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Northern Territory Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Northern Territory, Australia in May.

Thinking about venturing to Northern Territory, Australia this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Northern Territory in May

Northern Territory, Australia is a region in Australia. Northern Territory, Australia has a wide variety of climate types. During May, you can expect temperatures that range from warm to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to low.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is warm in Alice Springs at 24°C (75°F) and very warm in Marrakai at 34°C (93°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 21°C (70°F) in Marrakai and 10°C (50°F) in Alice Springs. These night and day temperatures are average and some days may be even warmer. So be prepared and dress for the heat.

For specific regional insights in Northern Territory, Australia, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Katherine with an average of 3.9 mm (0.2 in) to low rainfall in Kakadu National Park with 20 mm (0.8 in).

Average sunshine

May brings good sunshine to many areas. Darwin sees around 295 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore Northern Territory by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Northern Territory — and find the best time to visit. (based on Uluru)

Best Places to Visit in Northern Territory in May

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

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 Northern Territory

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Northern Territory, Australia?

Temperature range in Northern Territory (May)

Precipitation variation in Northern Territory (May)

Darwin

In May Darwin generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 33°C (91°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
34°C (93°F)
33°C (91°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
23°C (73°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
267 hours
295 hours
297 hours
Monthly rainfall
108 mm (4.3 in)
16 mm (0.6 in)
2.8 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
5 days
Weather conditions

Alice Springs

In May Alice Springs generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
24°C (75°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
10°C (50°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
282 hours
264 hours
258 hours
Monthly rainfall
16 mm (0.6 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
11 mm (0.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
4 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Palmerston

In May Palmerston generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 34°C (93°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
35°C (95°F)
34°C (93°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
267 hours
295 hours
297 hours
Monthly rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
16 mm (0.6 in)
2.5 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
5 days
Weather conditions

Casuarina

In May Casuarina generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 33°C (91°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
34°C (93°F)
33°C (91°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
23°C (73°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
267 hours
295 hours
297 hours
Monthly rainfall
107 mm (4.2 in)
16 mm (0.6 in)
2.9 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
5 days
Weather conditions

Kings Canyon

In May Kings Canyon generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
25°C (77°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
10°C (50°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly rainfall
16 mm (0.6 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
13 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Northern Territory, in Australia.

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Uluru 25°C (77°F) 11°C (52°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Darwin 33°C (91°F) 23°C (73°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Alice Springs 24°C (75°F) 10°C (50°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Palmerston 34°C (93°F) 21°C (70°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Casuarina 33°C (91°F) 23°C (73°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Kings Canyon 25°C (77°F) 10°C (50°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)

Northern Territory weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Northern Territory, Australia in May?

May in Northern Territory, Australia brings tolerable weather. In Darwin, daytime temperatures are typically around 33°C (91°F) and nighttime lows hover near 23°C (73°F).

What is the average temperature in Northern Territory, Australia in May?

Daytime temperatures in Darwin peak at roughly 33°C (91°F) in May, dropping to about 23°C (73°F) overnight.

Does Northern Territory, Australia get a lot of rain in May?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Northern Territory, Australia during May, with Darwin averaging close to 16 mm (0.6 in).

Is May a Good Time to Visit Northern Territory, Australia?

Given the typically perfect weather conditions in Darwin, May might be a good time to visit Northern Territory, Australia.

Generally speaking, June and July provide pleasant weather in Darwin. In contrast, January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Northern Territory.

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

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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