Weather in May in Canterbury
Thinking about venturing to Canterbury this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:
What is the weather like in Canterbury in May?
Canterbury is a region in New Zealand. May in Canterbury generally has temperatures that range from cold to mild, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.
Temperatures
During the day the temperature is cold in Mount Cook Village at 6°C and mild in Lincoln at 15°C. As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 6°C in Lincoln and -2°C in Mount Cook Village.To explore the conditions in Canterbury in more detail, check the map below.
Precipitation
In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Christchurch with an average of 54 mm to heavy rainfall in Mount Cook Village with 241 mm.Average sunshine
The city Christchurch usually sees around 138 hours of sunlight, indicating a moderately sunny period.For a more detailed look at Canterbury's conditions throughout the year, check out our Canterbury climate page.
Where to go in Canterbury in May
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
Select a Month of Interest
Check the conditions for any month of the year.
For a detailed overview over the year and the best time to visit New Zealand, check out our Canterbury's climate page.
Popular destinations
What is the weather like in May for the 5 most popular destinations in Canterbury?
Christchurch
In May Christchurch generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Kaikoura
In May Kaikoura generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Hanmer Springs
In May Hanmer Springs generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Lake Tekapo
In May Lake Tekapo generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Akaroa
In May Akaroa generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Canterbury, in New Zealand.
Is May the best time to visit Canterbury?
Given the typically tolerable weather conditions in Christchurch, May might be a good time to visit Canterbury. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.
Generally speaking, January, February, March and December provide perfect weather in Christchurch. The weather in June, July and August, on the other hand, tends to be unpleasant.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in Canterbury.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to New Zealand? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in New Zealand.
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.