Monthly climate guide
Nelson weather in May
May in Nelson is typically cool, with average daytime highs around 12°C (54°F) and night-time lows near 5°C (41°F). The month usually brings about 109 mm of rain (wet) and is a mix of sun and cloud. Daytime highs are 3°C cooler than April and 3°C warmer than June.
What stands out in May
- It's one of the sunniest months here, with cloud cover around 52%.
- Nelson is usually about 2°C cooler than Wellington, 120 km away, in May.
- In Nelson, May is late autumn — the seasons are reversed south of the equator.
It's usually the wettest month of the year.
Avg high
12°C
54°F
Avg low
5°C
41°F
Rainfall
109 mm
wet
Humidity
88%
relative
Sky
52%
cloud · a mix of sun and cloud
Nelson weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C / 71°F | 11°C / 51°F | 77 mm | 70% | 58% |
| February | 22°C / 72°F | 11°C / 51°F | 64 mm | 69% | 53% |
| March | 20°C / 67°F | 9°C / 49°F | 86 mm | 76% | 58% |
| April | 15°C / 60°F | 7°C / 44°F | 107 mm | 83% | 55% |
| May | 12°C / 54°F | 5°C / 41°F | 109 mm | 88% | 52% |
| June | 9°C / 49°F | 3°C / 37°F | 106 mm | 92% | 52% |
| July | 8°C / 47°F | 2°C / 36°F | 96 mm | 91% | 53% |
| August | 10°C / 49°F | 3°C / 37°F | 85 mm | 90% | 56% |
| September | 12°C / 53°F | 3°C / 38°F | 84 mm | 85% | 57% |
| October | 14°C / 57°F | 5°C / 41°F | 91 mm | 83% | 61% |
| November | 16°C / 61°F | 7°C / 44°F | 72 mm | 79% | 62% |
| December | 19°C / 67°F | 9°C / 49°F | 102 mm | 75% | 64% |
What to pack for May
- A warm sweater or fleece for layering
- A mid-weight jacket
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
Is May a good time to visit Nelson?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Nelson →Other New Zealand cities in May
Cite or embed this data
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Nelson weather in May. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/new-zealand/nelson/may
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/new-zealand/nelson/may">Nelson weather in May</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/new-zealand/nelson" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Nelson weather in May"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/new-zealand/nelson/may">Nelson weather in May</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Nelson in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Nelson?
May is cool in Nelson, with highs around 12°C. Better for museums and city walks than the beach, and usually quieter.
How warm is Nelson in May?
Average highs are about 12°C (54°F) and average lows about 5°C (41°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Nelson in May?
Nelson typically gets around 109 mm of rain in May — wet. It's usually the wettest month of the year.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Nelson (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.