Avg High
Sydney in May
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
10h
What to expect
In Sydney, 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, with evenings that ease back comfortably. 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 Sydney.
Hottest (avg)
#9 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#9 / 12
Daylight Hours
#10 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#11 / 12
Highest UV
#10 / 12
Most Humid
#6 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 10.4 h
- UV index (max)
- 5
- Typical sun hours
- 07:40 - 18:02
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 9 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 42%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 73%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for May. Typical high 18.9°C and low 11.9°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 High impact
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 10% of days (3.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.2 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.2 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~33mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 10% of days (3.1 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.1 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.1 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~33mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 3% of days (1.1 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~75km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cold Moderate
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 4% of days (1.3 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.3 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.3 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~1 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Show all disruptions (15 more)
Rain High impact
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 5% of days (1.7 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.7 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.7 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.9 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~33mm (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.
Rain High impact
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). 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 ~47mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. 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 ~71km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 39% of days (12.0 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.0 days / month
~39% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.0 days / month
- Probability ~39% of days
- Intensity Up to ~18mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~12 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 32% of days (9.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.8 days / month
~32% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.8 days / month
- Probability ~32% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~10 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 31% of days (9.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.5 days / month
~31% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.5 days / month
- Probability ~31% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~10 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 28% of days (8.7 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.7 days / month
~28% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.7 days / month
- Probability ~28% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~9 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 25% of days (7.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.8 days / month
~25% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.8 days / month
- Probability ~25% of days
- Intensity Up to ~67km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~8 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 20% of days (6.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.2 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.2 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 16% of days (4.9 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.9 days / month
~16% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.9 days / month
- Probability ~16% 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.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). 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 ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Visibility Minor
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 ~92% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Other Minor
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 ~92 (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.
Wind Minor
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). 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 ~31km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is May a good time to visit Sydney?
Typical May days in Sydney reach highs of 19°C (66°F) with nights around 12°C (54°F). It usually feels mild by day and cool after dark. Overall, May sits in the middle of the Sydney climate range.
What are temperatures like in May?
In May, you can usually expect highs of 19°C (66°F) and lows near 12°C (54°F). That means mild days and cool nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in May?
Rainfall in May averages 53 mm (2.1 in) across roughly 9 days. Overall it is a quite rainy time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in May?
You can expect about 10 hours of daylight in May. Sunrise is typically around 07:40 and sunset near 18:02. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in May?
UV levels are moderate (around 5); sunscreen and sunglasses are still a good idea.
Is it windy in May?
In May, average wind speeds are around 10 km/h (6 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 49 km/h (30 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.