Queensland in May 2025

Rainfall

  • Rainfall totals in May were around average for large parts of the state, but above average for Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, the Darling Downs and parts of the Peninsula, central and far west of the state. and below average for parts of the north and south–west.
  • Queensland's area-averaged rainfall total in May was 20.1 mm, 35% below the 1961–1990 average.
  • It was the wettest May in Queensland since 2022.
  • Several sites had their highest May daily rainfall on record.
  • Several sites had their highest total May rainfall on record.
  • Several sites had their highest total May rainfall for at least 20 years.

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures in May were above to very much above average for the east coast and adjacent inland, and average for most other areas.
  • Queensland's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 26.7 °C, 0.46 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
  • Queensland had its lowest mean maximum temperature for May since 2023.
  • Mean minimum temperatures in May were mostly above to very much above average.
  • Queensland's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 15.2 °C, 1.64 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the eigth–warmest on record for all Mays since 1910.
  • Queensland had its highest mean minimum temperature for May since 2022.
  • Queensland's area-averaged mean temperature was 20.9 °C, 1.05 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
  • Several sites had their coolest May day (lowest daily maximum temperature) on record.
  • Bedourie had its warmest May night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
  • University of Queensland Gatton and Walkamin Research Station had their highest May mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years.

Events


Extremes in May 2025
Hottest day 35.3 °C at Boulia Airport on the 26th
Warmest days on average 32.3 °C at Palmerville
Coolest days on average 18.2 °C at Applethorpe
Coldest day 12.8 °C at Applethorpe on the 30th
Coldest night 2.6 °C at Applethorpe on the 20th
Coolest nights on average 8.7 °C at Mitchell Post Office
Warmest nights on average 25.8 °C at Coconut Island
Warmest night 27.2 °C at Coconut Island on the 5th
Warmest on average overall 28.2 °C at Coconut Island
Coolest on average overall 13.6 °C at Applethorpe
Wettest overall 419.5 mm at Babinda Post Office
Wettest day 188.5 mm at Babinda Post Office on the 5th
Strongest wind gust 96.0 km/h at Creal Reef on the 10th

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window


Record highest May daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
May
Abercorn 101.4 on the 17th 96.4 on 17 May 1992 76 39.9
Bamaga 90.0 on the 9th 88.0 on 10 May 1996 43 67.3
Coconut Island 135.8 on the 3rd 80.4 on 22 May 2016 30 77.7
Eversleigh 74.5 on the 19th 42.0 on 25 May 2012 27 8.8
Darr Creek AL 50.0 on the 17th 27.0 on 13 May 2022 25 19.7
Abercorn TM 90.0 on the 17th 45.0 on 01 May 2015 25 25.6
Nashs Crossing Alert 60.0 on the 3rd 51.0 on 11 May 2022 23 107.8



Record highest May total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
May
Bamaga 286.0 228.4 in 1996 41 60.3
Eversleigh 74.5 72.0 in 2000 26 8.8
Abercorn TM 124.0 109.0 in 2022 24 25.6
Hedlow Airfield TM 63.0 45.8 in 2008 21 16.4



Highest May total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
May
Flinton 23.4 32.2 in 1985 48.6
Horn Island 277.0 318.0 in 1996 71.0
Southwick West Station 20.4 151.6 in 1998 23.8
Theodore 62.0 111.4 in 1998 36.1
Kinkora 21.6 72.1 in 2005 32.4

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported




Record lowest May daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
May
Mount Isa Aero 15.1 on the 29th 15.6 on 14 May 1979 59 28.0
Cloncurry Airport 16.3 on the 29th 16.5 on 14 May 1979 33 29.3
Coconut Island 26.8 on the 8th 27.0 on 31 May 2000 29 31.4
The Monument Airport 14.8 on the 29th 15.8 on 22 May 2020 25 27.6
Birdsville Airport 14.8 on the 28th 16.4 on 22 May 2020 25 25.7
Trepell Airport 14.9 on the 29th 16.1 on 22 May 2020 24 28.1
Julia Creek Airport 15.0 on the 29th 15.3 on 25 May 2012 23 30.6
Century Mine 18.1 on the 29th 19.4 on 22 May 2020 23 31.2
Winton Airport 15.8 on the 29th 16.0 on 25 May 2012 23 28.5



Record highest May daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
May
Bedourie 21.2 on the 5th 21.0 on 08 May 2016 27 12.0



