Discussion...
May is usually the start of our warm and dry season with temperatures touching the century mark quite regularly and afternoon humidities frequently drop below 10%. Our weather is still originating to our west and northwest but the storm track off the Pacific is retreating rapidly northward and thus reducing the likelihood of any storm passages.

The average daily high temperature is 94. The warmest temperature ever recorded during the month was 117 degrees on the afternoon of May 4, 1947. The average daily low temperature is 65. The coldest temperature ever recorded during the month being 36 degrees on the morning of May 7, 1976.

The average monthly rainfall is only .05 inches which helps mark the start of our dry season. The most rain very recorded during the month occurred in 1976 when Palm Springs recording the whopping 1.11 inches while the eastern portions of the valley received less than a quarter of an inch. It is not unusual to have no measurable rain during the month with the last occurrence being 1952.

The Monthly Outlook for May 2008.....

Near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall.

Normal temperatures... First May 91/62 ... Mid May 93/65.... End May 97/67.

Normal rainfall............ Palm Springs 0.05 inches... Indio 0.04 in... Thermal 0.05 in.

These forecasts are also available at 760.398.7211 and 760.345.3711.

Carl Garczynski
Meteorologist
cgarczynski@cvwd.org

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Climate Links:
Western Regional Climate Center
National Climatic Data Center