NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY
MAY 2023
Apr.
30-May 6:
Generally cool conditions covered much of the eastern one-third of the U.S., as
well as California and environs. Weekly temperatures averaged 5 to 10°F below
normal in parts of California and a large area encompassing the central and
southern Appalachians, parts of the Ohio Valley, and the Atlantic Coast States
from Georgia to New Jersey. Early-week freezes were reported on the Plains as
far south as Nebraska and northern Kansas. Freezes also affected parts of the
upper Midwest. Although North Platte, NE, reported a May 1 low of 21°F, lower
readings have occurred on that date in that location as recently as 1989. Winter
wheat was not yet heading in freezeaffected areas, but producers monitored any
blooming fruits or emerging summer crops for signs of injury. Elsewhere,
scattered frost was reported in the central and eastern Corn Belt, with
temperatures remaining mostly above 32°F. Frost was also noted in parts of the
interior Northeast and as far south as the Ohio Valley. Daily-record lows were
widely scattered but included 39°F (on May 2) in Jackson, TN, and 46°F (on May
3) in Montgomery, AL. Meanwhile, record-setting warmth stretched from the Desert
Southwest to the northern Rockies. The last day of April featured daily-record
highs in Arizona locations such as Yuma (103°F) and Phoenix (102°F). Elsewhere
in Arizona, Tucson’s high of 100°F (on April 30) marked the first triple-digit
heat of the year—nearly 3 weeks earlier than the 1991-2020 normal date of May
18. Meanwhile, dailyrecord highs of 90°F occurred in Northwestern locations such
as Boise, ID (on April 30), and Missoula, MT (on May 1). Spokane, WA, posted
consecutive daily-record highs of 85°F on May 2-3. Late in the week, heat
developed across the south-central U.S. By May 5, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, tallied
a daily-record high of 96°F. The following day, record-setting highs for May 6
included 98°F in Topeka, KS; 93°F in Texarkana, AR; and 91°F in Kansas City, MO.
7-13: Warmth
in advance of the storm system boosted weekly temperatures more than 10°F above
normal across parts of east-central Plains, western Corn Belt, and upper Great
Lakes region. Meanwhile, lateweek heat in the Pacific Northwest lifted
temperatures more than 5°F above normal, despite several cool days early in the
period. However, below-normal weekly temperatures were observed in the Great
Basin and neighboring areas. Elsewhere, near- or slightly abovenormal
temperatures prevailed in the East, although readings averaged more than 5°F
above normal along parts of the northern Atlantic Coast. The Northwestern heat
wave, rare for this time of year, resulted in multiple monthly record highs,
starting on Sunday, May 14. On that date in Oregon, both Astoria and Seaside
attained 93°F. Astoria tied a monthly record, originally set on May 16, 2008,
while Seaside toppled its monthly mark of 86°F, attained most recently on May
19, 1978. Notably, Portland, OR, achieved highs of 90°F or greater on 4
consecutive days, from May 12-15. Prior to this year, Portland’s May record of
three 90-degree readings occurred in 1947 and 1987, with only the latter being
observed on 3 consecutive days (May 6-8, 1987). Meanwhile in Washington, Hoquiam
(91°F on the 14th) posted a monthly record high, shattering the standard of 87°F
originally set on May 29, 2007. With a high of 92°F on the 14th, Quillayute, WA,
tied a monthly record first achieved on May 7, 1987. Prior to the arrival of
Northwestern heat, much of the nation’s mid-section experienced a brief surge of
warmth. On May 7, the week began with daily-record highs in St. Louis, MO
(93°F), and Moline, IL (92°F). Two days later, record-setting highs for May 9
included 91°F in Greenwood, MS, and 90°F in Little Rock, AR. During the mid- to
late-week period, persistent heat in Florida led to consecutive daily-record
highs (93 and 94°F, respectively) on May 11-12 in Naples. Elsewhere in Florida,
daily-record highs for May 11 reached 95°F in Fort Myers and 94°F in Tampa.
14-20:
Showery weather across the southern half of the Plains provided additional
drought relief, following the previous week’s major storm.
