Powerful Pacific System Impacting the West; First Significant Snow for Portions of the East

Power Pacific system will continue to bring significant impacts for Pacific Northwest into northern California the remainder of the week. Dangerous coastal affects, heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow continues. Meanwhile, a storm across the east is set to bring the first accumulating snow to many higher elevations of the Catskills into the central Appalachians. Read More >

Overview:

(BE SURE TO CLICK THE VARIOUS TABS BELOW FOR A VARIETY OF MAY 2017 CLIMATE INFORMATION!)

Recap of May 2017 Weather for the NWS Hastings Coverage Area:
- Precipitation: May will clearly be remembered as a fairly wet month across the local area, although the majority of rain concentrated during a six-day stretch between the 15th-20th. For the month as a whole, most of the area received between 3-7", with a few spots closer to 8". Put another way, most places received between 90-150% of normal May precipitation. On the wetter side of the spectrum included official NWS observer sites at Beloit KS (8.17"), Osceola (8.16") and Franklin (7.94"), while on the lower end of totals were sites such as Ord airport (3.10") and Gothenburg and Arcadia (3.83"). Despite plentiful May rain, fortunately much of it was "spaced out" enough in time to avoid more than brief/minor flooding issues.

- Snowfall: All May snow was associated with the latter stages of notable low pressure system that culminated in a significant April 30-May 1 snow storm, which dumped as much as 4-12" in several northern/western local counties, and was actually the largest late-season snow on record for places such as Cambridge! While the majority of snow associated with this memorable system actually fell April 30th, some light snow made it as far east as the Grand Island/Hastings areas on the early morning of May 1st. In Hastings, the official May 1st total of 0.6" was actually the most May snow recorded there in 50 years!

- Temperatures: For the month as a whole, the majority of the 30-county area averaged slightly cooler-than-normal (generally 0-2º). While most days were neither notably cool nor warm by May standards, there was a distinct cool/rainy stretch centered from the 18th-20th, during which daily highs in most areas only reached the 50s, and some places only the 40s on the 20th! As for morning lows, the very 1st day of the month was the overall-coldest of all, with the majority of the area dropping into the low-mid 30s. Later in the month, mainly on the 21st, lows dipped into the mid-upper 30s primarily in some northern/western counties, perhaps promoting some limited frost.

- Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes: As is typical of May,there were several dozen reports of hail/high winds within the local area (primarily within counties south of Interstate 80). HOWEVER, there was an overall below-average number of severe storms, and there were no significant/widespread outbreaks. As for confirmed tornadoes, there were only two weak EF0's: one near Exeter on the afternoon of the 16th, and another near Edgar several hours later during the early morning of the 17th. Both produced relatively minor damage mainly to outbuildings and/or trees. Neither one of these tornadoes took "classic form", with the former being a landspout and the latter embedded within a nocturnal squall line. The majority of May severe weather occurred on the 9th, 15th-17th and 27th. The largest reported hail stone during the month was 1.5" in diameter (on the 18th in Palco KS) and the highest-reported straight-line wind gust was 74 MPH (on the 15th at Grand Island airport).

2017 Nebraska Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 45 sites)
2017 Kansas Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 18 sites)
(for the 2017 tables, data for the previous month usually gets updated by around the 15th of the current month)

2016 Nebraska Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 45 sites)
2016 Kansas Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 18 sites)

This graphic features a precipitation map for May 2017, along with a partial listing of totals from official NWS stations. (Click image to enlarge)

G. I./Hastings Details
Kearney
Ord
Smith Center, KS
Temp/Precip Departure From Normal
Drought Monitor
Local Extremes

Grand Island & Hastings Details (Including 12-Month History):

Detailed May 2017 info for Grand Island/Hastings
(Click to enlarge)


Grand Island Precipitation Summary: The green line indicates cumulative observed precipitation for May 2017.The brown line indicates "normal" May precipitation based on 30-year data from 1981-2010. (click to enlarge)	Hastings Precipitation Summary: The green line indicates cumulative observed precipitation for May 2017. The brown line indicates "normal" May precipitation based on 30-year data from 1981-2010. (click to enlarge)

Grand Island (Regional Airport ASOS) - June 2016 - May 2017

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

Average High (F)

89.6

87.0

84.4

78.8

70.7

57.3

37.3

34.6

50.8

54.4

63.1

72.7

Average Low (F)

63.2

65.1

62.7

55.0

42.6

32.7

14.5

17.9

24.8

30.0

39.2

49.6

Average Temperature (F)

76.4

76.0

73.5

66.9

56.7

45.0

25.9

26.3

37.8

42.2

51.1

60.3

Departure From Normal

+5.1

-0.2

-0.5

+1.8

+4.5

+6.9

-0.8

+1.2

+8.7

+2.8

+0.5

-0.9

Precipitation (in)

