May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kirkstall, with average highs near 13.9°C and lows around 5.4°C (mean 9.7°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 69 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kirkstall. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Kirkstall was 2024 — when the month averaged 12.3°C — while the coldest was 1996 at 6.9°C. Typical May days reach 13.9°C with nights near 5.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is one of the drier months in Kirkstall, averaging 69 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2021 with 133 mm, while the driest was 2020 at 19 mm.
Relative humidity in Kirkstall during May averages 84%. The most humid May was 1983 at 88%, and the least humid were 2020 and 2025 at 80%.
May receives about 4.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kirkstall. The sunniest May was 2020 at 5.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1985 and 1986 at 3.9.
Average wind speed in Kirkstall during May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest Mays were 1986 and 2011 at 4.4 m/s, while the calmest was 1990 at 2.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.0°C | 9.5°C | 9.9°C | 9.6°C | 10.5°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg High | 13.2°C | 13.9°C | 14.0°C | 13.8°C | 14.9°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg Low | 4.7°C | 5.1°C | 5.8°C | 5.4°C | 6.2°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 69 mm | 61 mm | 74 mm | 70 mm | 69 mm | +1 mm |
May temperatures in Kirkstall have risen by about 1.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -2.6°C (1981) to a record high of 24°C (2012).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 69 mm, with a wettest year of 133 mm.
A good time to visit Kirkstall
May is a good time to visit Kirkstall, with days averaging 13.9°C and nights around 5.4°C (mean 9.7°C, warmer than Kirkstall's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. July and August 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 | 16.1°C | 11.0°C | 5.9°C | 21.4°C | 0.0°C | 43 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2024 🔥 | 16.4°C | 12.3°C | 8.3°C | 20.2°C | 5.4°C | 105 mm | 88% | 2.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2023 | 15.6°C | 11.0°C | 6.4°C | 19.3°C | 3.9°C | 39 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2022 | 14.5°C | 10.8°C | 7.2°C | 19.1°C | 5.5°C | 76 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2021 🌧️ | 11.9°C | 8.2°C | 4.4°C | 19.1°C | -0.9°C | 133 mm | 86% | 2.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2020 | 14.9°C | 10.0°C | 5.1°C | 21.9°C | -1.0°C | 19 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2019 | 13.5°C | 9.3°C | 5.1°C | 18.3°C | 0.0°C | 65 mm | 83% | 2.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2018 | 16.4°C | 11.2°C | 6.1°C | 21.9°C | -1.0°C | 43 mm | 83% | 2.9 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2017 | 15.5°C | 11.0°C | 6.5°C | 23.7°C | 1.5°C | 49 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2016 | 14.4°C | 10.1°C | 5.7°C | 20.5°C | 2.0°C | 46 mm | 85% | 3.3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2015 | 11.8°C | 8.2°C | 4.7°C | 15.5°C | -2.1°C | 111 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2014 | 13.9°C | 10.2°C | 6.6°C | 19.8°C | 0.0°C | 118 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2013 | 12.6°C | 8.5°C | 4.4°C | 18.9°C | -0.1°C | 90 mm | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2012 | 13.9°C | 9.5°C | 5.0°C | 24.0°C | -1.8°C | 74 mm | 84% | 3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2011 | 13.2°C | 9.5°C | 5.9°C | 17.5°C | -0.9°C | 73 mm | 84% | 4.4 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2010 | 12.8°C | 8.6°C | 4.3°C | 23.4°C | -1.7°C | 35 mm | 83% | 2.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2009 | 13.6°C | 9.8°C | 5.9°C | 21.6°C | 1.6°C | 82 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2008 | 15.6°C | 10.8°C | 6.0°C | 22.1°C | 0.7°C | 38 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2007 | 13.4°C | 9.7°C | 6.0°C | 16.9°C | 3.7°C | 78 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2006 | 13.9°C | 9.8°C | 5.7°C | 20.6°C | 2.2°C | 125 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2005 | 13.1°C | 9.1°C | 5.1°C | 18.3°C | -0.7°C | 62 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2004 | 14.4°C | 10.2°C | 6.0°C | 19.2°C | 1.8°C | 44 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2003 | 13.6°C | 10.0°C | 6.4°C | 23.0°C | 0.6°C | 100 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2002 | 13.5°C | 9.9°C | 6.3°C | 20.8°C | -0.2°C | 105 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2001 | 15.0°C | 10.2°C | 5.4°C | 20.1°C | -0.1°C | 42 mm | 83% | 2.8 m/s | 5 |
| 2000 | 14.0°C | 9.7°C | 5.3°C | 21.2°C | 2.6°C | 64 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1999 | 14.7°C | 10.7°C | 6.7°C | 20.3°C | 3.2°C | 84 mm | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1998 | 15.3°C | 10.9°C | 6.4°C | 21.6°C | 0.8°C | 57 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1997 | 14.0°C | 9.2°C | 4.3°C | 21.5°C | -1.8°C | 78 mm | 84% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1996 ❄️ | 11.1°C | 6.9°C | 2.8°C | 18.8°C | -1.5°C | 70 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1995 | 13.7°C | 9.4°C | 5.2°C | 20.6°C | -1.0°C | 63 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1994 | 12.2°C | 8.1°C | 4.0°C | 17.4°C | -0.8°C | 48 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1993 | 13.4°C | 9.2°C | 4.9°C | 17.4°C | -0.3°C | 106 mm | 85% | 3.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1992 | 15.7°C | 10.9°C | 6.1°C | 23.0°C | 2.0°C | 44 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1991 | 13.5°C | 9.2°C | 4.9°C | 17.7°C | 0.4°C | 25 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 4 |
| 1990 | 15.4°C | 10.4°C | 5.4°C | 22.4°C | 1.8°C | 37 mm | 81% | 2.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1989 | 15.0°C | 10.3°C | 5.6°C | 20.8°C | 0.5°C | 25 mm | 83% | 2.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1988 | 14.2°C | 9.8°C | 5.4°C | 18.7°C | 0.8°C | 64 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1987 | 12.3°C | 7.9°C | 3.6°C | 18.0°C | -1.8°C | 45 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1986 | 12.3°C | 8.8°C | 5.2°C | 17.8°C | 2.1°C | 106 mm | 87% | 4.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1985 | 13.3°C | 9.2°C | 5.1°C | 19.1°C | 1.2°C | 78 mm | 85% | 3.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1984 | 13.2°C | 8.3°C | 3.5°C | 19.1°C | -1.0°C | 42 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1983 | 11.5°C | 8.0°C | 4.4°C | 15.7°C | 1.4°C | 117 mm | 88% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 13.6°C | 9.0°C | 4.4°C | 21.5°C | -2.4°C | 32 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 13.3°C | 9.4°C | 5.5°C | 19.8°C | -2.6°C | 109 mm | 88% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 13.9°C with lows near 5.4°C (mean 9.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 69 mm of rainfall in Kirkstall, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 133 mm in 2021.
The hottest May reached 24°C in 2012. The coldest dipped to -2.6°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 13°C to 14.9°C and overnight lows from 4.6°C to 6.4°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Kirkstall and one of the drier months, so plan for around 13.9°C daytime highs and 5.4°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Kirkstall, averaging 9.7°C.
For May in Kirkstall, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 13.9°C and lows of 5.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 84% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.4 m/s (1986).
The wettest May on record was 2021 with 133 mm. On average, May sees 69 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 Kirkstall 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.
