Canterbury Region · New Zealand
Christchurch in May
In May, Christchurch averages a daytime high of 14 °C and a night-time low of 6 °C, with about 65 mm of rain over the month. It falls outside Christchurch's most comfortable months, December to March.
- Average high
- 14 °C
- Average low
- 6 °C
- Rain in the month
- 65 mm
- Daylight on 15 May
- 9 h 40 min
- Comfortable month
- No
- Places to stay
- 162
When to go
How May compares with the rest of the year in Christchurch
May is tied for the 8th warmest month in Christchurch by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 11 °C to 21 °C and the lows from 3 °C to 12 °C. By day, May is 3 °C cooler than April, and June is 2 °C cooler than May.
May brings 65 mm of rain, more than the monthly average of 57 mm (684 mm a year); it is the 4th wettest month.
On 15 May the sun is up for about 9 h 40 min, against 9 h at the shortest and 15 h 20 min at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 °C | 12 °C | 46 mm | Yes |
| February | 21 °C | 12 °C | 43 mm | Yes |
| March | 19 °C | 11 °C | 47 mm | Yes |
| April | 17 °C | 9 °C | 62 mm | |
| May | 14 °C | 6 °C | 65 mm | |
| June | 11 °C | 4 °C | 74 mm | |
| July | 11 °C | 3 °C | 84 mm | |
| August | 11 °C | 4 °C | 81 mm | |
| September | 14 °C | 6 °C | 40 mm | |
| October | 16 °C | 7 °C | 55 mm | |
| November | 17 °C | 9 °C | 42 mm | |
| December | 19 °C | 11 °C | 47 mm | Yes |
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
When to go
Is May a good time to visit Christchurch?
Not by the measure used here: the average high of 14 °C is below 18 °C. The comfortable months in Christchurch are December to March; the nearest are March, before, and December, after.
The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Christchurch
This guide lists 162 places to stay in Christchurch: 5 chain properties with their details and own websites, and 157 hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 30; 1–3 km, 60; 3–10 km, 61; 10 km or more, 11.
Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.