Gold Coast in May
What to expect
In Gold Coast, May sits in late autumn, a shoulder-season month where the feel can shift as the season turns. Most days land in a mild, easygoing zone, and relatively steady temperatures through the day. Daylight is moderate, so steady pacing works well. Comfort is usually predictable, so a standard day plan works well.
May in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Gold Coast.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 10.7 h
- UV index (max)
- 6
- Typical sun hours
- 06:20 - 17:04
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 11 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 40%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 74%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for May. Typical high 21.8°C and low 16.3°C.
Typical disruptions in May
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in May.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 10% of days (3.0 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.0 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.0 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~71mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 9% of days (2.9 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.9 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.9 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~72mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~78km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Show all disruptions (18 more)
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 6% of days (1.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.8 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.8 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~79mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 3% of days (0.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.5 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~97mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~78km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Extreme rain Measures: Extreme rain days (>=50mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~132mm (P95)
Extreme rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Muggy days Measures: Muggy days (dew point >=20C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21°C (P95)
Muggy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 45% of days (14.0 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.0 days / month
~45% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.0 days / month
- Probability ~45% of days
- Intensity Up to ~28mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 34% of days (10.4 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.4 days / month
~34% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.4 days / month
- Probability ~34% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~10 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 30% of days (9.4 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.4 days / month
~30% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.4 days / month
- Probability ~30% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~9 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 28% of days (8.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.6 days / month
~28% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.6 days / month
- Probability ~28% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~9 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 24% of days (7.4 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.4 days / month
~24% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.4 days / month
- Probability ~24% of days
- Intensity Up to ~60km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~7 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 23% of days (7.1 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.1 days / month
~23% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.1 days / month
- Probability ~23% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~7 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 15% of days (4.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.6 days / month
~15% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.6 days / month
- Probability ~15% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~5 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 6% of days (1.9 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.9 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.9 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.5 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.5 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21°C (P95)
Humid conditions are possible on ~1 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 2% of days (0.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21°C (P95)
Convective risk signal appears on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~95% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~95 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is May a good time to visit Gold Coast?
Typical May days in Gold Coast reach highs of 22°C (72°F) with nights around 16°C (61°F). It usually feels mild by day and mild after dark. Overall, May sits in the middle of the Gold Coast climate range.
What are temperatures like in May?
In May, you can usually expect highs of 22°C (72°F) and lows near 16°C (61°F). That means mild days and mild nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in May?
Rainfall in May averages 73 mm (2.9 in) across roughly 11 days. Overall it is a quite rainy time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in May?
You can expect about 11 hours of daylight in May. Sunrise is typically around 06:20 and sunset near 17:04. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in May?
UV levels are moderate (around 6); sunscreen and sunglasses are still a good idea.
Is it windy in May?
In May, average wind speeds are around 11 km/h (7 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 48 km/h (30 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.