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Northeast Regional Climate Center |
This May was the eighth month in a row with a below normal temperature in the Northeast. None of the 12 states in the region were above normal this month (for the first time since February). New Jersey had the greatest temperature departure at 4.0 degrees below normal. New Jersey's average temperature for May was 56.5 degrees making this the fifth coolest May on record in that state. Delaware was also more than 4 degrees below normal. Its average of 58.5 degrees was cold enough to make this the fifth coldest on record. The remainder of the region was lass than 2.6 degrees from the average. West Virginia was closest to normal with a temperature departure of -0.3 degrees. All the other states were more than a degree below normal. This May was actually more than a degree warmer than last year.
In addition to being cool, this May was also wet in the Northeast thanks in part to several lines of thunderstorms impacting the region mid-month, especially the southernmost states. Six states were more than an inch above normal and the region as a whole recieved 1.45 inches more rain than usual. Maryland and West Virginia saw by far the most precipitation with totals of 6.79, and 7.27 inches respectively. More than 150% of normal for both states, this was the second wettest May on record for West Virginia and the fourth wettest for Maryland. Maine, Rhode Island and New Jersey were the only states which did not reach their May normals. Overall for the region, this was the wettest May since 1990 and the 8th highest average for May since records began 109 years ago.
Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
