May 2022 Climate Summaries
Mobile Alabama and Pensacola Florida Area
Joe Maniscalco - Observation Program Leader (OPL)/Meteorologist
POC for Observation, Climate, and COOP
National Weather Service Mobile Alabama
June 2, 2022
May 2022 in Review - High temperatures for the most part stayed above normal at both Mobile and Pensacola for the first three quarters of the month before leveling off to at or below normal due to persistent cloudy and rainy conditions to end the month. Overnight lows averaged just shy of four degrees above normal for the month at Mobile and Pensacola. Considering these, average monthly temperatures ended on an above normal note by a few degrees. Pensacola saw two records in the low temperature department and two subsequent days of record rainfall the last week of May. Pensacola nearly broke the record for wettest May on record. No records were reached or broken in Mobile.
Mobile Alabama Area [Climate Normal Period 1991-2020, Climate Record Period 1872 to Present]- The average monthly high of 88.2° was 3.3° above normal. The average monthly low was 67.4° or 3.6° above normal. The average monthly temperature of 77.8° was 3.4° above normal. The highest temperature for the month of 93°, occurred on both the 16th and 17th, 8° above normal for both days. The lowest temperature for the month, 59° on the morning of the 7th and 11th was only 2° and 3° below normal respectively for both dates. No records were observed. (Fig. A) shows a graphical representation of how the Mobile area temperatures compared to the seasonal normal daily highs and lows, which are shown by the colored dashed lines. Bar graphs reflecting the daily high/low temperature departures from normal are provided in the table below (Figs. B and C). After a few months of seeing below normal rainfall, a change in the weather pattern at the end of the month of May resulted in a more persistent rainy setup and a surplus of rain collected in the gauge of 7.26" (Fig. D), or 1.87" above normal. Annual rainfall has thus improved and although still in deficit, the spatial gap has been narrowed to a hair over 2" below normal for the Mobile area to close out the month of May (Fig. E).
May Top Records for the Month During the Period of Record for the Mobile Area:
Click on the Mobile Alabama area climate graphics below to expand:
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Pensacola Florida Area [Climate Normal Period 1991-2020, Climate Record Period 1879 to Present] - The average monthly high of 85.6° was 0.5° above normal. The average monthly low of 70.7° was 3.8° above normal. The average monthly temperature of 78.2° was 2.2° above normal. The highest temperature for the month, 91°, occurred on the 11th and was 7° above the normal for the date. The lowest temperature occurred on three mornings at a mild 65° on the 7th, 8th and the 11th which was right at normal for two of the three days. Pensacola saw two mornings of record high low temperatures of 78° being broken on both the 20th and 21st. The previous record of 77° occurred on the 20th way back in 1898 and the other, also 77° ,occurred on the 21st in 1957. (Fig. F) shows a graphical representation of how the Pensacola area temperatures compared to the seasonal normal daily highs and lows, which are shown by the colored dashed lines. (Figs. G and H) shows the daily high/low temperature departures from normal. A more notable wet pattern occurred the final week of May in Pensacola helping the rain gauge to fill up to slightly over a foot at 12.05" (Fig. I), or 8.15" above normal and stands as the second all-time wettest Mays on record. This was shy by about a half inch of matching the all time monthly rainfall on record. Over half the monthly rain occurred on the 25th and 26th which did freshen the record books with new record daily precipitation. 2.90" on the 25th broke the previous record of 1.95" occurring in 1997 and an astounding daily rainfall accumulation of 4.18" on the 26th surpassed the last daily record of 2.92" set on this day back in 1981. After several months of persistent dryness, annual rainfall deficits have been erased in the Pensacola area, now to 2.78" above normal to close out the month of May (Fig. J).
May Top Records for the Month During the Period of Record for the Pensacola Area:
Click on the Pensacola Florida area climate graphics below to expand:
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Additional May 2022 Climatology and Topics
The latest May 2022 monthly summary for Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) - KVPS has been received and provided in the table below. The temperatures in the daily tables consists of numbers both in °F/°C. Data courtesy of Mr. David Biggar, Staff Meteorologist, 96th Weather Squadron. Provided by permission.
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June 2022 Climatology, Seasonal Climatology and Outlooks:
Very similar to the outlook from last month regarding both temperatures and precipitation, June is favored to lean above normal in temperatures for the deep south with equal chances of any one area receiving above or below normal rainfall. June marks the opening of the Atlantic Basin hurricane season and NOAA predicts an above-normal hurricane season. This doesn't mean that the central Gulf coast will be directly impacted by a tropical system but serves as a reminder that all it takes is one storm to make it a bad year. It's highly encouraged to review your hurricane preparedness. Click on the Preparedness Tab on the NWS Mobile Tropical Webpage.
Click on the snap shots below to expand:
 June Normals |
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Additional Climate Links:
The links below are intended to provide additional climate information, education and outlooks. The National Weather Service Mobile Alabama's Climate and Past Weather page provides climate data at your fingertips for many observation points in the local forecast area by accessing the NOWData tab as well as many other climate resources. The Climate Prediction Center Link provides short and longer range climatic outlooks and education about the larger scale global circulations that impact temperatures and weather. With the large agriculture and farming presence along the central Gulf coast, the Drought Monitor link provides updates on drought trends and impacts. Another very helpful resource is the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network, which is a large group of volunteers working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). The aim of CoCoRaHS is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. You can be a part of the CoCoRaHS team by becoming a volunteer rainfall observer. To learn more click on the CoCoRaHS link below.
National Weather Service Mobile AL Climate and Past Weather
National Weather Service Mobile AL Climate Summary Monthly Archives
Climate Prediction Center (CPC)
CoCoRaHS Network Water Year Summaries
Questions or Comments:
Contact: Joe Maniscalco - Observation Program Leader WFO Mobile, AL at joe.maniscalco@noaa.gov
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