May 2020 Climate Data for Memphis, TN

May Climate Recap

After cooler than normal temperatures in April, May continued the trend, featuring only one day with a high that reached 90 degrees and an average temperature that was more than two degrees below normal. The coolest portion of the month, relative to normal, was a week-long spell from the 6th-12th that averaged 12.5 degrees below normal with highs in the 60s and a few lows in the low 40s. The first quarter of the year was wet, but drier weather from April continued in May with only 2" of rain recorded for the month. Nearly half of that fell on the 8th. 

Severe weather was limited in May. There were two events that resulted in severe weather reports. A thunderstorm on May 3 produced penny size hail in northeast Shelby County. A much more destructive event, on the afternoon of May 22, produced widespread damaging wind across Crittenden and Shelby Counties. Tress and power lines were downed from a wind storm that tracked across the area from AR. Over 52,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers in Shelby County lost power in the storm as the Memorial Day weekend started.

4:55pm The Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been allowed to expire that included Millington. Nonetheless, these storms are still bringing strong winds. /CS pic.twitter.com/ytNF9DgV1c

— MemphisWeather.net (@memphisweather1) May 22, 2020

Pictures just in from Earle, Arkansas. Major damage at Earle High School with portions of the roof blown off. Radar estimates show winds up to 70 mph as the storm moved thru. #arwx #memstorm #memwx
📸: Cassandra Robinson pic.twitter.com/yZSGWfd0ox

— Joyce Peterson (@MemphoNewsLady) May 22, 2020

Memphis International Airport, Memphis, TN

Temperature
Average temperature: 69.4 degrees (2.3 degrees below average)
Average high temperature: 78.7 degrees (2.5 degrees below average)
Average low temperature: 60.0 degrees (2.2 degrees below average)
Warmest temperature: 91 degrees (25th)
Coolest temperature: 43 degrees (9th, 10th)
Heating Degrees Days: 54  (35 above average)
Cooling Degree Days: 198 (28 below average)
Records set or tied: None
Comments: The month of May featured only one day that rose above 90 degrees, or one day less than average.

Precipitation
Monthly total: 2.00" (3.25" below average)
Days with measurable precipitation: 8 (2.3 days below average)
Wettest 24-hour period: 0.84" (8th)
Snowfall: None
Records set or tied: None
Comments: Only one day recorded more than one-half inch of rain, versus a May average of 3.7 days.

Miscellaneous
Peak wind: Northwest/46 mph (22nd)
Average wind: 8.5 mph
Average relative humidity: 67%
Average sky cover: 50%

Click here for a daily statistical recap for Memphis International Airport.

Cirrus Weather Solutions / MemphisWeather.net, Bartlett, TN

Temperature
Average temperature: 68.5 degrees
Average high temperature: 79.2 degrees
Average low temperature: 58.3 degrees
Warmest temperature: 90.9 degrees (25th)
Coolest temperature: 40.1 degrees (9th)
Comments: None

Precipitation
Monthly total: 2.20" (automated rain gauge), 2.18" (manual CoCoRaHS rain gauge)
Days with measurable precipitation: 12
Wettest date: 0.93" (8th) (via automated gauge)
Snowfall: None
Comments: None

Miscellaneous
Peak wind: West/52 mph (22nd)

Average relative humidity: 76%
Average barometric pressure: 29.96 in. Hg

Comments: None

Click here for a daily statistical recap for Bartlett, TN.

MWN Forecast Accuracy

MWN average temperature error: 1.97 degrees
MWN forecast temperatures within 2 degrees of actual: 73%
MWN average dewpoint error: 2.31 degrees
MWN forecast dewpoints within 2 degrees of actual: 66%

MWN's forecasts extend out five periods (2.5 days, or roughly 60 hours). Historical accuracy statistics can be found here.

Climate Outlook - June 2020

The June climate outlook for the United States from the Climate Prediction Center is shown below. Above average temperatures are forecast for the vast majority of the nation, with highest odds centered over the Great Plains. Odds favor above average temperatures for Memphis (50%) versus only a 17% chance of below average temperatures. Memphis' average temperatures for May is 79.6 degrees.

Wetter than normal weather is expected along the Gulf Coast and in the Pacific Northwest. Drier than average weather is forecast over the center of the country and in the I-95 corridor from the Mid-Atlantic to southern New England. For Memphis, odds favor average rainfall, which historically is 3.63 inches in June.

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