SeasonMapCradle Mountain (Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair) weather in May
Australia
May in Cradle Mountain: cold, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 20 rainy days.
#8 of 12 months in Cradle Mountain · #1198 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 56/100 (tier D)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Cradle Mountain in May
Other months in Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain's forum is blunt that January weather is genuinely unpredictable — regulars say to expect all four seasons in a single day regardless of what the calendar says, and to pack layers, a warm jumper and a wind/rainproof shell even in the height of summer. It's even been known to snow in January, so don't assume the forecast holds.
Add your own note from Cradle Mountain's card on the map.
Cradle Mountain climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 9°C / 47°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 3°C / 37°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 6°C / 43°F | |
| Rainfall | 317 mm / 12.5 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 20 days | |
| Humidity | 91% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 4°C / 39°F | |
| Sunshine | 5.6 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | |
| Wind | 15 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Snowfall | 4.5 cm / 1.8 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 21 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Cradle Mountain in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Shoulder seasonan ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Cradle Mountain's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherCradle Mountain's weather peaks January–March.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Cradle Mountain in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Shuttle bus into the park
1 Jan – 31 DecBook earlyYou park at the visitor centre and ride the shuttle to Ronny Creek and Dove Lake; private cars are only allowed up the road outside shuttle hours, which in summer means before the first bus or not at all. Source ↗
- Hazard
Alpine weather in any month
1 Jan – 31 DecExtreme coldSnow falls on this plateau in every month of the year and the summit track can be a whiteout in January. The park's own advice is to carry the winter layers whatever the forecast says. Source ↗
- Nature
The turning of the fagus
15 Apr – 15 May · usuallyAutumn colourAustralia's only native deciduous tree turns rust and gold around Crater Lake for about a fortnight from late April. Tasmanians drive up for it and the shuttle queues show it.
- Season
Overland Track booked season
1 Oct – 31 MayTrail seasonBook earlyFrom October to the end of May the track runs one way, southbound, capped at a set number of departures a day and booked months out. Outside it the walk is free, unbooked and a winter crossing. Source ↗
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk20 rainy days and about 317 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Cradle Mountain — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Cradle Mountain?
Cradle Mountain in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Cradle Mountain?
- May in Cradle Mountain: cold, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 20 rainy days. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Cradle Mountain on SeasonMap's comfort score (56/100).
- What is the weather like in Cradle Mountain in May?
- In May, Cradle Mountain averages a daily high of 8.5°C and a low of 2.6°C, with about 316.8 mm of rain over roughly 20.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Cradle Mountain in May?
- Cradle Mountain has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 21 in May.
- Does it snow in Cradle Mountain in May?
- Cradle Mountain sees roughly 4.5 cm of snowfall in May.
Other months in Cradle Mountain
Compare Cradle Mountain in May
Warmer or cooler than Cradle Mountain in May
Similar destinations in Oceania — May
Within 300 km: Hobart's Aurora australis around 1 Mar – 30 Sep.