| 5/4/2026 | AL-WN-7 | AL | Winston |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Society & Public Health
|
| Much needed heavy rainfall have lessened the drought, despite more rain being needed to make up the yearly deficient. The rain reduced dust activity and fire risk to normal levels while raising plant activity and pollen to normal levels. Plants have returned to their normal green and growing state. The soil had significant uptake of water as my soil moisture sensor in the upper 6 inches of soil has shown a steady decrease in moisture. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | CO-CR-18 | CO | Crowley |
Severely Dry
|
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Just .16" moisture last week. No trace of it. Very little soil moisture. Yellow breasted chats moving through. Look forward to them each spring. Roadrunner remains in our area, going between neighboring yards. The one allowed water run came and went last week. Possible water restrictions being threatened for home and yard use. Bindweed, knapweed and a little koshia are about the only green coming up. Continued hay and cake being fed to supplement what little forage is available. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | CO-GR-52 | CO | Grand |
Severely Dry
|
General Awareness
|
| No change. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | CT-NL-19 | CT | New London |
Moderately Dry
|
General Awareness
Plants & Wildlife
Tourism & Recreation
|
| Spring temps & school vacations have drawn tourists to Mystic in force, tho cool/cold S breezes often necessitated heavy coats. Trees are leafing out in varigated greens, spring blooms contrast with geen grass. Mowers and leaf blowers create a constant backdrop. Bird songs echo, squirrels and bunnies munch new plants. Spring is here! |
|
| 5/4/2026 | CT-WN-26 | CT | Windham |
Mildly Dry
|
General Awareness
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
|
| With less then 1/4" of rain in the last 14 days the soil is quite dry and plants have required watering. Grass is growing very slowly if at all. Fire danger is Very High. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | IL-CK-192 | IL | Cook |
Mildly Wet
|
General Awareness
Plants & Wildlife
|
| The Des Plaines River is within its Banks this AM, the first time since the heavy rains 3 weeks ago. The water table in the flood zones is lowered, so my sump pump is not running. The soil still has a lot of moisture, with grass growing and is very green. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | IN-PR-3 | IN | Parke |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
|
| some rain over past week cooler temps |
|
| 5/4/2026 | IA-BT-11 | IA | Benton |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
|
| The past week started cool with one day of some rain. After that, things dried enough that the farmers were back out with their planters going full bore. It has stayed cool for the most part with exception of a couple above norm temps in the afternoons. Dandelions are showing their heads everywhere along with the usual spring flowers including the wild flowers of blue bells, sweet william, etc. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | ME-HN-58 | ME | Hancock |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Streams looking good, garden soil in good condition. Colder than seems usual. We've been having some regular rain, though the storms mostly turn north and here on the coast we get the fringes, not the heavy stuff. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | ME-SM-3 | ME | Somerset |
Mildly Dry
|
General Awareness
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Weekly rain total 2.03", Mx 73.8°/Mn 29.8°, apples bud break, maples, etc. full blossom, drying wind limiting burn permits, soil moisture fine but water table still well below normal. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MI-MN-1 | MI | Manistee |
Severely Wet
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Water Supply & Quality
|
| After a lot of wet heavy snow this winter we received 16 in of rain for the month of April leading to unbelievable flash flooding and road damage. Significant water tables are at ground level with puddles not ever drying up anymore. Seems to rain every other day with no significant drying taking place in the last month. Lots of flooded basements and damaged homes throughout the area of West Central lower Michigan. Rainfall for the year to date is at 26.19 in which is $266% above normal. Rainfall for the water year to date from October 2025 to present is 35.83 in which is yielding $184% of normal. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MI-WY-33 | MI | Wayne |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
|
| grass is growing near normal; top layer of soil in garden is moist |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MN-CK-56 | MN | Cook |
Mildly Wet
|
Fire
Tourism & Recreation
|
