C | 6.7°C | 25.4°C | 1.3°C | 39 mm | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2004 | 16.5°C | 11.9°C | 7.3°C | 21.6°C | 3.4°C | 55 mm | 81% | 2.3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2003 | 16.2°C | 11.8°C | 7.5°C | 23.4°C | 3.5°C | 54 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2002 | 15.9°C | 11.9°C | 8.0°C | 21.4°C | 3.2°C | 61 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2001 | 16.7°C | 12.1°C | 7.5°C | 22.4°C | 1.2°C | 41 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2000 | 16.8°C | 12.3°C | 7.9°C | 23.6°C | 4.3°C | 91 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1999 | 17.3°C | 12.7°C | 8.1°C | 21.4°C | 4.7°C | 35 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1998 | 17.6°C | 12.8°C | 8.0°C | 23.7°C | 3.1°C | 24 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 6 |
| 1997 | 16.4°C | 11.4°C | 6.4°C | 23.0°C | 0.0°C | 46 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1996 ❄️ | 13.4°C | 9.0°C | 4.6°C | 21.5°C | 1.1°C | 42 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1995 | 16.2°C | 11.3°C | 6.3°C | 23.6°C | -0.1°C | 31 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1994 | 14.9°C | 10.6°C | 6.4°C | 19.1°C | 1.8°C | 83 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1993 | 16.5°C | 11.8°C | 7.1°C | 20.6°C | 1.9°C | 50 mm | 79% | 3.8 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1992 | 18.7°C | 13.5°C | 8.2°C | 25.2°C | 3.4°C | 52 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1991 | 15.2°C | 10.5°C | 5.7°C | 21.8°C | 0.8°C | 21 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1990 | 17.9°C | 12.6°C | 7.3°C | 24.0°C | 3.0°C | 15 mm | 76% | 2.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1989 | 18.2°C | 12.8°C | 7.4°C | 24.7°C | 3.1°C | 8 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1988 | 16.1°C | 11.9°C | 7.7°C | 21.4°C | 2.7°C | 59 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1987 | 14.3°C | 9.8°C | 5.3°C | 20.4°C | 2.3°C | 51 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1986 | 15.4°C | 11.1°C | 6.8°C | 19.2°C | 3.0°C | 55 mm | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1985 | 15.3°C | 11.1°C | 6.9°C | 21.9°C | 3.6°C | 54 mm | 83% | 3.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1984 | 13.8°C | 9.6°C | 5.4°C | 18.5°C | 2.2°C | 78 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 4 |
| 1983 | 13.6°C | 9.9°C | 6.2°C | 17.6°C | 3.3°C | 83 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 16.0°C | 11.4°C | 6.7°C | 22.6°C | 0.3°C | 60 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 15.1°C | 11.1°C | 7.0°C | 20.6°C | -0.5°C | 95 mm | 85% | 3.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 16.4°C with lows near 7.2°C (mean 11.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 54 mm of rainfall in Colchester, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 122 mm in 2007.
The hottest May reached 25.4°C in 2005. The coldest dipped to -0.5°C in 1981.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 14.8°C to 17.1°C and overnight lows from 6.4°C to 7.8°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Colchester and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 16.4°C daytime highs and 7.2°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Colchester, averaging 11.8°C.
For May in Colchester, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 16.4°C and lows of 7.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 80% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.1 m/s (1986).
The wettest May on record was 2007 with 122 mm. On average, May sees 54 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 Colchester 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.
