Cairns · SpringMonth summary
Cairns weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
21°C – 26°C
🌧 Rainy days
40% of days
☀️ Sunshine
10.8h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.9/10
📅 📅 Best month
October (8.5/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Cairns in May?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want shoulder-season value — fewer crowds, 26°C.
❌ No if: you need maximum sunshine — some overcast days are possible.
Our take: May is a good time to visit Cairns. October remains slightly better (+0.6 pts).
By trip type
Cairns in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ✅ Good
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ✅ Good
- 💰 💰 Budget : 🌿 Shoulder
Local context
What to expect in May
🎯 One of the best months — 26°C, maximum sunshine and ideal conditions Spring marks the start of the good season in Cairns. Temperatures rise (26°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Expect rain on 40% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if October (8.5/10) remains theoretically better.
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All months for Cairns
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⛅ January | 24°C | 30°C | 75% | 14.0 | 11.4h | 7.1/10 |
| ⛅ February | 24°C | 30°C | 70% | 11.0 | 11.3h | 7.1/10 |
| ⛅ March | 24°C | 30°C | 68% | 11.8 | 10.8h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌤️ April | 23°C | 28°C | 51% | 6.2 | 11.1h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ May | 21°C | 26°C | 40% | 3.0 | 10.8h | 7.9/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 19°C | 25°C | 30% | 1.4 | 10.8h | 8.1/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 19°C | 24°C | 26% | 1.9 | 10.9h | 8.1/10 |
| ☀️ August | 18°C | 25°C | 23% | 1.2 | 11.0h | 8.3/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 20°C | 27°C | 31% | 1.5 | 11.5h | 8.4/10 |
| 🌤️ October | 22°C | 29°C | 28% | 1.6 | 12.0h | 8.5/10 |
| 🌤️ November | 23°C | 30°C | 40% | 2.0 | 12.0h | 7.9/10 |
| 🌤️ December | 24°C | 31°C | 54% | 9.3 | 12.2h | 7.3/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In May, Cairns averages 26°C, 40% rainy days and 10.8h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.9/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs October (best month)
The best month is October (score 8.5/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +3°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -12%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +1.2h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Cairns in May
Is May a good time to visit Cairns?
May is an excellent time to visit Cairns (score 7.9/10). With 26°C, 10.8h of sunshine and 40% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in Cairns in May?
With 26°C max and 10.8h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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Activities & tours
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