May was cooler than normal and wetter than normal. That’s really about all you need to say, but let’s dig into this a little deeper.
Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte said this week that the average daily high in May was 70.3 which is 4.8 degrees below average. The average overnight low was 54.6 which is 1.6 degrees above normal. This resulted in a monthly mean temperature of 62.4. 1.6 degrees below normal. This pattern has been repeated many times in recent years where overnight lows are significantly above average when lows are only slightly above average or even below average.
A cold front moved through the area right around Mother’s Day that had gardeners and farmers on edge for concerns of frost which fortunately did not materialize, at least in our area. The highest temperature for the month was 82 reached on the 14th, 23rd and again on the 31st. The lowest temperate for the month was 41 degrees on the 9th and again on the 11th.
One temperature record was set in May. The high of 47 on the 11th set a new record low high for that date. The previous record low high for the 11th was 59 degrees set in 1967. While the month was cool it was well within the expected range for May.
The region had early month rain and late month rain with 20 days of fairly dry weather in between. Average rainfall for May is 4.79 inches. Junction City received 6.30 inches for May and Milford Lake received 8.27 inches. Over half of that rainfall came right around Memorial Day when heavy rains drenched parts of the area with over a half foot of rain and some official reporting stations receiving over 9 inches of rain!
Normal rainfall for January through May is 11.85 inches. Junction City has received 12.97 inches and Milford Lake 15.11 inches.
June brings the official start of summer, this year on June 20th, which is also the longest day of the year. It also is frequently the first month of the year that the area get’s a taste of 90 degree temperatures. Average daily highs for May start the month around 80 and end the month right at 90. Overnight lows slowly increase from 58 on the 1st to 67 on the 30th. And by 0.01 inches, June is the wettest month of the year with average rainfall of 4.80 inches.