MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Just like March and April, May continued the trend of being extremely warm and dry. Despite the rain this past weekend, the Mid-South is creeping further into severe drought.
May is typically a main severe weather month. Not only did the Mid-South not see any severe outbreaks, very little rain fell across the area.
Most of the Mid-South is classified in a moderate drought. However, parts of northwest Tennessee are in a severe drought. Much of the Mid-South is still more than 10.5 inches below normal on rain for the year. Jackson, Tennessee had the 9th driest May on record.
The heat has certainly been a big story. 2012 could prove to be the warmest year in the Mid-South on record.
Ryan Husted, NWS Meteorologist, says, “This past memorial Day felt like summer, even though we're not quite there yet. All of our sites are running 5 to10 degrees above normal for the year.”
May 2012 is the fourth warmest May on record in Memphis, 7th for Jackson, Tennessee and 6th for Tupelo. Jonesboro had the second warmest May to date.
Temperatures this week will be near normal with highs in the mid to upper 80’s. Just in the last 24 hours, the National Weather Service in East Memphis has collected more than 3 inches of rain, which will help put a dent in the rain deficit.
