Above-normal temperatures covered most of Georgia in May 2017, with all but two National Weather Service offices reporting temperatures as much as 3.0 degrees above normal. This is the 16th month in a row with above-normal temperatures for the state as a whole. Rainfall was plentiful in most of Georgia and heavy rain reduced drought significantly in the northern half of the state while drier conditions remained in south Georgia.

In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 71.1 degrees F (1.0 degrees above normal), in Athens 70.4 degrees (0.4 degrees above normal), Columbus 73.4 (0.4 degrees above normal), Macon 71.8 (0.1 below normal), Savannah 75.5 (2.2 above normal), Brunswick 76.7 (2.2 above normal), Alma 74.5 (0.8 above normal), Augusta 74.1 (3.0 above normal), Albany 74.5 (0.0 above normal), Rome 70.0 (1.8 above normal), and Valdosta 73.5 (0.3 degrees below normal).

A number of record temperatures were tied or set in May. A daily high temperature was set at Savannah on May 10 when 95 F surpassed the old record of 94 F set in 1889. Two record highs were tied in Brunswick on May 10 with 93 F (2003) and on May 11 with 96 F (1973). High minimum temperature records were tied at Savannah on May 21 with 74 F matching the old record from 1902 and at Brunswick on May 11 with 71 F matching the old record from 1966. Brunswick also broke their high minimum temperature record on May 1 when 75 F was recorded, beating the old record of 73 F set in 1954. Low maximum temperature records were also set on May 5 at a number of stations, including Atlanta, Athens, Columbus, and Macon, with maximum temperatures on that date reaching only the mid-50s. Columbus’s new record of 57 F beat the old record of 66 F set in 1987 by nine degrees, but it has a relatively short record.

Savannah had the highest monthly total precipitation for National Weather Service stations in May with 11.54 inches (8.56 inches above normal). The lowest precipitation was in Valdosta with 2.34 inches (0.19 inches below normal). Atlanta received 4.60 inches (0.93 inches above normal), Athens 6.24 inches (3.24 above normal), Columbus 5.37 inches (2.18 above normal), Macon 6.07 inches (3.35 above normal), Augusta 3.34 inches (0.69 above normal), Alma 3.52 inches (1.05 above normal), Brunswick 4.03 inches (2.07 above normal), Rome 5.91 inches (1.73 above normal) and Albany 3.83 inches (1.14 above normal).

Almost everywhere in the state received above-normal precipitation except for a few small areas scattered around south Georgia, and even those areas were close to normal.

Savannah set a new daily rainfall record on May 22, when 6.61 inches fell, smashing the old record of 2.21 inches set in 1967. Athens also set a new daily record on May 21 with 2.42 inches surpassing the old record of 1.60 inches set in 1888. Brunswick received 1.31 inches on May 24 which broke their old record of 0.91 inches set in 2009.

This was the wettest May in Savannah’s 144-year record, beating out the old monthly record of 11.13 inches set in 1915. It was also the 6th wettest May for Macon in 121 years.

The highest daily rainfall totals from CoCoRaHS observers were 5.15 and 4.91 inches both from observers near Pooler in Chatham County near Savannah. The highest monthly total was from an observer near Villa Rica in Carroll County with 11.92 inches, followed by 11.28 inches measured near Rincon in Effingham County and 10.58 inches from near Acworth in Cherokee County.

Two major rounds of severe weather impacted Georgia in May. On May 4 several tornadoes hit across the state, causing 5 injuries and significant property damage. One of them even hit the Atlanta airport. The tornado lifted about 10 cargo bins that weighed up to 500 pounds. Some of the bins landed on a roof 60 feet high according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This storm is described at https://www.weather.gov/ffc/20170504_tornado. On May 23-24 tornadoes hit the southern counties and then the rest of the state, dropping several more tornadoes across the area. A NWS description of this event can be found at https://www.weather.gov/ffc/20170524_tornado_event. A small EF0 tornado was also observed near Ducktown in Forsyth County on May 1. Scattered additional severe weather occurred on nine additional days.

The rainy conditions across most of the state significantly reduced drought in northern Georgia. Extreme drought in the northeast was eliminated but developed in southern Georgia during the month, although it was gone by the last week as significant precipitation finally reached the southern part of the state, although severe drought remained.

The rain caused problems for some farmers this month. Very wet conditions caused delays in planting, sprouting of wheat in the fields and problems drying hay, but the moisture was great for tasseling corn. Wind also caused problems with lodging of small grains and sandblasting of some crops early in the month. Dry conditions for the first two weeks, especially in south Georgia, caused poor stands of cotton and fields will have to be replanted. Some livestock farmers were still feeding hay due to the lack of good pasture. A number of locations reported problems with flash flooding and erosion from the heavy rains that occurred in some locations.

Estimates of damage from the March frost continue to come in. It is estimated that 80% of the peach crop was lost as well as 85% of the blueberries. Many farmers will not have any to sell outside of the state.

The outlook for June shows an increased chance of cooler and wetter than normal conditions is likely, particularly in the northern half of the state. Drought is expected to improve in the southern counties and dry conditions are likely to be eliminated farther north. The summer forecast still shows an increased chance of above normal temperatures, particularly in the driest areas.

For more information please see the “Climate and Agriculture” blog at https://site.extension.uga.edu/climate/ or visit our web page at https://www.gaclimate.org. Please feel free to email your weather and climate impacts on agriculture to share on the blog to pknox@uga.edu.

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