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May Precipitation and Temperature Records
Author: Natalie Umphlett - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2011-06-09 21:00:37
Updated: 2011-07-08 16:08:05
May was a cool and wet month for many locations across the High Plains Region. Ample precipitation fell in areas of Wyoming, Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, eastern South Dakota, and western areas of the Dakotas. Precipitation in many locations ranged from 200-300% of normal. Many records were broken this month and numerous locations ranked in either the top ten wettest or coolest Mays on record. It should be noted that although much of the Region experienced wet conditions, several locations near the Colorado/Kansas border received less than 5% of normal precipitation and exceptional drought conditions developed there.
Some highlights of the precipitation records include Lander, WY and Newcastle, WY. Lander, WY had its wettest May on record with 6.79 inches (17 cm) of precipitation. This beat the old record of 6.13 inches (16 cm) set in 2008 (period of record 1891-2011). Interestingly, the May 2011 precipitation was also the 3rd wettest month on record in Lander. The record was set in April 1900 with 7.19 inches (18 cm). Newcastle, WY also recorded its wettest May on record (period of record 1906-2011). 8.29 inches (21 cm) of precipitation fell in Newcastle which was 325% of normal. This crushed the old record of 6.00 inches (15 cm) which was recorded in 1991. This new May record also went down as the wettest month. The previous record was set in June 1999 with 6.35 inches (16 cm).
Check the tables below to see some of the wettest and coolest locations across the Region last month.
| Station | May Precipitation (inches) | May Rank | Record/Year | Period of Record |
| Burlington, CO | 7.59 | WETTEST | 6.66/1957 | 1904-2011 |
| Dunn Center 1 E, ND | 7.20 | WETTEST | 6.76/1965 | 1918-2011 |
| Camp Crook, SD | 7.26 | WETTEST | 6.93/1982 | 1893-2011 |
| Burgess Junction, WY | 8.10 | WETTEST | 7.68/1981 | 1960-2011 |
| Darwin Ranch, WY | 7.54 | WETTEST | 4.87/1991 | 1974-2011 |
| Emblem, WY | 5.26 | WETTEST | 3.42/1957 | 1911-2011 |
| Fontenelle Dam, WY | 4.01 | WETTEST | 3.06/1987 | 1963-2011 |
| Lander, WY | 6.79 | WETTEST | 6.13/2008 | 1891-2011 |
| Mountain View, WY | 3.58 | WETTEST | 2.70/1995 | 1966-2011 |
| Newcastle, WY | 8.29 | WETTEST | 6.00/1991 | 1906-2011 |
| Worland, WY | 4.53 | WETTEST | 4.10/1978 | 1960-2011 |
| Wray, CO | 7.21 | 2nd wettest | 8.26/1982 | 1893-2011 |
| Yuma, CO | 6.85 | 2nd wettest | 8.03/1923 | 1893-2011 |
| Bartlett 1 S, NE | 7.79 | 2nd wettest | 7.87/2008 | 1949-2011 |
| Watford City 14 S, ND | 7.62 | 2nd wettest | 7.69/1965 | 1952-2011 |
| Billy Creek, WY | 7.41 | 2nd wettest | 7.44/2008 | 1962-2011 |
| Riverton, WY | 5.29 | 2nd wettest | 6.22/1921 | 1907-2011 |
| Leroy 9 WSW, CO | 6.57 | 3rd wettest | 6.83/1995 | 1893-2011 |
| Crosby, ND | 5.60 | 3rd wettest | 7.63/1965 | 1907-2011 |
| Minot, ND | 6.22 | 3rd wettest | 7.04/2007 | 1948-2011 |
| Williston, ND | 5.28 | 3rd wettest | 7.38/1965 | 1894-2011 |
| Mount Rushmore, SD | 9.16 | 3rd wettest | 10.88/1962 | 1962-2011 |
| Gillette 4 SE, WY | 7.04 | 3rd wettest | 11.08/1978 | 1902-2011 |
| Station | May Average Temperature (degrees F) | May Rank | Record/Year | Period of Record |
| Harrisburg 12 WNW, NE | 48.6 | COOLEST | 48.8/1995 | 1962-2011 |
| Kimball 2 NE, NE | 48.9 | COOLEST | tied/1995 | 1893-2011 |
| Kingsley Dam, NE | 54.5 | COOLEST | tied/1967 | 1939-2011 |
| Devils Tower, WY | 48.5 | COOLEST | 48.6/1995 | 1959-2011 |
| Glenrock 5 ESE, WY | 46.8 | COOLEST | 47.5/2010 | 1942-2011 |
| Medicine Bow, WY | 43.4 | COOLEST | 43.5/2010 | 1949-2011 |
| Sybille Research Unit, WY | 45.4 | COOLEST | 46.9/2001 | 1964-2011 |
| Dalton, NE | 51.2 | 2nd coolest | 50.8/1995 | 1961-2011 |
| Mission 14S, SD | 51.6 | 2nd coolest | 50.6/1995 | 1951-2011 |
| Riverton, WY | 48.3 | 2nd coolest | 47.3/1950 | 1907-2011 |
| Worland, WY | 50.2 | 2nd coolest | 50.0/2010 | 1960-2011 |
| Evergreen, CO | 45.6 | 3rd coolest | 43.5/1983 | 1961-2011 |
| Holyoke, CO | 53.0 | 3rd coolest | 50.9/1995 | 1897-2011 |
| Dalton, NE | 51.2 | 3rd coolest | 49.6/1983 | 1962-2011 |
| Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, SD | 46.4 | 3rd coolest | 45.3/1995 | 1962-2011 |
| Newcastle, SD | 49.1 | 3rd coolest | 47.0/1935 | 1906-2011 |
| Pactola Dam, SD | 43.8 | 3rd coolest | 43.6/2002 | 1955-2011 |
| Casper, WY | 47.6 | 3rd coolest | 46.5/2010 | 1939-2011 |