Highest May mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
May
University of Queensland Gatton 12.7 14.3 in 1989 10.1
Walkamin Research Station 17.8 17.9 in 1990 16.2

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported





Summary statistics for May 2025
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
May
2025
Diff
from
average
Highest for
May
2025
Mean for
May
2025
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
May
2025
Total for
May
2025
Average
for
May
Rank of
May
2025
Fraction of
May
average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island 30.6 -0.8 32.7 5th 25.8 +0.3 22.4 3rd 343.6 77.7 high 442%
Coen Airport 30.2 -0.2 31.6 17th 21.5 +1.5 18.7 31st 2.2 14.0 average 16%
Horn Island 29.8 -0.3 31.0 30th 25.3 +0.4 23.2 3rd 277.0 64.1 high 432%
Scherger RAAF 31.5 -0.3 33.2 25th 22.8 +1.4 19.8 31st 0.0 24.1 lowest 0%
Weipa Aero 31.9 0.0 33.9 28th 23.0 +1.5 20.2 31st 5.6 19.8 average 28%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport 29.4 +0.6 31.7 26th 24.0 +1.9 20.4 17th 89.2 99.5 average 90%
Palmerville 32.3 +1.1 34.0 25th 18.0 +0.5 15.3 20th 2.6 15.5 average 17%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport 31.0 -0.8 34.0 13th 18.9 +0.7 12.3 31st 0.2 4.9 average 4%
Century Mine 29.9 -1.3 34.7 26th 19.2 +2.1 13.3 31st 0.2 6.5 average 3%
Cloncurry Airport 28.4 -0.9 33.7 25th 15.9 +0.3 8.1 20th 1.6 7.1 average 22%
Julia Creek Airport 28.5 -2.1 34.1 25th 13.3 -0.2 4.9 20th 3.2 8.9 average 36%
Kowanyama Airport 32.1 -0.1 33.8 25th 20.6 +1.4 15.6 21st 0.0 11.0 lowest 0%
Lake Julius AWS 28.4 -1.4 34.5 25th 18.5 +0.9 12.8 30th 0.8 5.3 average 15%
Mornington Island Airport 28.0 -0.9 33.1 25th 21.9 +1.2 17.9 30th 0.0 19.8 lowest 0%
Mount Isa Aero 27.8 -0.2 33.9 25th 14.1 +0.2 5.9 21st 5.4 11.2 average 48%
Normanton Airport 31.2 -0.7 34.5 25th 20.0 +0.6 15.5 21st 0.0 5.8 lowest 0%
Sweers Island 28.0 -0.6 30.0 27th 21.0 -0.8 16.3 30th 0.0 5.9 lowest 0%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport 30.7 +0.3 33.3 26th 18.1 +1.5 13.4 17th 0.0 14.2 lowest 0%
Hughenden Airport 27.4 -1.2 32.8 24th 14.7 +1.0 5.7 21st 26.2 10.0 high 262%
Richmond Airport 28.9 -0.8 34.6 26th 14.1 +0.9 7.5 21st 10.4 7.9 average 132%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero 28.8 +1.1 30.9 1st 21.7 +1.7 18.5 20th 120.0 91.7 high 131%
Cairns Racecourse 28.3 +0.3 30.3 28th 21.3 +1.4 17.6 21st 104.0 105.1 average 99%
Cape Flattery 29.4 +0.7 30.6 2nd 24.4 +1.0 21.3 30th 20.8 60.1 low 35%
Cooktown Airport 28.4 +0.5 29.6 18th 22.7 +1.4 17.8 30th 55.4 47.3 high 117%
Low Isles Lighthouse 27.3 -0.2 29.5 28th 23.9 +1.0 22.2 10th 84.2 98.7 average 85%
Mareeba Airport 27.7 +0.8 30.5 16th 18.8 +1.9 15.7 21st 5.4 14.1 average 38%
Walkamin Research Station 26.3 +1.2 30.0 16th 17.8 +1.6 15.2 21st 15.4 27.0 average 57%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cowley Beach (Defence) 26.9 29.4 25th 21.2 16.8 21st 284.0
