Zachary Veal, Teenager Meteorologist
Here is your May 2023 temperature outlook: Millions may break out their short sleeves while others may need to keep their jackets, hoodies, sweatshirts, and coats both handy and at the ready.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (or aka: CPC) expects above-average temperatures or warmth in the Northwest, New England, and Florida while cooler-than-normal temperatures are predicted in California, the Ohio Valley, and parts of the South.
It is still spring, but we are rapidly approaching the dog days of summer. And while millions of Americans will likely be able to start breaking out the short sleeves this May, others will need to keep those jackets handy to keep warm during periods of below-average temperatures.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (or aka: CPC) recently released both its temperature and its precipitation outlooks for the entire month of May 2023, and it is looking like portions of the Northwest, Northeast, and Southeast could see those above-average temperatures while areas along the West Coast and in the Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi valleys could remain cooler than average.
So now, let us take a closer look at the May 2023 outlook.
May 2023 temperature outlook:
(Picture above shows the May 2023 temperature outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center).
The Climate Prediction Center is predicting that New England could be seeing warmer-than-average temperatures this May, with the highest likelihood in both Maine and northern New England.
In the West, higher-than-average temperatures are predicted from Washington to both Montana and Wyoming. The highest likelihood of where temperatures could be above average, according to the Climate Prediction Center, is in both northern Idaho and western Montana.
Florida, too, is predicted to see warmer-than-average temperatures in May, with South Florida seeing higher chances of warm weather.
On the flip side, both California and the Southwest could experience colder-than-average temperatures in May.
The Climate Prediction Center predicts that both Central and Southern California will have a higher chance of seeing cooler-than-average temperatures, as well as southwestern and southern Nevada and southwestern Arizona.
In the middle of the country, the Climate Prediction Center also predicts parts of the Ohio, Tennesse, and Mississippi valleys could see below-average temperatures. Areas of the interior Southeast, too, could see cooler-than-average temperatures, according to the Climate Prediction Center.
And last but not least, let us take a look at the May 2023 precipitation outlook.
Here is your May 2023 precipitation outlook: The Midwest looks to be drier-than-average, the Southeast looks to be wetter-than-average, and both the desert Southwest and the West looks to be about average (meaning at or near average).
The Midwest will more than likely not need their umbrellas due to there not being a whole lot of both rain and thunderstorms throughout the entire month of May 2023, but the Southeast, the desert Southwest, and the West will need their umbrellas as rainy conditions will be the likelyhood for the entire month of May 2023.
May 2023 precipitation outlook:
(Picture above shows the May 2023 precipitation outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center).
Will you need to grab the sunscreen or the umbrella before heading out the door this May? It depends on where you live.
A large swath of the eastern United States, High Plains, Rockies, and the Desert Southwest could see equal chances of wetter-than-average or drier-than-average conditions this May.
However, the Climate Prediction Center expects portions of the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley to see drier-than-average conditions.
The areas where the Climate Prediction Center predicts a higher chance of drier conditions include locations near the Great Lakes from Minnesota to Ohio.
At the beginning of the year, the West Coast was slammed by a series of both deadly and destructive atmospheric river storms, and the Climate Prediction Center is predicting the region could again see wetter-than-average conditions in May which is not a good thing since the last thing they need is flooding rains that will bring more damage to property and even lives.
The South, too, could be wetter than average. The Climate Prediction Center forecasts areas from eastern Texas to both the Gulf Coast and the Southeast to see wet conditions in May.
So, in conclusion, this is a very, very detailed article on the predictions or on the outlooks for both temperatures and for precipitation for the entire month of May 2023 around the United States or around the entire country. We will also keep you updated in case the outlook for both changes. But again, plan on some places seeing rain, while others seeing either not a lot or nothing really, and plan on some places seeing above-average temperatures, while others see cooler temperatures. I hope you found this detailed article useful. See any one of the ZV WEATHER FORECASTERS if you have any questions about the outlooks.