0.05

4.10

0.57

2.53

0.12

1.37

0.81

1.07

0.25

0.81

2.64

5.28

Departure From Normal

-4.25

+0.70

-2.55

+0.30

-1.74

+0.20

+0.18

+0.54

-0.43

-0.99

+0.11

+0.87

Snowfall (in)

0.0

0.4

1.4

2.4

3.5

1.2

T

0.3

Departure From Normal

0.0

-0.1

-1.0

-2.7

-3.7

-4.1

-2.8

-4.2

-1.5

+0.3

Hastings (Municipal Airport ASOS) - June 2016 - May 2017

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

Average High (F)

89.1

87.7

84.9

78.6

71.3

57.4

37.7

35.7

51.4

55.4

63.4

72.8

Average Low (F)

64.0

66.0

63.4

56.1

44.0

34.2

15.6

19.4

25.8

31.3

40.7

49.5

Average Temperature (F)

76.5

76.9

74.1

67.3

57.6

45.8

26.6

27.6

38.6

43.4

52.1

61.1

Departure From Normal (F)

+4.7

-0.2

+1.7

+5.0

+7.1

-1.0

+1.6

+8.7

+3.5

+1.4

-0.2

Precipitation (in)

0.75

2.22

1.77

1.80

0.22

1.46

0.61

0.83

0.27

1.08

3.24

6.42

Departure From Normal (in)

-3.05

-1.52

-1.53

-0.76

-1.77

+0.17

0.00

+0.42

-0.22

-0.71

+0.68

+1.85

Snowfall (in)

0.0

0.1

1.0

3.7

4.3

1.2

0.2

0.6

Departure From Normal (in)

0.0

-0.2

-1.0

-2.5

-5.1

-2.3

-2.2

-4.0

-1.0

+0.6

Kearney - 12 Month Climate History:

All data here is from the official NWS observer at Kearney airport, with 24-hour observations taken around 7 a.m. ** PLEASE NOTE: This official Kearney data differs somewhat from the unofficial data recorded by the automated airport system (KEAR) **

Kearney Airport (Coop Observer) - June 2016 - May 2017

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

Average High (F)

87.4

86.4

84.3

79.3

70.8

58.6

37.8

36.9

50.0

54.6

62.5

70.2

Average Low (F)

61.7

63.4

61.8

53.0

40.8

33.4

14.8

19.5

24.1

28.6

38.8

45.9

Average Temperature (F)

74.6

74.9

73.1

66.2

55.8

46.0

26.3

28.2

37.1

41.6

50.7

58.1

Departure From Normal (F)

+4.8

+0.2

+0.5

+2.7

+4.9

+9.0

+0.4

+3.6

+9.0

+3.9

+2.0

-1.4

Precipitation (in)

0.61

3.38

1.47

1.20

0.12

1.56

0.90

0.30

1.63

1.87

6.03

Departure From Normal (in)

-3.32

+0.10

-1.61

-0.87

-1.92

+0.54

+0.33

+0.41

-0.25

-0.16

-0.36

+1.85

Snowfall (in)

0.0

0.2

1.0

4.5

5.2

0.7

T

1.6

Departure From Normal (in)

0.0

-0.2

-0.7

-2.9

-2.5

+0.1

-3.9

-1.8

+1.6

Ord - 12 Month Climate History:

Winter precipitation totals often include NWS Cooperative Observer data due to the automated airport equipment under-measuring snowfall liquid equivalent.

Ord (Evelyn Sharp Field Airport ASOS) - June 2016 - May 2017

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

Average High (F)

86.8

85.2

83.6

77.2

70.3

56.7

37.6

34.1

48.4

53.7

61.7

69.7

Average Low (F)

MSG

62.3

60.4

MSG

37.4

28.1

9.3

14.2

19.8

28.7

37.9

44.1

Average Temperature (F)

MSG

73.8

72.0

MSG

53.8

42.4

23.5

24.1

34.1

41.2

49.8

56.9

Departure From Normal (F)

MSG

-0.6

-1.0

MSG

+4.2

+6.1

-1.4

-0.5

+6.3

+3.5

+1.0

-2.4

Precipitation (in)

3.52

6.66

0.44

1.70

0.09

1.26

0.41

1.15

0.79

1.83

4.25

3.10

Departure From Normal (in)

-0.60

+3.69

-2.72

-0.74

-1.84

+0.19

-0.18

+0.78

+0.35

+0.38

+1.66

-0.71

Snowfall (in)

0.0

3.0

2.7

11.9

10.4

1.9

1.0

6.0

Departure From Normal (in)

0.0

-1.1

-2.3

-4.7

+5.1

+4.4

-4.0

-1.5

+6.0

Smith Center, KS - 12 Month Climate History:

All data is from the official NWS observer, with 24-hour observations taken around 7 a.m. As a result, data may vary slightly from true "Calendar Day" totals.

