Central Florida remained a drought hotspot, with expansion of moderate to extreme drought (D1 to D3) noted. Parts of Alabama and Virginia received beneficial rain, but abnormal dryness (D0) expanded in portions of the Carolinas. There were only minor changes to the Southeastern drought depiction, amid spotty showers. Farther south, locally heavy showers dented abnormal dryness (D0) and moderate drought (D1) in West Virginia and western Maryland. From March 1 – May 16, precipitation in northern Maine totaled just 3.97 inches (54% of normal) in Houlton and 4.12 inches (55%) in Caribou. Department of Agriculture reported that topsoil moisture was rated 39% very short to short in Maine, up from 29% the previous week. In fact, abnormally dry conditions (D0) were introduced in much of northern and eastern Maine, as well as the northern tip of New Hampshire. With dry weather dominating areas from Pennsylvania and New Jersey northward, there was a focus on emerging dryness, especially in northern New England. Meanwhile, record-setting heat developed in the Pacific Northwest, setting several May temperature records. Warmth in advance of the storm system temporarily boosted temperatures considerably above normal across parts of east-central Plains, western Corn Belt, and upper Great Lakes region. Little or no rain fell across much of the remainder of the country, including southern Florida, the Northeast, the Great Lakes region, and an area stretching from California to the southern Rockies.
Excessive rainfall (locally 4 to 8 inches or more) sparked flooding in a few areas, including portions of the western Gulf Coast region. Significant rain spread into other areas, including the southern and western Corn Belt and the mid-South, generally benefiting crops but slowing fieldwork and leaving pockets of standing water. Still, the rain broadly provided much-needed moisture for rangeland and pastures, immature winter grains, and emerging summer crops. A complex, slow-moving storm system delivered heavy rain across much of the nation’s mid-section, but largely bypassed some of the country’s driest areas in southwestern Kansas and western Oklahoma, as well as neighboring areas.
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