Ingham Aero 28.1 31.2 16th 18.6 12.6 21st 42.0
Innisfail Aerodrome 27.1 29.5 29th 19.9 14.7 22nd 317.4
Mount Stuart (Defence) 28.2 31.1 16th 19.1 14.2 30th 17.8
South Johnstone Exp Stn 26.9 +0.6 28.9 16th 20.7 +2.2 16.4 21st 297.6 268.1 average 111%
Townsville Aero 29.1 +1.4 31.3 1st 19.8 +2.1 12.9 21st 49.2 33.9 high 145%
Townsville- Air Weapons Range (Defence) 27.5 30.7 29th 15.8 8.0 20th 12.4
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach 27.0 +0.1 30.5 17th 19.2 +1.4 13.0 20th 50.6 41.6 high 122%
Ayr DPI Research Stn 28.3 +0.6 30.8 28th 17.9 +1.7 10.3 20th 20.4 41.1 average 50%
Bowen Airport AWS 28.4 +0.6 30.9 17th 18.9 +0.9 10.3 20th 10.6
Collinsville Post Office 28.3 +0.7 31.4 27th 15.5 +1.7 7.0 20th 14.0 32.9 average 43%
Hamilton Island Airport 24.4 +0.1 26.3 4th 21.4 +0.8 16.7 30th 112.0 96.7 average 116%
Mackay Aero 25.7 +0.4 28.8 1st 17.7 +1.9 10.4 20th 117.6 88.5 high 133%
Mackay M.O 25.0 +0.7 27.6 1st 18.7 +1.5 12.3 20th 152.2 103.9 high 146%
Ooralea Racecourse (Mackay Turf Club) 25.7 28.3 1st 17.6 10.4 20th 129.6
Proserpine Airport 26.7 +0.1 29.5 1st 17.6 +1.7 8.2 20th 72.0 65.3 average 110%
Samuel Hill Aero 24.6 -0.3 28.6 27th 17.0 +3.0 11.2 20th 210.6 110.5 high 191%
St Lawrence 26.7 -0.1 29.2 1st 16.5 +1.8 9.8 20th 26.8 34.3 average 78%
Townsville- Fanning River (Defence) 26.9 29.8 27th 15.9 7.9 21st 15.2
Williamson 26.2 -0.2 28.9 27th 16.3 +2.1 9.9 20th 29.0 31.9 average 91%
Woolshed 24.3 +0.3 26.5 25th 15.4 +1.0 7.9 21st 27.4 38.2 average 72%
Yeppoon The Esplanade 24.7 +0.5 27.4 17th 18.0 +2.0 12.6 20th 101.2 72.9 high 139%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport 27.8 +0.4 30.8 15th 15.5 +0.3 9.8 31st 7.8 28.1 average 28%
Moranbah Airport 26.3 -0.6 30.4 27th 14.3 +1.5 4.8 20th 34.4 30.6 average 112%
Central Highlands (district 35)
Blackwater Airport 26.8 0.0 30.5 27th 13.9 +0.5 8.2 31st 47.0 18.9 high 249%
Clermont Airport 25.7 -0.3 30.9 24th 12.7 +2.3 3.6 20th 75.8 18.6 high 408%
Emerald Airport 26.6 +0.2 30.9 27th 14.6 +1.5 8.5 20th 27.4 20.9 average 131%
Lochington 26.3 0.0 30.5 26th 11.9 +1.6 4.9 20th 17.2 12.8 high 134%
Rolleston Airport 26.1 +0.4 30.4 26th 12.6 +2.3 6.3 31st 21.8 21.6 average 101%
Springsure Comet St 25.9 +0.6 29.1 24th 12.8 +1.8 6.2 19th 21.4 34.4 average 62%
Tambo Post Office 25.0 0.0 31.2 26th 9.5 +1.3 3.0 31st 19.4 32.8 average 59%
Taroom Post Office 25.9 +1.2 32.1 25th 11.7 +2.0 6.3 23rd 4.9 38.9 low 13%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office 27.1 +1.0 31.5 26th 14.7 +2.2 8.0 20th 10.4 28.7 average 36%
Blackall Airport 25.8 -0.5 31.4 26th 11.9 +1.1 4.3 20th 7.6 15.1 average 50%
Isisford Post Office 25.4 -0.9 31.1 26th 13.1 +1.8 4.8 20th 49.5 27.2 high 182%
Longreach Aero 27.1 0.0 32.2 26th 13.0 +0.9 6.5 31st 2.8 23.2 average 12%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township 28.8 -0.2 35.0 26th 14.3 +0.8 6.1 20th 1.2 10.4 average 12%
Carters Bore 27.2 -0.7 33.9 25th 15.6 -0.5 9.0 30th 0.8 5.7 average 14%
