May Brings the Peak of Tornado Season and Tropical Weather

Key Takeaways

May is peak tornado season in the US, with an average of 278 tornadoes.
The Atlantic hurricane season unofficially starts in May, with the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico most likely for early tropical storms.
May is the beginning of the wet season in Florida and the end of the wet season in California. • May weather brings a sharp rise in temperatures across the US, with highs reaching the mid-80s in many areas and exceeding 90 degrees in some southern regions.

As the calendar flips to a new month, what can you expect for general May weather trends across the U.S.?

May is a typical transitional month when it comes to weather, meaning that nearly anything is on the table from tornado season to tropical weather. The rapid fluctuation in conditions can also often leave people with a feeling of whiplash.

Here is a more detailed look at some of the major changes and happenings that you can expect during the month of May.

Peak of Tornado Season

Most people associate the spring season with severe weather. May is the historical peak of tornado season in the U.S. Tornadoes are possible in almost all corners of the country with the highest risk across the Plains states and the Midwest.

This is the region where the necessary ingredients for tornadic development are most prevalent.

May weather can also bring violent tornadoes defined with ratings of EF4 and EF5 are most common. The average number of tornadoes spinning up in May in the U.S. comes in at 278. This beats April's average of 203 and June's norm of 188.

It is important to keep in mind that these numbers are just averages. The actual number can vary significantly in any specific year. For example, 2019 recorded 510 tornadoes while 2023 came in with a relatively small number with 169 twisters.

When Does Hurricane Season Start?

Every year as summer rolls around, many residents in the line of fire along coastal areas wonder: when does hurricane season start?

Although the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season 2024 does not kick off until June 1, it is not unusual for tropical weather events to come together prior to this date.

The part of the Atlantic basin most likely to see tropical weather spin up in May is the western Caribbean over to the southern coast of the U.S. as well as the Gulf of Mexico.

Looking back to 1851, there have been 41 named tropical storms come to life in the for Atlantic hurricane season news prior to June 1. This translates to a historical average of one of these early season storms every four or five years.

What is most notable is that this number has increased in recent years. There was at least one named storm develop before the official start of June 1 between the years 2-15 to 2021.

In fact, the Carolinas saw the impacts of two named tropical storms in May of 2020.

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season has a slightly earlier official start date of May 15. Tropical weather events that come to life in this part of the Pacific typically impact Mexico and Central America. Storms with a greater reach can expand as far as the southwestern U.S.

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Beginning and Ending of Various Wet Seasons

May is the start of the wet season for some parts of the country and the end of the wet season for other parts of the nation.

For instance, the wet season for Florida kicks into high gear in May and lingers through October. Major metropolitan areas such as Miami can expect to see nearly 80% of its annual rainfall during these months.

Building temperatures and more moisture coming in from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean lay the groundwork for the increase in rain. This is also the time of the year when daily afternoon thunderstorms begin to take root across the Sunshine State.

Conversely, May marks the end of the wet season for California. The Golden State picks up the bulk of its rain and snow between the months October and April. The onset of the dry period happens as the jet stream lifts to the north and ushers in more times of high pressure.

Rapidly Increasing Temperatures

May is also distinguished by a sharp uptick in the mercury. Average highs and lows across much of the nation are relatively mild with some southern areas feeling the heat of the summer.

Looking at some average highs, New York City is likely to see the mid 70s by the end of the month.

Chicago jumps from an average daily high of 65 degrees at the start of May to readings in the mid 70s by the end of the month.

Similarly, average overnight lows end up at 56 degrees at the end of May when compared to average lows of about 46 degrees at the beginning of the month.

You can expect daily high temperatures to average in the mid to upper 80s in Dallas and Chicago, making it feel more like summer than spring. Las Vegas typically hovers in the mid 90s by the end of May.

An increase in daylight hours across the country is partly to credit to the meaningful increase in temperature readings. This is particularly true for the northern tier of the country, an area that is more in the dark during the winter months.

Chances of Snow Plummets

The month of May also brings the end to any straggling winter weather patterns. S?now becomes much less likely in May for all of the country. It is generally only the higher terrains that see widespread snow during May.

However, it is not out of the question for lower elevations to pick up some of the white stuff if the conditions align in just the right way.

May is also when most areas of the northern U.S. experience the last frost or freeze of the year, making this a good time to feel confident about planting sensitive flowers and other types of vegetation.

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