May 1-7, 2025

Temperatures

Temperatures were near normal for a large swath of the area. They averaged most above normal in the northwest, where they were 5-7°F above normal (Figure 1). In eastern Ohio, temperatures were up to 3°F above normal, while in the southernmost parts of the region temperatures were up to 3°F below normal.

Minimum temperatures were 2-4°F above normal for the week in Minnesota (Figure 2). Over the Ohio Valley, minimum temperatures were up to 7°F above normal. In between, temperatures were near normal, save southern Iowa and northern Missouri, where they were 2-3°F below normal.

Maximum temperatures were most above normal in the northwest parts of the region, by as much as 12°F in parts of Minnesota (Figure 3). Along the Ohio River, maximum temperatures were as much as 6-8°F below normal. In Russellville, Kentucky, a temperature of 52°F was observed on May 4, which was the coldest May maximum temperature since 2017. The maximum temperature also stayed below 60°F on May 5, which was the first time since 2011 that the maximum temperature did not reach 60°F for two consecutive days in May.

Precipitation/Severe Weather/Drought

Precipitation was abundant in the east, particularly over Ohio where over 300 percent of normal precipitation fell in the central part of the state (Figure 4). Heading west, precipitation was less plentiful, with less than 50 percent of normal precipitation for areas west of the Mississippi River. In Columbus, Ohio, over 0.5 inches of precipitation was observed for four consecutive days, May 1-4, which has only happened four other times during meteorological spring in 1880, 1886, 1913, and 1948.

Most of the severe weather occurred early in the week with several waves of low pressure that came through the Ohio Valley. Most storm reports were related to wind and hail over Ohio and Kentucky during May 1-2. There was one isolated EF0 tornado in Franklin County, Kentucky on May 3.

Some improvements were made to D0 (abnormally dry) and D1 (moderate drought) conditions in Illinois and Indiana (Figure 5). In Michigan, some expansions were made in the D0 category.