Sydney weather in May
Sydney averages 20°C by day and 11°C at night in May, with the sea at 21°C and 9 days with at least 1 mm of rain. It cools by about 3°C into June.
Day
20°C
Night
11°C
Sea
21°C
Rainy days
9
Flight from London
20½h
What May feels like
May is mild in Sydney: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather.
The sea is 21°C: fine for swimming without a wetsuit.
Expect some rain: about 9 days with at least 1 mm.
Of the 48 sun destinations we track, Sydney is the #48 warmest in May.
Want it warmer in May?
These are hotter than Sydney this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Sydney weather by month
May is highlighted. Compare with April and June, or see the full year in Sydney.
Sydney in May: quick answers
Is Sydney hot in May?
May is mild in Sydney: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather. Average highs are 20°C and lows 11°C.
Can you swim in Sydney in May?
The sea is 21°C: fine for swimming without a wetsuit.
Does it rain in Sydney in May?
Expect some rain: about 9 days with at least 1 mm.
What is the warmest month in Sydney?
January, at an average high of 27°C. The coolest is June at 17°C.
How long is the flight to Sydney from the UK?
About 20½h direct from London, estimated from the 17,016 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in May for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in May from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. A rainy day has at least 1 mm of rain. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Sydney in May?
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