Cook Islands

Cook Islands Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the Cook Islands in May.

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Rarotonga Arutanga Arorangi Rakahanga

Are you planning a trip a to the Cook Islands in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in the Cook Islands in May

May in the Cook Islands generally has warm temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are warm and range from 27°C (81°F) in Rarotonga to 30°C (86°F) in Penrhyn. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 27°C (81°F) in Penrhyn and 24°C (75°F) in Rarotonga.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of the Cook Islands, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Penrhyn with an average of 134 mm (5.3 in) to heavy rainfall in Arutanga with 177 mm (7 in).

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Rarotonga gets around 162 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore the Cook Islands by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in the Cook Islands in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across the Cook Islands.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in the Cook Islands

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in the Cook Islands?

Temperature range in the Cook Islands (May)

Precipitation variation in the Cook Islands (May)

Rarotonga

In May Rarotonga generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
174 hours
162 hours
165 hours
Monthly rainfall
164 mm (6.5 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Rarotonga →

Arutanga

In May Arutanga generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
165 hours
179 hours
Monthly rainfall
196 mm (7.7 in)
177 mm (7 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Arutanga →

Arorangi

In May Arorangi generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
174 hours
162 hours
165 hours
Monthly rainfall
164 mm (6.5 in)
135 mm (5.3 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Arorangi →

Avarua

In May Avarua generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
174 hours
162 hours
165 hours
Monthly rainfall
165 mm (6.5 in)
137 mm (5.4 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Avarua →

Ngatangiia

In May Ngatangiia generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
174 hours
162 hours
165 hours
Monthly rainfall
166 mm (6.5 in)
137 mm (5.4 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Ngatangiia →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the Cook Islands.

In our records: the Cook Islands May extremes

Notable May records observed across cities in the Cook Islands in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • From our sources, the wettest May day in the Cook Islands brought 300 mm (12 in) in Rarotonga on May 25, 2007.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the Cook Islands in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Rarotonga 27°C (81°F) 24°C (75°F) 136 mm (5.4 in)
Arutanga 28°C (82°F) 25°C (77°F) 177 mm (7 in)
Arorangi 27°C (81°F) 24°C (75°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Rakahanga 30°C (86°F) 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Pukapuka 30°C (86°F) 27°C (81°F) 174 mm (6.9 in)
Penrhyn 30°C (86°F) 27°C (81°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)

The Cook Islands weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Cook Islands in May?

Expect pleasant weather across the Cook Islands in May. The popular destination of Rarotonga averages 27°C (81°F) by day and 24°C (75°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in the Cook Islands in May?

In Rarotonga, the average daytime high in May is 27°C (81°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 24°C (75°F).

Does the Cook Islands get a lot of rain in May?

the Cook Islands sees substantial rainfall in May. Rarotonga typically averages about 136 mm (5.4 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is May a Good Time to Visit the Cook Islands?

In our opinion, May is a good time to visit the Cook Islands with overall pleasant weather in Rarotonga.

On average, the best time to visit the Cook Islands is in June, August, September and October with generally perfect weather in Rarotonga. On the other hand, the months of January, February and December tend to have unpleasant weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Cook Islands.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the Cook Islands? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the Cook Islands.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

The perfect escape to get away from it all

Still relatively untouched the Cook Islands are what paradise looks like in your wildest dreams. Expect tropical and green landscapes, mesmerizing turquoise waters and powder soft white sand.
Must visit in the Cook Islands →