While April showers may bring May flowers, rain in May helps fend off drought in June. While soaking rains are falling from central Texas north through the central Plains today, conditions remain dry across much of the western United States, portions of the U.S. Gulf Coast, and upstate New York.

The worst drought conditions exist over portions of southwestern Oregon, northern California, and much of Colorado. While today’s rains will help, severe drought conditions also exist over south central Texas.

The Gulf Coast has been dry lately, helping set the stage for numerous wildfires that have scorched portions of Florida. A change in the weather pattern and the threat of a tropical system could change these conditions within the next two weeks.




The Aloha State is also dry; much of Hawaii’s Big Island, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai are experiencing abnormally dry weather. With the exception of the Kona area which sees more rain in the summer, Hawaii is entering it’s dry season and much of the island could see more dry conditions in the coming days and weeks.  With a hurricane season forecast to bring below to near normal tropical cyclone activity to the Central Pacific Basin, there may not be other significant sources of moisture for Hawaii in the short term.