After 50 inches of snow fell on A-Basin in the month of May, we knew something was up. Turn’s out this past month was the wettest May in the U.S. since… well—ever.
The May rain totals across the U.S. averaged 4.36 inches of rain, which is 1.45 inches above the national average for the month. Most of these totals are the result of well above average precipitation in Colorado and Texas, who both beat the summer buzzer with historic precipitation totals. The above normal precipitation was especially evident in double-digit powder days at “The Basin” and historic flooding in a drought stricken central Texas.
Other states including New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona are also sporting well above average precipitation totals for May, which many believe is the result of a growing El Nino trend in the Pacific.
According to CAL Fire official Scott McClean, California had a decently wet May but is a good “2-3 strong winters away from relieving this historic drought,” which currently plagues the Golden State.