Rainy days were welcome in parts of the Plains while others dealt with too much rain.
Flooding was a concern again at times in May for parts of Oklahoma and southwest Kansas.
Also during May, several bouts of severe weather were felt across much of the Plains. It’s typical to see severe storms as May and June tend to be the peak of severe storms for the central Plains.
What was not so typical were several incidences of large hail that fell in Texas. Hail from 4 to 6 inches in diameter was reported near Afton, Texas, on May 25. The following day large hail fell again across parts of Texas. Five-inch hail was noted near Menard, Texas, that day. Many instances of 3-inch hail were reported that day, too.
Tornadoes also left devastating destruction. In Kansas, Grinnell and Plevna were both left with some homes leveled and homeowners picking up debris. These were part of a bigger outbreak with over 100 tornadoes reported across the United States between May 18 to 20.
Taking a look at the month ahead, above average temperatures are forecast across all of the Plains.
At that same time, below average precipitation is expected to occur for the western portions of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Through August, precipitation is expected to add up to below seasonal norms for Nebraska, Kansas, much of Oklahoma and western into central Texas.
Temperatures for the next three months should stay above normal for the entire region.
The outlook for precipitation is not favorable for those dealing with drought conditions. At least some sort of drought is forecast to remain the next several months for south central and southwest Texas along with the panhandle of Oklahoma. Drought conditions are also expected to persist or develop from southwest into central and northern Kansas and all of Nebraska.
In the wider view, ENSO-neutral conditions are ongoing and will continue through the summer. Beyond that, forecast models are showing some uncertainty whether ENSO-neutral will remain.
I’m always keeping an eye to the sky (and the weather patterns), so watch for next month’s update.
Editor’s note: Regina Bird grew up on a farm near Belleville, Kansas. The views from the farm helped spur her interest in weather. Following high school, she went on to get a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from the University of Kansas. She worked as a television meteorologist for nine years in Nebraska. Follow her on Twitter: @ReginaBirdWX.
