SeasonMapFranz Josef weather in May
New Zealand
May in Franz Josef: cool, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 17 rainy days.
#11 of 12 months in Franz Josef · #1118 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 62/100 (tier C)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Franz Josef in May
Other months in Franz Josef
Franz Josef's forum is candid that January's warm, long days come with the West Coast's notoriously dramatic weather — brilliant sunshine one minute, monsoon-style downpours the next. Regulars actually rate winter (July/August) as more settled for clear, flyable glacier days, even though January is warmer and busier.
Add your own note from Franz Josef's card on the map.
Franz Josef climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 12°C / 54°F | 🙂 cool |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 7°C / 45°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 11°C / 52°F | |
| Sea temperature | 15°C / 59°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 380 mm / 15 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 17 days | |
| Humidity | 86% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 7°C / 45°F | |
| Sunshine | 6.2 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | |
| Wind | 16 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Snowfall | 3.9 cm / 1.5 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 23 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Franz Josef 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.
Quietone of its worst months for weather(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Franz Josef'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 weatherFranz Josef's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Franz Josef in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Highway closures in heavy rain
1 Jan – 31 DecFlood seasonClosuresThere is one road in and one road out, and a big West Coast rain event closes it north or south of the village a few times a year. Check the highway before you commit to a night here. Source ↗
- Season
Quiet winter months
15 May – 31 AugOff-season shutdownHalf the beds in the village sit empty between May and August, and a cold settled high over the coast gives the clearest flying mornings of the year. The catch is how few of them there are.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Franz Josef — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Franz Josef?
Franz Josef in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Franz Josef?
- May in Franz Josef: cool, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 17 rainy days. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Franz Josef on SeasonMap's comfort score (62/100).
- What is the weather like in Franz Josef in May?
- In May, Franz Josef averages a daily high of 12.4°C and a low of 7°C, with about 380.4 mm of rain over roughly 16.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Franz Josef in May?
- Franz Josef has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 23 in May.
- Does it snow in Franz Josef in May?
- Franz Josef sees roughly 3.9 cm of snowfall in May.
Other months in Franz Josef
Compare Franz Josef in May
Warmer or cooler than Franz Josef in May
Similar destinations in Oceania — May
Within 300 km: Aoraki Mount Cook's Milky Way season around 15 Apr – 15 Sep, and Lake Tekapo's Larches turn on the lakeshore around 10 Apr – 15 May.