Monthly climate guide
Cairns weather in May
With highs near 24°C (76°F) and lows around 19°C (65°F), May feels warm in Cairns. Rainfall averages about 104 mm (wet) and the sky is a mix of sun and cloud. Daytime highs are about the same as April and about the same as June.
What stands out in May
- There's little difference between day and night (around 6°C).
- Only 2 months are cooler in Cairns than May.
- Just 280 km apart, but Cairns runs about 3°C cooler than Townsville this month.
Avg high
24°C
76°F
Avg low
19°C
65°F
Rainfall
104 mm
wet
Humidity
84%
relative
Sky
47%
cloud · a mix of sun and cloud
Cairns weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 326 mm | 84% | 67% |
| February | 28°C / 83°F | 23°C / 73°F | 327 mm | 86% | 63% |
| March | 27°C / 80°F | 22°C / 72°F | 359 mm | 89% | 72% |
| April | 26°C / 79°F | 20°C / 69°F | 138 mm | 86% | 52% |
| May | 24°C / 76°F | 19°C / 65°F | 104 mm | 84% | 47% |
| June | 23°C / 74°F | 17°C / 62°F | 55 mm | 83% | 46% |
| July | 23°C / 74°F | 16°C / 61°F | 41 mm | 81% | 40% |
| August | 25°C / 76°F | 16°C / 61°F | 20 mm | 75% | 33% |
| September | 27°C / 80°F | 18°C / 64°F | 22 mm | 73% | 30% |
| October | 29°C / 83°F | 19°C / 67°F | 59 mm | 72% | 32% |
| November | 30°C / 86°F | 21°C / 70°F | 57 mm | 73% | 39% |
| December | 30°C / 87°F | 22°C / 72°F | 144 mm | 76% | 52% |
What to pack for May
- T-shirts plus a light layer for the evening
- Comfortable trainers or sandals for long walks
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
Is May a good time to visit Cairns?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Cairns →Other Australia cities in May
Cite or embed this data
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Cairns weather in May. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/australia/cairns/may
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/australia/cairns/may">Cairns weather in May</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/australia/cairns" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Cairns weather in May"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/australia/cairns/may">Cairns weather in May</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Cairns in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Cairns?
May is one of the wetter months in Cairns, with about 104 mm of rain. You can still go: pack a rain jacket and keep plans flexible.
How warm is Cairns in May?
Average highs are about 24°C (76°F) and average lows about 19°C (65°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Cairns in May?
Cairns typically gets around 104 mm of rain in May — wet.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Cairns (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.