May could be a good time to visit Cairns, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +79°F, and there are typically 5 sunny days in May. However, expect about 18 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 62 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+79°F
Avg. max. temperature
+52°F
Min.
+91°F
Max.
62 mm
Total precipitation
78%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
5 ☀️
Sunny Days
9 ⛅️
Cloudy
18 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Cairns has OK weather in May.
Average temperature in Cairns in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Cairns for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in May is +77°F with a maximum of +81°F and a minimum of +66°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 12% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +79°F to +77°F.
Is Cairns warm or cold in May?
Cairns is typically warm in May.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +81°F to +79°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +73°F to +70°F.
It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.
Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Cairns:
Water temperature in Cairns in May
Water in Cairns in May is Warm. It varies from +76°F to +82°F, with an average of +79°F.Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +79°F.
In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Cairns are reached in February, when the average sea temperature rises to +85°F. The coldest water temperatures are in July, with an average of +75°F.
Can you swim in Cairns in May?
You can absolutely swim in Cairns in May, the water is warm (+79°F in average), similar to heated pools. Suitable for most people, including children and the elderly.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
Bring your swimming suit, sunscreen and your favorite inflatable pink flamingo.
Climate in Cairns in May
Cairns weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+81°F
+79°F
+75°F
Min. temperature
+61°F
+52°F
+50°F
Max. temperature
+93°F
+91°F
+90°F
Rainfall
121 mm
62 mm
34 mm
Wind
3 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+82°F
+79°F
+76°F
Humidity
79%
78%
76%
Air pressure
1012 HPa
1014 HPa
1015 HPa
Sunny days
3
5
6
Cloudy days
6
9
12
Rainy days
21
18
13
Snowy days
0
0
0
May weather is still as ok as in April.It’s getting colder in May. From +81°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +79°F.As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 121 mm to 62 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 79% to 78%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 3 m/s.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in May, from 3 to 5.
But maybe it is worth considering traveling in June as the weather gets better.
Wind speed in Cairns in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 6 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Cairns is gradually increasing during May, going from 3 m/s to 4 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Cairns based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 55 mm, with a 35% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 16 mm, which is considered light rain.May is a pretty wet month with over 11 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Cairns wettest month is January, where a typical day has a 71% chance of precipitation and 290 mm of rainfall per day. September, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 33% chance of precipitation and 20 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last May in Cairns?
This is the weather in Cairns in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+79°F
2 May
☁️
+79°F
3 May
☁️
+80°F
4 May
☀️
+79°F
5 May
☁️
+79°F
6 May
☁️
+78°F
7 May
☁️
+79°F
8 May
☁️
+79°F
9 May
☀️
+74°F
10 May
☀️
+75°F
11 May
🌧️
+77°F
12 May
🌧️
+76°F
13 May
☁️
+77°F
14 May
☁️
+77°F
15 May
☁️
+78°F
16 May
☁️
+79°F
17 May
☁️
+77°F
18 May
☁️
+77°F
19 May
☁️
+75°F
20 May
☀️
+76°F
21 May
☀️
+76°F
22 May
☁️
+76°F
23 May
☁️
+75°F
24 May
🌧️
+74°F
25 May
🌧️
+75°F
26 May
☁️
+75°F
27 May
☁️
+76°F
28 May
☁️
+74°F
29 May
☁️
+73°F
30 May
☁️
+74°F
31 May
🌧️
+76°F
In May 2023 Cairns had 5 sunny days, 21 cloudy days, and 5 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +77°F, with an absolute maximum of +81°F and a minimum of +73°F. The average humidity was 82%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 54%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Cairns climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Cairns in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1982 (+76°F) and the highest in 2013 (+86°F). The driest year was 2002 with only 513 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 3123 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Cairns in May:
Is May a good time to visit Cairns?
It’s always a good time to visit Cairns, but the weather is changeable in May, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Cairns in May?
May is warm in Cairns. You may enjoy some beach or pool time in the day, but pack something a tad warmer for the evening.
Can you swim in Cairns in May?
Yes, you can swim in Cairns in May, the water temperature averaging at +79°F. This temperature is considered warm and comfortable for most swimmers.
Is Cairns rainy in May?
Cairns is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Cairns in May?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Cairns in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
Other cities in Australia
Check out the weather for other cities in Australia.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Cairns, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.