May 2016 Mid-South Climate Summary

...MAY 2016 MID-SOUTH CLIMATE SUMMARY...

The end of May marks not only the end of another month, but also the end of another season as meteorological spring concludes. This May temperatures were near normal to below normal at all four sites with precipitation totals for the region also generally near to below normal. Spring 2016, encompassed by the months of March, April, and May collectively, saw temperatures which were above normal for the region with generally wetter than normal conditions.

Memphis’ average May temperature was the warmest of the official sites, but was 1.2 degrees cooler than normal. Memphis is currently 1.5 degrees warmer than normal for 2016 to date. Tupelo was only 0.4 degrees cooler than normal during May, and currently sits 1.2 degrees warmer than normal for the year. Similarly, Jonesboro only had a 0.5 degree departure for May and is currently 1.4 degrees warmer than normal for 2016. Jackson had the greatest departure below normal for the month of May at 1.5 degrees below, but remains above normal for the year to date by 1.0 degree. Memphis and Tupelo both recorded the warmest temperature for the region for May with 92.0 degrees, while Jackson recorded the coolest temperature with 41.0 degrees.

Other than Jonesboro, which had a record wet May, precipitation amounts were near to below normal area wide during the month. The excessive amount of rain that fell and caused flash flooding issues for Jonesboro in late May aided the site in being 6.21” of precipitation wetter than normal for May, while currently the station is situated 11.15” wetter than normal for 2016 to date. Memphis was only 0.18” of rain short of normal for May, and is still 10.81” above normal for 2016. Jackson’s monthly rain total was 1.92” below the normal there, while currently the site is 1.70” of rain wetter than normal for the year. Finally, Tupelo was by far the driest official site, recording a monthly total which was 4.37” below the normal for May, and currently sits 2.50” of precipitation below normal for the year. This has led to the inclusion of much of a dry North Mississippi in ‘abnormally dry’ highlighting in the US Drought Monitor product.

The climate data for May 2016 are as follows:

TEMPERATURE DATA:

                               Memphis    Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Average Temperature (MONTH)  :   70.5       67.1      68.6      70.3

Normal Avg. Temp (MONTH)     :   71.7       68.6      69.1      70.7

Departure from Normal (MONTH):   -1.2       -1.5      -0.5      -0.4

Average Temperature (YEAR)   :   56.6       53.0      53.0      56.1

Normal Avg. Temp (YEAR)      :   55.1       52.0      51.6      54.9

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :    1.5        1.0        1.4       1.2

Maximum Temperature          :   92.0       89.0      89.0      92.0

Minimum Temperature          :   49.0       41.0      48.0      46.0

PRECIPITATION DATA:

                                Memphis   Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Total Precipitation (MONTH)  :   5.07       3.77      10.82      1.19

Normal Precipitation (MONTH) :   5.25       5.69      4.61      5.56

Departure from Normal (MONTH):  -0.18     -1.92      6.21     -4.37

Total Precipitation (YEAR)   :  35.09     25.24      32.43     22.10

Normal Precipitation (YEAR)  :  24.28     23.54      21.28     24.60

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :  10.81       1.70      11.15     -2.50

Percent of Normal            :   145%       107%      152%       90%

May Notables:

Jonesboro- #1 Wettest Day on Record- May 24^th with 6.19”

Jonesboro- #1 Wettest Month of May on Record- May 2016 with 10.82”

Spring 2016 Summary:

The spring months brought warmer than normal temperatures to the region with generally wetter than normal conditions. Jonesboro and Tupelo both had the greatest departure from the spring normal average temperatures with 1.8 degrees warmer. However, it was still Memphis with the warmest spring average temperature of the four sites. Jackson finished the season 1.3 degrees warmer than normal. Jonesboro was the wettest site of the four this season, recording 28.50” of precipitation, or 14.37” above normal. This was enough to make for the 2^nd wettest spring on record at the site. Memphis was not too far behind Jonesboro with its seasonal total which was 11.33” wetter than normal. Jackson had a spring total precipitation 4.32” wetter than the normal, while Tupelo was the only site to have a below normal total, albeit slightly, at 0.23” of precipitation below the seasonal normal.

The climate data for Spring 2016 are as follows:

TEMPERATURE DATA:

                               Memphis    Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Average Temperature (Spring16)  : 64.6      61.2      61.5      64.1

Normal Avg. Temp (Spring)       : 62.9      59.9      59.7      62.3

Departure from Normal (Spring16):  1.7       1.3        1.8       1.8

PRECIPITATION DATA:

                                Memphis   Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Total Precipitation (Spring16)  : 27.24   19.62      28.50     14.93

Normal Precipitation (Spring)   : 15.91   15.30      14.13     15.16

Departure from Normal (Spring16): 11.33     4.32      14.37     -0.23

Spring 2016 Notables:

Memphis- #4 Wettest Spring on Record- Spring 2016 with 27.24”

Jonesboro- #2 Wettest Spring on Record- Spring 2016 with 28.50”

Climate Outlook:

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlook for the month of June has the entire area in equal chances of above, near, or below normal temperatures. Meanwhile, the precipitation forecast has the entire region in an area of enhanced odds of below normal precipitation. This is not good news for areas of North Mississippi that begin the month with a rainfall deficit. Rainfall is crucial during these warmer months of the year, particularly to those with interests in agriculture. The three month outlook encompassing meteorological summer, or June, July, and August collectively, has enhanced odds of above normal temperatures for the entire region, with equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation amounts.

MAYE