May 22-31, 2025

Temperatures

Temperatures were below normal across the region to end the month (Figure 1). In parts of Ohio, temperatures were as much as 8°F below normal for the week. Elsewhere, temperatures were generally 3-6°F below normal. In northern Minnesota, temperatures were near to slightly above normal.

Minimum temperatures were below normal by 3-6°F for most of the region (Figure 2). In Houghton, Michigan, a minimum temperature of 34°F was observed on May 31, which was the latest a temperature less than 35°F was observed in May since records began there in 1887.

Maximum temperatures were over 10°F below normal for the week in Ohio and northeastern Kentucky (Figure 3). Much of the rest of the region was 5-10°F below normal, with the exception of northwestern Minnesota where maximum temperatures averaged 3-6°F above normal. In Lockwood, Michigan, a temperature of 59&deg&;F was observed on May 27, which was the coldest maximum temperature to occur that late in May since 2002. In Lansing, Michigan, the maximum temperature remained at or below 55°F for four consecutive days, May 20-23, which last happened in Lansing in 2002.

Precipitation & Drought

Most of the region saw below-normal precipitation, with less than 50 percent of normal precipitation for most of the region, and less than 25 percent of normal precipitation for most of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Figure 4). The only exceptions were Kentucky, which averaged closer to normal, and southern Missouri which observed over 200 percent of normal precipitation.

As of May 27, the US Drought Monitor reported a slight increase in moderate drought (D1), particularly across northwestern Indiana and northern Illinois (Figure 5). There was slight improvement in abnormally dry (D0) conditions across the region.

May 30 Kentucky Tornadoes

The pattern kept severe weather to the south this week. As a result, there were only 13 storm reports: 3 tornado, 2 hail, and 8 wind (Figure 6). All the hail reports were in Wisconsin and all the rest were in Kentucky. In Washington County, Kentucky on May 30, one of the tornadoes was an EF-2 with sustained winds of 125 mph and a track length of over 5 miles. This tornado caused 1 death and 14 injuries as several residential structures sustained major damage. An EF-1 tornado with max winds of 100 mph affected parts of Burgin, Kentucky, causing damage to homes and some healthy trees.