May Weather in Missouri
May weather in Missouri is variable because the month features many different weather patterns. Factors in determining the state's weather include location and topographical changes. When forecasters take a look at Missouri's climatology, they take into account an invisible line which runs at a diagonal slant from the Northwestern to Southeastern part of the state. As a whole, Missouri's climate is considered continental, (dry weather patterns) with strong seasonable changes occurring throughout the year.
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Severe Weather
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Missouri receives the most hail during the month of May, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Twenty-five percent of the tornadoes which touch down in the state happen during this late spring month. Tornadoes occur most frequently between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The departing of spring and the arrival of summer bring about multiple weather changes during May.
Considerations
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Missouri sees a variety of weather during May: tornadoes, hail, lightning, rain, sunshine, cloudy and even snowy days, though it is rare to experience flakes this time of year. Drought conditions are reduced by 8 percent, meaning that there are more rainy days in May than other times of the year, according to the NOAA. The highest likelihood of drought conditions usually occurs between August and September. This does not mean, however, that there isn't a chance of drought in May.
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Temperatures
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The average high temperature for this month is 76 degrees Fahrenheit for both St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri. Average lows for the two cities vary slightly between 56 and 57 degrees Fahrenheit. These two cities, located on opposite sides of the state, usually experience similar weather patterns. If a frontal boundary arrives during May, and has already passed through the western part of the state, the temperature difference and precipitation levels will vary greatly between St. Louis and Kansas City.
History
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The coldest temperature to ever occur in Missouri during May, in St. Louis, was 31 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NOAA. The hottest May day in St. Louis was 98 degrees Fahrenheit, which occurred in 1953.
Warning
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Missouri is the most flood-prone during the late spring and early summer months. Isolated flooding tends to occur one to two times per year inside the state. Heavy thunderstorms precede cold fronts, allowing for heavy rain to accompany the storms. Significant tornado outbreaks happen before these frontal boundaries pass, bringing cooler weather after the severe storms have passed through the state.
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References
- Photo Credit New Beginnings image by David Nicholls from Fotolia.com