Late
in the week, heavy rain shifted northward, easing dry conditions along the
northern Atlantic Coast. Meanwhile, light showers dotted the Northwest, while
little or no rain fell across the remainder of the country, including the
north-central U.S. and the Far West. A week-long hot spell boosted temperatures
10 to 15°F above normal in the Pacific Northwest, with a few locations reporting
monthly record highs. A separate area of warmth, accompanied by high humidity,
affected much of the Deep South. Readings averaged as much as 5°F above normal
in the central Gulf Coast region. Elsewhere, near- or slightly below-normal
temperatures prevailed across the central and southern Plains, while
substantially cooler-thannormal weather (at least 5°F below normal) covered much
of the Northeast and environs. A Northwestern heat wave lasted all week after
starting on May 11 or 12. In Oregon locations such as Portland, Salem, and
Eugene, May records were set with 9 consecutive days (May 12-20) of 80-degree
warmth. Troutdale, OR, had 10 days in a row (May 11- 20) with highs reaching
80°F or greater. Previous records, ranging from 6 to 8 days, had been set in
1938, 1947, 1958, 1973, 1983, and 1987, or a combination of those years.
Vancouver, WA, and Portland recorded 5 days of 90-degree heat—on May 12-15 and
17—breaking monthly records of 3 days apiece, set in 1931 and 1987,
respectively. In addition, Portland’s streak of 4 consecutive 90-degree days in
May eclipsed a record originally set from May 6- 8, 1987. On the 14th, Astoria,
OR, reached or exceeded the 90- degree mark in May for only the fourth time on
record, along with May 26, 2005; May 15, 2006; and May 16, 2008. In addition,
Astoria tied a May record with a high of 93°F. Elsewhere in the Northwest,
monthly records were shattered on the 14th in locations such as Seaside, OR
(93°F), and Hoquiam, WA (91°F). Late in the week, heat punched inland across the
Northwest. On May 19- 20, the week ended with consecutive daily-record highs in
Pasco, WA (98°F both days), and Hermiston, OR (96 and 97°F). On the 20th, highs
also reached or exceeded the 90-degree mark in Lewiston, ID (95°F); Montague, CA
(93°F); and Reno, NV (90°F). Meanwhile, a few daily records were noted in the
South, where highs on May 15 rose to 96°F in Fort Myers, FL, and 94°F in Tupelo,
MS. Additional daily-record highs in Florida included 95°F (on May 17) in Vero
Beach and 94°F (on May 15) in Pensacola. In contrast, a quick shot of cool air
delivered dailyrecord lows (and freezes) on May 18 in dozens of Northeastern
communities, including Saranac Lake, NY (16°F); Montpelier, VT (24°F); Concord,
NH (25°F); Mount Pocono, PA (26°F); and Hartford, CT (31°F). Light freezes
extended as far west as the lower Great Lakes region, where Akron-Canton, OH,
reported 32°F.
14-20:
Showery weather across the southern half of the Plains provided
additional drought relief, following the previous week’s major storm.
Late in the week, heavy rain shifted northward, easing
dry conditions along the northern Atlantic Coast. Meanwhile, light showers
dotted the Northwest, while little or no rain fell across the remainder of the
country, including the north-central U.S. and the Far West.
A week-long hot spell boosted temperatures 10 to 15°F
above normal in the Pacific Northwest, with a few locations reporting monthly
record highs. A separate area of warmth, accompanied by high humidity, affected
much of the Deep South. Readings averaged as much as 5°F above normal in the
central Gulf Coast region. Elsewhere, near- or slightly below-normal
temperatures prevailed across the central and southern Plains, while
substantially cooler-thannormal weather (at least 5°F below normal) covered much
of the Northeast and environs. A Northwestern heat wave lasted all week after
starting on May 11 or 12. In Oregon locations such as Portland, Salem, and
Eugene, May records were set with 9 consecutive days (May 12-20) of 80-degree
warmth. Troutdale, OR, had 10 days in a row (May 11- 20) with highs reaching
80°F or greater. Previous records, ranging from 6 to 8 days, had been set in
1938, 1947, 1958, 1973, 1983, and 1987, or a combination of those years.
