May outlook - will the rains be coming back?

We are going to roll into May with below normal rainfall in a good part of Kansas. The first map shown below is measured rainfall for April around the state. The second map will represent the departure from normal, and every area shown in yellow is at least one inch below average. 

 

Rainfall (compared to normal in April)
 

May averages look like this:

Early May will be WARM!

The first weekend and much of the first 10 days should have above normal temperatures - not likely record setting, but it may feel more like early summer. 

May should cool down some as we continue toward the middle of the month:

I don't expect Kansas to suddenly surge into a summer pattern, even though the first of the month is warm. A trend toward near or below normal temperatures may show up for the second and/or third week of the month. Considering that normal will be mid and upper 70s, this will likely put us in some pretty comfortable weather. This is exactly what happened in April. The month started off warm, but quickly turned cool and the month as a whole ended up below normal.

Rainfall: Again, coming out of a drier April, there's reason to hope for rain in May. The winter wheat would probably appreciate the moisture. On average, the month as a whole tends to be one of the top 3 wettest months out of the year for many areas of Kansas. This is the time of year to get our rains - without it, it can increase our chances of a hotter summer. 

 

 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend.