May 2023 Climate Summary

Overview and Graphics
Monthly Summary
Records

Overview and Graphics

May 2023 Climate Review:

Temperatures averaged slightly above normal by around 0.5 to 1.5 degrees. The month started off on a cool note with temperatures below normal through the 5th. Lows dipped into the 40s and even a few readings in the upper 30s were observed. A prolonged stretch of above normal temperatures followed from the 6th through the 19th. Highs in the 80s were common during this period along with lows only falling into the 60s on many nights. A few sites reached 90 degrees for the first time this season on May 14th including Paducah. The period from May 20th through 29th featured primarily below normal temperatures with most nights falling into the 50s, while a few locations dipped into the 40s. The month ended on a warm note with highs reaching the upper 80s on May 30-31.

Precipitation was below normal across much of the region and in some places well below. Cape Girardeau registered their 6th driest May while Poplar Bluff observed their 10th driest. It was the driest May since 2012 in Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau, and Carbondale. Much of the region didn't observe any rain during the final 11 days of the month. This was the longest dry spell for Paducah in May since we went 13 days without rain back in May 2007. Many locations only observed rainfall amounts of 1.5” to 3.5”, which was 1.5” to 3” below normal. The exception was across portions of the Pennyrile region of west Kentucky and also a few areas in the Ozark Foothills of Missouri (Wayne County in particular). These areas received amounts in excess of 5” and localized over 7". The highest observed amount was 7.29” at a Kentucky Mesonet station in Muhlenberg County (Greenville 6 N).

The graphic below is an interpolated monthly rainfall map using actual observations. Please note that there are likely discrepancies in between observations, since the values are estimated based on nearest reports.

Map of monthly precipitation totals

May 2023 Review: Precipitation and Temperature Maps (Click on image to enlarge)

Climate Maps are from the Northeast Regional Climate Center

Monthly Summary Monthly climate statistics for Paducah, Evansville, and Cape Girardeau

Monthly climate statistics for Poplar Bluff and Carbondale

Monthly Climate Report: Paducah | Evansville | Cape Girardeau | Poplar Bluff | Carbondale

Records Listing of records for PAH, EVV, CGI, POF, MDH.

Record Event Reports: Paducah | Evansville | Cape Girardeau | Poplar Bluff | Carbondale