Smith Center KS (NWS Coop Observer) - June 2016 - May 2017

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

Average High (F)

91.7

90.5

86.5

81.3

73.9

61.0

38.7

39.0

53.4

58.5

65.4

73.9

Average Low (F)

63.0

66.1

62.8

55.6

43.5

32.9

14.2

18.5

24.2

30.2

40.0

46.8

Average Temperature (F)

77.4

78.3

74.7

68.5

58.7

47.0

26.5

28.7

38.8

44.4

52.7

60.4

Departure From Normal (F)

+3.4

-1.4

-2.5

+0.3

+3.9

+6.6

-2.3

+1.0

+6.8

+2.8

+0.2

-3.3

Precipitation (in)

3.11

6.07

5.13

5.07

0.09

0.99

0.56

1.46

0.27

1.26

3.32

7.03

Departure From Normal (in)

-0.50

+2.20

+1.83

+3.03

-1.79

-0.23

-0.10

+0.97

-0.31

-0.61

+1.05

+3.11

Snowfall (in)

0.0

3.1

1.1

1.8

0.2

0.0

Departure From Normal (in)

0.0

-0.2

-0.4

-1.8

-0.1

-2.6

-2.3

-2.4

-0.6

0.0

Area Temperature & Precipitation Departure From Normal Maps:

These images depict May 2017 monthly temperature departure from normal & precipitation percent-of-normal for both Nebraska & Kansas. Images are courtesy of the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC). Click images to enlarge.


Departure from Normal Temperature - NE (left) & KS (right)		Percent of Normal Precipitation - NE (left) & KS (right)

Drought:

The following drought images, current as of May 30, 2017, are courtesy of the U.S. Drought Monitor

Brief summary of changes during May for the NWS Hastings coverage area:
Thanks to most of the NWS Hastings coverage area seeing solidly above normal precipitation during May, not only did the vast majority of the area remain drought-free throughout the month, but even the small area of Abnormally Dry (category D0) that existed early in the month within parts of primarily Hall, Hamilton and York counties was eradicated.


Drought Monitor for Nebraska (left) & Kansas (right). Valid as of May 30, 2017 (click to enlarge)

Monthly Extremes for the NWS Hastings Coverage Area:

...A FEW OF THE WARMEST HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING MAY 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites and occurred on the 8th unless otherwise noted)
94 degrees...Webster Dam, KS
93 degrees...Kirwin Dam, KS
91 degrees...Smith Center, KS (15th) - Osceola - 3N York - Grand Island Airport - Aurora Airport
90 degrees...Edison - Superior (16th) - Clay Center - Geneva - Hebron Airport (15th & 16th) - Kearney Airport

...A FEW OF THE COLDEST LOW TEMPERATURES DURING MAY 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites and occurred on the 1st)
30 degrees...4 WNW Plainville, KS
31 degrees...Canaday Steam Plant (6 SSE Lexington) - Osceola - Beaver City
32 & 33 degrees...The majority of the remainder of observers and automated sites

...A FEW OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION TOTALS DURING MAY 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites unless specified)
8.21 inches...Kirwin Dam, KS
8.17 inches...Beloit, KS
8.16 inches...Osceola
7.94 inches...Franklin
7.92 inches...Lebanon, KS
7.91 inches...Clay Center
7.87 inches...Glen Elder Dam, KS
7.64 inches...8S Elwood

...A FEW OF THE LOWEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION TOTALS DURING MAY 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites unless specified)
â€‹3.10 inches...Ord (airport ASOS)
3.83 inches...Arcadia - Gothenburg
3.96 inches...Cozad
3.98 inches...3W Gresham
4.63 inches...Miller
4.78 inches...Mankato, KS
4.97 inches...Belgrade
4.98 inches...Ravenna

...A FEW OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY SNOWFALL TOTALS DURING MAY 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers unless specified & was associated with the April 30 - May 1 Snowstorm)
6.0 inches...Cozad - Ord
5.7 inches...Miller
5.0 inches...Holdrege
4.0 inches...Arcadia
3.0 inches...Logan, KS - Wilsonville - Canaday Steam Plant (6 SSE Lexington)

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Powerful Pacific System Impacting the West; First Significant Snow for Portions of the East

May 2017: Precipitation/Temperature Summary For Our 30-County Coverage Area (South Central NE/North Central KS)