New May Downs 27.4 -0.9 33.0 25th 15.4 -0.4 7.8 20th 5.6 6.3 average 89%
The Monument Airport 27.1 -0.5 34.4 25th 12.3 +0.3 4.0 20th 3.6 8.7 average 41%
Trepell Airport 27.3 -0.8 33.5 26th 12.3 -0.5 4.2 20th 4.0 6.0 high 67%
Urandangi Aerodrome 27.6 -1.2 35.0 25th 12.1 +0.3 3.4 20th 9.6 3.8 high 253%
Winton Airport 26.6 -1.9 32.3 25th 13.2 +0.1 5.5 20th 20.0 9.6 high 208%
Lower Western (district 38)
Bedourie 26.7 +0.4 30.4 4th 13.9 +1.9 7.1 20th 0.0 11.1 lowest 0%
Birdsville Airport 24.7 -1.0 32.1 25th 13.0 +1.5 6.1 24th 12.2 8.3 high 147%
Boulia Airport 25.7 -1.1 35.3 26th 10.9 -1.7 4.2 21st 11.1 12.6 high 88%
Windorah Airport 25.0 34.0 26th 13.6 7.0 19th 10.8
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Bundaberg Aero 25.5 +0.6 29.2 27th 16.2 +2.0 12.7 30th 53.8 66.3 average 81%
Gayndah Airport 26.0 +0.4 30.3 26th 13.1 +2.3 8.4 23rd 48.4 31.1 high 156%
Gladstone Airport 26.6 +0.8 31.0 27th 17.8 +2.1 12.4 30th 33.8 36.9 average 92%
Gladstone Radar 26.5 +0.8 30.0 27th 18.2 +1.2 12.0 30th 39.6 55.0 average 72%
Lady Elliot Island 25.0 +0.9 27.3 27th 20.6 +1.0 13.9 30th 149.8 118.8 high 126%
Rockhampton Aero 26.9 +0.8 31.3 27th 16.8 +2.5 11.0 20th 52.6 45.6 high 115%
Rundle Island 23.8 +0.3 26.0 27th 20.1 +0.7 14.2 30th
Seventeen Seventy 25.1 +0.9 28.4 27th 18.0 +1.1 12.4 30th 61.3 102.0 average 60%
Thangool Airport 26.6 +0.4 31.1 26th 12.5 +2.5 7.8 20th 44.8 37.3 average 120%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO 25.5 +1.4 29.7 27th 12.0 +2.1 8.5 2nd 45.8 54.6 average 84%
Archerfield Airport 25.1 +1.1 29.2 27th 14.1 +2.2 11.4 28th 61.4 73.3 average 84%
Beaudesert Drumley Street 25.0 +0.8 28.6 27th 12.5 +2.7 6.1 28th 43.4 61.6 average 70%
Beerburrum Forest Station 24.2 +0.3 28.6 27th 15.1 +2.3 12.6 2nd 107.7 120.0 average 90%
Brisbane 24.8 +0.4 28.8 27th 15.8 +1.9 11.6 23rd 55.6 69.8 average 80%
Brisbane Aero 24.2 +0.6 29.2 27th 15.1 +2.0 12.0 23rd 53.2 98.2 average 54%
Canungra (Defence) 24.2 27.6 26th 11.2 6.8 23rd 56.8
Cape Moreton Lighthouse 22.9 +1.0 25.3 27th 17.9 +1.4 14.7 28th 118.0 165.2 average 71%
Coolangatta 24.2 +1.0 28.6 27th 15.6 +1.7 9.8 28th 187.2 130.8 high 143%
Double Island Point Lighthouse 23.2 +0.8 27.7 26th 18.3 +0.9 14.6 30th 87.8 144.2 low 61%
Gold Coast Seaway 23.9 +0.3 28.1 25th 16.4 +1.0 12.2 28th 169.2 103.2 high 164%
Greenbank (Defence) 24.6 28.4 27th 13.2 8.7 28th 55.6
Gympie 24.3 -0.2 28.4 25th 13.9 +3.0 7.5 23rd 59.8 71.5 average 84%
Hervey Bay Airport 24.6 +0.3 26.9 26th 16.4 +2.2 10.8 23rd 110.4 98.1 high 112%
Kingaroy Airport 22.4 0.0 28.4 26th 11.1 +3.5 3.5 23rd 68.4 37.6 high 182%
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 24.3 +0.3 27.0 27th 14.1 +1.4 11.4 2nd 70.7 101.9 average 69%
Maryborough 25.2 +0.5 29.7 27th 15.2 +2.1 9.5 23rd 71.4 77.0 average 93%
Nambour Daff - Hillside 24.0 +0.2 28.1 27th 15.4 +1.8 11.4 23rd 150.6 135.6 high 111%
Point Lookout 24.2 +0.3 28.0 26th 18.2 +1.5 12.5 28th 230.0 147.3 high 156%
