John McGinley, Peak to Peak.  May 2018: A change in the upper level pattern brought a series of slow moving and moist upper level disturbances in the first three weeks of the month. After a very dry winter and early spring this was welcomed news. Precipitation was above 3.5 inches, about 25% above normal. Early in the month some of this moisture came in the form of snow that totaled 12 inches for the month, also above normal.

Thunderstorms were the primary source of precipitation in the latter half of the month. Hail was observed with nearly half inch stones on the 21st. Conditions turned dry toward the end of the month as the storm track shifted north. Temperatures were warmer than normal with many days in the 70s and one at 80F. The low temperatures only went below freezing on three days. The pedestrian pace of our storms didn’t provide much opportunity for windy days. We had no days with gusts 40mph or above, a rarity for Nederland.

Precipitation: With our 10 inch snow on the 2nd and 3rd , and thunderstorms, we received 3.58 inches of liquid, well above the normal of 2.83 inches. Snow ended up at 12 inches, about an inch and a half above normal. Hail occurred on the 14th and 20th with the storm on the 20th covering the ground an inch deep.

Temperature: Average high for the month was 64F with a low of 38F. This made the month 5 degrees above normal, putting this May in the warmest 5% of all Mays. Warmest day was 80F on the 26th and the coldest day was 31F on the 4th.

Winds: A typical May has three days with winds 40mph or above. This month had none, a rare event. Top wind was 33mph on the 28th triggered by a thunderstorm.

Other features : The fire threat was mitigated by the moist conditions and lack of winds. Humidity stayed high most of the month. It was warmer than normal but these other factors made it a pretty safe month.

Outlook for June: A typical June has high temperatures of 71F with lows of 40F. We get 1.79 inches of rain.

Three windy days are likely. The current temperatures would indicate that we seem to be 2-3 weeks ahead of what it should be in June. It is likely we will set up a pattern more like July. A ridge of high pressure will set up by the 8th and will start pumping tropical moisture into the state through mid month. This would generate daily monsoon thunderstorms for a week or more. It looks likely that the pattern may change in week three to a cooler pattern then return to hot and dry.