Manawatu Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Manawatu, New Zealand in May.

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Palmerston North Whanganui Ohakune Levin

Planning a journey to Manawatu, New Zealand this May and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Manawatu in May

Manawatu, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. May in Manawatu generally has mild temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are mild and range from 13°C (55°F) in National Park to 16°C (61°F) in Whanganui. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 10°C (50°F) in Whanganui and 5°C (41°F) in National Park.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Manawatu, New Zealand, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Feilding with an average of 86 mm (3.4 in) to high rainfall in National Park with 157 mm (6.2 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is moderately available across various locations. In Palmerston North, you can expect around 110 hours of sunlight in May, which gives a pleasant combination of sun and shade. For those who want maximum sunshine, our weather planner can point you toward the sunniest places on Earth.

Explore Manawatu by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Manawatu in May

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

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 Manawatu

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Manawatu, New Zealand?

Temperature range in Manawatu (May)

Precipitation variation in Manawatu (May)

Palmerston North

In May Palmerston North generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
147 hours
110 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
95 mm (3.7 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
15 days
15 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Palmerston North →

Whanganui

In May Whanganui generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
147 hours
110 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
104 mm (4.1 in)
98 mm (3.9 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Whanganui →

Ohakune

In May Ohakune generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
160 hours
130 hours
97 hours
Monthly rainfall
120 mm (4.7 in)
125 mm (4.9 in)
138 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
17 days
18 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Ohakune →

Levin

In May Levin generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
147 hours
110 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
122 mm (4.8 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
135 mm (5.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Levin →

Taumarunui

In May Taumarunui generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
160 hours
130 hours
97 hours
Monthly rainfall
131 mm (5.2 in)
147 mm (5.8 in)
151 mm (5.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
16 days
18 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Taumarunui →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Manawatu, in New Zealand.

In our records: New Zealand May extremes

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

  • In our records, the coldest May daytime high in New Zealand was -6°C (21°F) in Franz Josef on May 28, 2013.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Manawatu in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Palmerston North 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Whanganui 16°C (61°F) 10°C (50°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)
Ohakune 14°C (57°F) 5°C (41°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Levin 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 122 mm (4.8 in)
Taumarunui 15°C (59°F) 6°C (43°F) 147 mm (5.8 in)
National Park 13°C (55°F) 5°C (41°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)

Manawatu weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Manawatu, New Zealand in May?

In May, Manawatu, New Zealand generally has tolerable weather conditions. Palmerston North sees daytime temperatures near 16°C (61°F), with nights cooling to roughly 8°C (46°F).

What is the average temperature in Manawatu, New Zealand in May?

In Palmerston North, the average daytime high in May is 16°C (61°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 8°C (46°F).

Does Manawatu, New Zealand get a lot of rain in May?

May is on the drier side in Manawatu, New Zealand. Palmerston North averages only about 89 mm (3.5 in), with most days staying dry.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Manawatu, New Zealand?

Given the typically tolerable weather conditions in Palmerston North, May might be a good time to visit Manawatu, New Zealand. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, January, February and March provide perfect weather in Palmerston North. On the other hand, the month of July tends to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Manawatu.

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.

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