Rainbow Beach 24.5 +0.7 27.8 27th 16.3 +2.1 10.5 23rd 123.8 162.7 average 76%
Redcliffe 24.0 +0.6 29.1 27th 16.0 +1.6 14.5 29th 80.0 78.3 high 102%
Redland (Alexandra Hills) 23.8 28.2 27th 15.2 12.5 28th 93.8
Sunshine Coast Airport 23.8 +0.3 28.3 27th 15.9 +2.2 10.6 23rd 206.0 161.9 high 127%
Tewantin RSL Park 23.9 +0.2 27.8 27th 16.5 +1.7 12.2 23rd 277.0 158.1 high 175%
Tin Can Bay (Defence) 24.2 28.1 27th 16.1 9.9 23rd 135.6
University of Queensland Gatton 24.6 +0.8 28.4 27th 12.7 +2.6 9.1 2nd 95.0 44.8 high 212%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe 18.2 +0.7 23.9 26th 9.0 +2.9 2.6 20th 62.8 49.4 high 127%
Dalby Airport 23.9 +0.7 31.3 26th 10.5 +2.2 5.9 23rd 44.2 37.7 average 117%
Goondiwindi Airport 23.7 30.5 26th 10.2 3.5 28th 26.6
Oakey Aero 23.3 +1.0 30.2 26th 9.2 +1.4 3.7 23rd 58.8 39.8 high 148%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade 19.4 +1.0 25.5 26th 9.3 +3.9 2.7 20th 60.0 46.4 high 129%
Texas Post Office 23.2 +0.3 28.5 26th 9.5 +1.4 3.5 28th 33.2 39.6 average 84%
Toowoomba Airport 20.4 +0.6 26.6 26th 11.5 +1.5 6.3 28th 88.4 45.2 high 196%
Warwick 22.0 +0.8 28.0 26th 10.8 +3.8 4.6 8th 78.4 44.5 high 176%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street 23.6 -0.1 31.0 26th 10.9 +2.7 4.9 23rd 16.2 27.0 average 60%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office 23.9 +0.3 30.9 25th 8.8 +1.1 3.7 23rd 28.4 31.9 average 89%
Mitchell Post Office 24.2 +1.0 31.7 26th 8.7 +1.6 3.6 23rd 12.6 32.1 average 39%
Roma Airport 24.2 +0.4 31.0 26th 9.4 +1.7 3.5 19th 15.0 31.2 average 48%
St George Airport 23.0 -0.3 31.2 26th 10.4 +1.4 6.2 28th 38.6 31.6 high 122%
Surat 23.8 +0.2 31.3 26th 10.8 +2.0 5.1 19th 12.4 33.5 average 37%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St 24.2 +1.1 30.0 26th 9.7 +1.1 5.5 29th 15.0 31.8 average 47%
Charleville Aero 23.4 0.0 31.0 26th 10.6 +1.6 3.7 19th 6.8 29.8 low 23%
Cunnamulla Post Office 23.3 +0.3 28.0 7th 11.3 +1.4 6.0 19th 61.8 29.3 high 211%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field 23.8 -0.7 28.5 7th 12.2 +0.7 5.7 19th 1.8 10.5 average 17%
Thargomindah Airport 23.9 0.0 28.4 7th 12.0 +1.0 5.6 24th 4.8 17.1 average 28%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following month, lists the main features of the weather in Queensland using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated.

This statement has been prepared based on information available on Monday 2 June 2025. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases, the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, excluding the current year. The length of record can vary widely from site to site. Averages are not shown for sites with fewer than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

Creative Commons By Attribution logo Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

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