“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.”
- John Steinbeck
May Weather Summary
May came in swinging and never really let up. Severe weather outbreaks kept the Plains and Midwest guessing throughout the month, while drought tightened its grip across parts of the South and West, fueling wildfires well ahead of schedule. The Gulf Coast contended with flash flooding from surging tropical moisture, and the Rockies weren't done with winter quite yet. Across the WeatherFlow-Tempest Network, May was anything but quiet, serving a vivid reminder of just how much the atmosphere can throw at us before summer even officially arrives.
The highest temperature recorded across the Tempest Network in May reached 113°F in Goodyear, AZ.
The lowest temperature dropped to 10°F in Walden, CO (our first month of the year with a low temperature in the positives!).
Data Look Back: Seeing the Pop of "Pop-Up Storms"
If you've been watching the weather headlines lately (or living in the area), you already know May rainfall was relentless across the Plains and Midwest. Not just one big event, but a parade of storm systems rolling through one after another. This rainfall density visualization from May 18th captures one of those rounds in motion, showing off wide sweeping systems moving like waves across the country.
This Month in Weather History
A weather story of more recent history, this month we're covering the 2024 Hurricane Beryl. Two years ago this month, Hurricane Beryl made Atlantic hurricane season history before summer had barely begun. Forming on June 28, 2024, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, rapidly intensifying from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in just 48 hours. It tore through the Windward Islands as a major hurricane before weakening slightly, then regaining hurricane strength to make landfall near Matagorda, Texas on July 8th - bringing destructive winds, widespread power outages affecting nearly 3 million people, and storm surge of 5–7 feet along the Texas coast. Beryl's remnants continued northeast, dropping heavy rainfall as far as the Great Lakes and triggering flooding across the Midwest. As a new hurricane season opens, Beryl is a vivid reminder of just how fast the Atlantic can spin up, and how early it can do it.
Photo and details from the National Weather Service & National Hurricane Center.
Tempest in the Elements
This month’s Tempest in the Elements comes from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the morning of the largest single-day sporting event in the world! Shout out to the Juncos Hollinger Racing Team for running a station at the pit lanes of your races - a smart way to stay ahead of the competition. Want your setup or project to be featured? Send us a photo of your Tempest setup (or include it in your review), your creative weather project, or other unique ways you’re using your station - or use the hashtag #tempestwx.
Other Weather News
Preparing for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and even with a quieter season forecast for 2026, preparation is never something to put off. Last year's Season produced three Category 5 hurricanes despite below-average storm counts - a good reminder that intensity can outpace expectations any year. The basics go a long way: keep an emergency supply kit stocked, have an evacuation plan ready before you need it, review your insurance coverage, and consider a home weather station for real-time local conditions as storms approach. A little time spent preparing now can make all the difference when a storm is on the way. Read More >>>
Widespread U.S. Drought Could Spark "Fire Year"
Wildfire season as we knew it may be becoming a thing of the past, as experts say we've entered an era of the fire year. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. is currently under drought, and the consequences have already been severe: Nebraska saw its largest wildfire in state history, Georgia and Florida battled destructive blazes, and a Texas panhandle fire destroyed 52 homes...all before summer officially even started. Nationally, wildfires have already burned more than 2.3 million acres, roughly double the acreage from this same point in 2025. Relief may eventually come in the form of a developing El Niño, but scientists warn that's likely months away, leaving a long, potentially dangerous summer still ahead. Read More >>>
June Gardening Jobs
June is one of the best months to be out in the garden. Gardens and raised beds are full and in bloom, offering beautiful sites and smells from flowering plants and shrubs along with delicious tastes from fresh veggies and herbs. From curating the best watering schedule for your plants to staying on top of weeding, there's always plenty to do in the garden during the month of June. Read More >>>
Back to: Newsletter, Articles