Grafton weather in May

In May, Grafton sees average daytime highs of 22°C and overnight lows near 11°C, with 56 mm of rain across 6.6 wet days and about 10.5 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 23°C in the first days to 21°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 54 min at the start of May to 10 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Grafton's 5th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Grafton's year-round climate.

Daytime high
22°
9th warmest
Overnight low
11°
5th coldest
Rainfall
56 mm
6.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 30 min
7:29 AM – 6:00 PM
Cloud cover
42%
5th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
3.36 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.4
out of 10

Grafton is city in New South Wales, Australia.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 23°C in the first days to 21°C by the end.

A typical May day in Grafton reaches about 22°C in the afternoon and slips back to 11°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 24°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 3°C cooler than April and about 2°C warmer than June.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12313
22313
32313
42313
52213
62212
72212
82212
92212
102212
112212
122212
132212
142211
152211
162211
172111
182111
192111
202111
212111
222111
232111
242111
252111
262110
272110
282110
292110
302010
312010

Grafton weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 9th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 20°11412.513.75.5
Feb28° / 20°11411.813.15.7
Mar27° / 18°9913.212.26.3
Apr24° / 15°478.811.37.3
May22° / 11°566.610.57.4
Jun19° / 586.110.17.1
Jul19° / 274.210.37.5
Aug21° / 364.410.97.9
Sep23° / 11°325.611.88.1
Oct25° / 14°617.912.77.4
Nov27° / 16°8411.213.56.4
Dec28° / 18°11512.513.95.9

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 30%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16931
26931
36931
46931
57030
67030
77030
87129
97129
107129
117129
127129
137129
147030
157129
167030
177030
187030
197030
207030
217030
227030
237030
247030
257030
267030
277030
286931
296931
306931
316832

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Grafton gets around 56 mm of rain over 6.6 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 21% and peaks near 26% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
126
225
325
424
523
623
722
822
922
1021
1121
1221
1321
1421
1521
1621
1721
1821
1920
2020
2120
2220
2320
2420
2520
2620
2720
2820
2920
3020
3121

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of May feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, May lands in the dry band about 64% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
14140173
24339162
34637152
44836142
55035132
65234122
75433112
85632102
95831101
10603091
11613081
12622981
13632881
14662770
15662770
16672670
17682570
18692470
19692470
20712360
21712360
22722260
23732250
24732250
25742150
26752140
27752140
28752140
29752140
30762130
31762130

Wind in May

Winds average 8 km/h in May, the calmest month.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
98calm
108calm
118calm
128calm
138calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
208calm
218calm
228calm
238calm
248calm
258calm
268calm
278calm
288calm
298calm
308calm
318calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min at the start of May to 10 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 36 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 7:19 AM to 7:38 AM, and sunset from 6:12 PM to 5:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.97:196:12
210.87:206:11
310.87:216:10
410.87:216:09
510.87:226:08
610.77:236:07
710.77:236:06
810.77:246:06
910.77:256:05
1010.67:256:04
1110.67:266:03
1210.67:266:03
1310.67:276:02
1410.67:286:01
1510.57:286:01
1610.57:296:00
1710.57:305:59
1810.57:305:59
1910.57:315:58
2010.47:325:58
2110.47:325:57
2210.47:335:57
2310.47:335:56
2410.47:345:56
2510.37:355:55
2610.37:355:55
2710.37:365:55
2810.37:365:54
2910.37:375:54
3010.37:385:53
3110.37:385:53

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 3.36 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.94 kWh/m² to a high of 6.42 kWh/m² in December across the year — May's 3.36 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.7Moderate
23.7Moderate
33.6Moderate
43.6Moderate
53.6Moderate
63.6Moderate
73.5Moderate
83.5Moderate
93.5Moderate
103.5Moderate
113.5Moderate
123.4Moderate
133.4Moderate
143.4Moderate
153.4Moderate
163.4Moderate
173.3Moderate
183.3Moderate
193.3Moderate
203.3Moderate
213.3Moderate
223.2Moderate
233.2Moderate
243.2Moderate
253.2Moderate
263.2Moderate
273.1Moderate
283.1Moderate
293.1Moderate
303.1Moderate
313.1Moderate
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Grafton

In seasonPeak

In May, Grafton sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Grafton sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Grafton's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is May a good time to visit Grafton?

Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

7.4
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
4.9
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

May is one of the better times to visit Grafton for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Grafton in May

From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In May, Grafton sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 11°C. Little to plan around — just the basics. About 7 days see rain.

Sea temperature near Grafton in May

The nearest coast averages about 23°C in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 43 km away) is warmest in February at about 26°C and coldest in August near 20°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Aug 27 to Aug 9 — about 11.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.

18°20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swimcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan25Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar25Warm
Apr25Warm
May23Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul20Refreshing
Aug20Cool
Sep20Refreshing
Oct21Refreshing
Nov22Refreshing
Dec24Refreshing

UV index in Grafton in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Grafton peaks around January 18 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 18UV 13Jun 18UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr7Very high
May5Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep7High
Oct9Very high
Nov11Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Grafton in May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Grafton is worst in November — around 37 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 8.5× the cleanest month (April, 4 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateNov 1635 µg/m³Apr 205 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb7Good
Mar7Good
Apr4Good
May5Good
Jun5Good
Jul6Good
Aug18Moderate
Sep17Moderate
Oct15Moderate
Nov37Poor
Dec16Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Grafton?

Grafton sits at 29.7°S, 152.9°E, 7 m above sea level, in Australia. The nearest listed city is Coffs Harbour, 71 km away.

Topography around Grafton

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Grafton.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Grafton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 33 m around an average of 5 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 178 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,436 m.

The land around Grafton is covered by grassland (58%) within 3 km, trees (46%) and grassland (43%) within 16 km, and trees (65%) and water (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
33 m
16 km
178 m
80 km
1,436 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
May weather nearby: Coffs Harbour 71 km · Byron Bay 132 km · Armidale 152 km · Banora Point 173 km · Palm Beach 181 km · Robina 185 km · Warwick 185 km · Nerang 192 km

Australia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type I
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 90% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$65,130
2025
Happiness
6.9 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
0.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
4.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
none 38%Roman Catholic 20%Protestant 18%other Christian 4%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Grafton (-29.681°, 152.9339°, elevation 7 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).