Vancouver, WA, and Portland recorded 5 days of 90-degree heat—on May 12-15 and
17—breaking monthly records of 3 days apiece, set in 1931 and 1987,
respectively. In addition, Portland’s streak of 4 consecutive 90-degree days in
May eclipsed a record originally set from May 6- 8, 1987. On the 14th, Astoria,
OR, reached or exceeded the 90- degree mark in May for only the fourth time on
record, along with May 26, 2005; May 15, 2006; and May 16, 2008. In addition,
Astoria tied a May record with a high of 93°F. Elsewhere in the Northwest,
monthly records were shattered on the 14th in locations such as Seaside, OR
(93°F), and Hoquiam, WA (91°F). Late in the week, heat punched inland across the
Northwest. On May 19- 20, the week ended with consecutive daily-record highs in
Pasco, WA (98°F both days), and Hermiston, OR (96 and 97°F). On the 20th, highs
also reached or exceeded the 90-degree mark in Lewiston, ID (95°F); Montague, CA
(93°F); and Reno, NV (90°F). Meanwhile, a few daily records were noted in the
South, where highs on May 15 rose to 96°F in Fort Myers, FL, and 94°F in Tupelo,
MS. Additional daily-record highs in Florida included 95°F (on May 17) in Vero
Beach and 94°F (on May 15) in Pensacola. In contrast, a quick shot of cool air
delivered dailyrecord lows (and freezes) on May 18 in dozens of Northeastern
communities, including Saranac Lake, NY (16°F); Montpelier, VT (24°F); Concord,
NH (25°F); Mount Pocono, PA (26°F); and Hartford, CT (31°F). Light freezes
extended as far west as the lower Great Lakes region, where Akron-Canton, OH,
reported 32°F.
May 28-June 3:
A stubborn atmospheric blocking pattern kept dry weather entrenched across much
of the Midwest and Northeast, leading to topsoil moisture shortages and rapidly
developing drought. With high pressure in place, dry weather extended southward
through the Mississippi Valley.
Spotty showers extended eastward into the western Corn
Belt and westward into the Rockies and beyond. Little or no rain fell, however,
in the Pacific Northwest and from central and southern California into the
Southwest. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10 to 15°F above normal in
parts of the north-central U.S., especially from the Dakotas into the upper
Great Lakes region. In contrast, readings averaged 5°F or more below normal in
parts of the southern Atlantic States, as well as scattered locations in western
and southern Texas.
By Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29), record-setting
warmth was already in place across parts of the northern U.S. May 28 featured
daily-record highs in Maine locations such as Augusta (92°F) and Bangor (91°F).
Farther south, May 28 maximum temperatures failed to reach the 60-degree mark in
several Kentucky communities, including Jackson (56°F) and London (59°F).
Savannah, GA, posted a daily record-tying low of 55°F on Memorial Day, May 29.
Although much of the North remained very warm throughout the week, dramatically
cooler air arrived in northern New England. In Maine, Millinocket’s daily-record
high of 96°F on June 1 was followed by maximum temperature of 50°F on June 3.
Meanwhile in Michigan, a monthly record high was established on May 31 in
Gaylord, with a reading of 93°F (previously, 92°F on May 25, 2010). Gaylord also
posted highs of 90°F or greater each day from May 30 – June 2. As the new month
began, daily-record highs for June 1 topped the 95-degree mark in Fargo, ND
(97°F), and Burlington, VT (96°F). Consecutive daily-record highs were set on
June 1-2 in Gaylord (90°F both days); Burlington (96 and 91°F); Augusta, ME (93
and 91°F); and Scranton, PA (93 and 95°F). By June 2, another round of
95-degree, daily-record heat affected cities such as Baltimore, MD (97°F), and
Harrisburg, PA (96°F). At week’s end, lingering heat in the Great Lakes States
led to record-setting highs for June 3 in Muskegon, MI (93°F), and Madison, WI
(91°F).
Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com
