May A Warm Month Nationally

While we just wrapped up the month of May,

"But it is looking like we are going to experience our warmest U.S. May on record." said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  He noted several locations across the U.S. reported record or near record heat during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  And it's been a trend the nation saw all year long.

Rippey said the last time we saw May heat like this nationally, 1934, 1936, 2012.  All of which turned out to be drought, but this year, precipitation has not been a large problem.

"But you do have to be concerned about the persistence and the expansive nature of this warmth, and that it is increasing crop moisture requirements, and it also contributes to more evapotransportation as we lose more moisture from the soil.  So, as long as this unusual warmth continues, we will have to be concerned with getting rains, where things can very quickly dry out."

NOAA's long range Northwest forecast for the summer calls calls for above normal temperatures with below normal precipitation in June, July and August.​

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com