State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says Iowa didn’t see as much rain as it normally does during the month of May. “Preliminarily, it looks like May for the most part was a little bit on the warmer side than usual, thanks to a very warm end to the month,” Hillaker says. “And also most of the state was a bit drier than usual, with precipitation averaging out to about an inch and a third or so less than usual.”

Here in Atlantic, at the KJAN studios, we received 3.41-inches of rain. Normal for the month is 4.32. Hillaker says it has been awhile since we’ve seen a May like this.  He says it was the “Driest May in eight years, and also the driest spring in nine years.” There was another weather issue of note in May.

Hillaker says “Usually May is a pretty big month for severe weather, didn’t really have a large amount of severe weather, did have some. But overall, a little bit quieter than usual.” The average High for the month of May in Atlantic was 74 (normal is 73). The average Low was 49 (normal is 49). Hillaker says the month of June will be off to a stormy start in Iowa with above normal rainfall and near normal temperatures.