May 2026 Climate Summary

May 2026 Climate Review:

Temperatures averaged slightly below normal by 0.5 to 1.5 degrees. The first week of the month was particularly cool, with highs only reaching the 60s on 5 of the first 7 days. Lows dipped into the 40s most of these nights and even in the 30s on the 3rd.  The 2nd week of the month (8th through 14th) was a bit warmer, but still slightly below normal. Highs in the mid 70s to around 80 were observed this week, but lows continued to be rather chilly in the mid 40s to low 50s most nights. The warmest stretch of the month was from the 15th through 19th, with highs reaching the mid to upper 80s (a few locations even hit 90). Lows also were noticeably warmer during this period, remaining in the mid 60s to low 70s. A few record warm lows were broken on the mornings of the 16th and 18th, including Poplar Bluff breaking their all-time warmest low temperature for the month of May of 76 degrees on the 18th (previous warmest was 75 degrees set on May 24, 1896). Another cool stretch followed from the 20th through 23rd, with highs dropping back into the mid 60s to lower 70s. The last week of the month averaged slightly above normal with highs ranging from the upper 70s to mid 80s.

Precipitation varied across the region, ranging from drier than normal across much of southeast Missouri and southern Illinois (1.5 to 3.5” on average) to wetter than normal across much of western Kentucky. Southwest Indiana was a mix, generally a bit drier for areas closer to the Wabash River and wetter for areas further east (Pike, Spencer, Warrick counties). Some areas of southeast Missouri failed to even receive 2” for the month, which was at least 3” below normal. Meanwhile, a good chunk of western Kentucky received 4 to 6” along with localized higher amounts. The highest observed amount in our forecast area was 8.66” at the Kentucky mesonet station in Graves County (Mayfield 6 SW). Drought continued to be an issue, with moderate to severe drought covering the southern half of the region at the end of the month. Numerous days of rain from May 18-26 helped some though, as 24% of our region was in extreme drought (D3) before receiving 2+ inches during this time. As the month closed, only a few counties in southeast Missouri (8% of our area) remained in extreme drought.

The 7 month period from November through May officially ranks as the driest on record in Cape Girardeau, only receiving 16.83” (previous driest was Nov 1986 – May 1987 with 18.01”). Carbondale also set their driest Nov-May with 13.93” (previous driest was Nov 1935 – May 1936 with 14.05”). In Paducah, it was the 3rd driest on record with 18.16”. Amounts were generally 10 to 15” below normal during this 7 month period.