May could be a good time to visit Christchurch, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +59°F, and there are typically 5 sunny days in May. However, expect about 14 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 60 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+59°F
Avg. max. temperature
+25°F
Min.
+77°F
Max.
60 mm
Total precipitation
80%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
5 ☀️
Sunny Days
12 ⛅️
Cloudy
14 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Christchurch has OK weather in May.
Average temperature in Christchurch in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Christchurch for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in May is +61°F with a maximum of +72°F and a minimum of +37°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 5% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +63°F to +61°F.
Is Christchurch warm or cold in May?
Christchurch is typically mild in May.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +63°F to +59°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +48°F to +45°F.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Christchurch:
Water temperature in Christchurch in May
Water in Christchurch in May is Cold. It varies from +52°F to +56°F, with an average of +54°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +59°F.
In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Christchurch are reached in February, when the average sea temperature rises to +61°F. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +49°F.
Can you swim in Christchurch in May?
We would not recommend swimming in Christchurch in May, the water is very cold (+54°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
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
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Christchurch in May
Christchurch weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+63°F
+59°F
+54°F
Min. temperature
+32°F
+25°F
+25°F
Max. temperature
+84°F
+77°F
+72°F
Rainfall
49 mm
60 mm
55 mm
Wind
3 m/s
2 m/s
2 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+57°F
+54°F
+51°F
Humidity
77%
80%
82%
Air pressure
1014 HPa
1012 HPa
1012 HPa
Sunny days
5
5
5
Cloudy days
12
12
10
Rainy days
13
14
15
Snowy days
0
0
0
May weather is still as ok as in April.It’s getting colder in May. From +63°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +59°F.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 49 mm to 60 mm.Humidity rises from 77% to 80%.Winds are calmer in comparison to April, going down from 3 m/s to 2 m/s on average.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 5 sunny days during the month.
Wind speed in Christchurch in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 5 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.
The average wind speed in Christchurch is gradually increasing during May, going from 2 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Christchurch based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 92 mm, with a 42% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 35 mm, which is moderate rain.May is a pretty wet month with over 13 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
May is one of the rainiest months in Christchurch, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Christchurch wettest month is July, where a typical day has a 48% chance of precipitation and 61 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 38% chance of precipitation and 42 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last May in Christchurch?
This is the weather in Christchurch in May 2023:
1 May
🌫️
+63°F
2 May
☀️
+68°F
3 May
☁️
+72°F
4 May
☁️
+67°F
5 May
☁️
+64°F
6 May
☁️
+68°F
7 May
🌧️
+68°F
8 May
☁️
+70°F
9 May
☁️
+65°F
10 May
🌧️
+57°F
11 May
☁️
+55°F
12 May
☁️
+60°F
13 May
☁️
+58°F
14 May
🌧️
+58°F
15 May
☁️
+55°F
16 May
☀️
+55°F
17 May
☁️
+63°F
18 May
☁️
+58°F
19 May
🌧️
+54°F
20 May
🌧️
+55°F
21 May
☁️
+55°F
22 May
☀️
+58°F
23 May
☀️
+60°F
24 May
☀️
+57°F
25 May
☀️
+60°F
26 May
☁️
+62°F
27 May
☁️
+65°F
28 May
☁️
+65°F
29 May
☁️
+61°F
30 May
☀️
+65°F
31 May
☀️
+60°F
In May 2023 Christchurch had 8 sunny days, 17 cloudy days, and 5 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +61°F, with an absolute maximum of +72°F and a minimum of +54°F. The average humidity was 84%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 60%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Christchurch climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Christchurch in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1992 (+59°F) and the highest in 2019 (+65°F). The driest year was 1988 with only 348 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2021 with 963 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Christchurch in May:
Is May a good time to visit Christchurch?
It’s always a good time to visit Christchurch, 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 Christchurch in May?
May has mild temperatures in Christchurch. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in Christchurch in May?
Swimming in Christchurch in May is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Christchurch rainy in May?
Christchurch 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 Christchurch in May?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Christchurch in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
Other cities in New Zealand
Check out the weather for other cities in New Zealand.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Christchurch, 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.