| The ice went out on Seagull Lake overnight. The lake water level is very high, nearly as high as in 2024, and approximately 6" below the 2022 level (a record high). |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MN-LW-5 | MN | Lake Of The Woods |
Mildly Dry
|
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Tourism & Recreation
|
| Would put conditions as severely dry except for it being early spring and still have snow melt moisture in topsoil as well as well below normal temps. Steams are still running but well below normal levels. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MN-MR-20 | MN | Morrison |
Mildly Dry
|
General Awareness
|
| The rains we received in late April that were slow and over four days helped to bring the ground moisture level up. The lake level has risen and the lake out let is now flowing. The flow rate is moderate and less than usual spring run off. The wet lands are holding standing water close to normal as compared to the past eight years. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MN-SH-39 | MN | Sherburne |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
|
| Cloudy and 52 Hi 58 Wind W 14 mph. Wind gusts today up to 26 mph. Will be a cool, windy day. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MN-WG-88 | MN | Washington |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Plants & Wildlife
|
| Grass is growing by leaps and bounds but temps still too cool to set out plants. Last week's rain helped a lot but still mindful of need to water. One benefit of the cool temps: the apple blossoms stick around longer. Birds are quite active: no hummingbirds yet |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MS-HR-57 | MS | Harrison |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Plants & Wildlife
Tourism & Recreation
|
| We have had a significant amount of rain this past week. (2.81 inches). The cold front brought with much cooler weather, requiring jackets in the morning before the sun warms the morning. We have had 5" in 10 days
Did not go out to dinner on Friday night due to the stormy weather. But Sat morning the clearance section of plants due to the rain looked great. Bought 2 new hydrangeas and several other plants. (they do not water adequately so the plants always look terrible. The rain let the plants get watered)
The ephemeral pond is holding some water though it is not at its normal levels. The irrigation ditches, fences holes, and excavation pit (pond in progress, but old cesspool discovered) are all holding some water. This is different from the rain in the previous week. There these places filled up but within less 24 hours all water had been absorbed into the dry soil. If you dig a hole for a plant you are likely to have water pool into the hole.
I did not water any of my plants this week. The plants are all blooming.
I still have not heard the frogs/toads croaking. They now have some water but the temperatures dropped so perhaps that is the problem.
The birds are still flocking to the birdfeeders. But I have seen the feathers of a cat attack. There was also a titmouse that is either injured or young and born deformed. It appears that one of its legs is not working so on the ground it tilts to a side. I doubt it will survive.
Bird feeding will most likely stop next week when the current bag runs out. I do not like to feed during summer months in case the bird feeders spread disease.
I saw humming birds twice this weekend Sat and Sunday. Drinking from the blossoms (Do not feed them because cannot keep up with their feeders getting dirty)
I will not be able to take the dog to the beach soon. The least terns and other gulf birds are flocking and will begin nesting soon. They are making so much noise when we intrude. Dog will be disappointed but we will transfer to some parks. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MO-JF-21 | MO | Jefferson |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
|
| Recent rains have helped to moisten the soil |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MO-PT-8 | MO | Platte |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Business & Industry
Energy
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Society & Public Health
Tourism & Recreation
Water Supply & Quality
|
| The soil water content improved significantly over the last month, to a point that grass, flowers, trees and water supplies are not exhibiting drought stresses. We had our first RUNOFF event a week ago. Think it is the first runoff in over a year... That's along time for this geography. Planting of all types, row crops, gardens and fruits and vegetables have all gone well to this point. The Spring weather is ahead about 10 days. Morels were in short supply this year due to the drought. Ticks are really, really thick this season - don't know why but for anyone venturing outdoors in our region, be generous with protection! Picture is of 1937 JD model B, which my Grandfather bought new in fall of 1936. Note that the grass is about half as tall as it should be... |
|
| 5/4/2026 | MT-GN-11 | MT | Gallatin |
Near Normal
|
|
| Trails dried out early and remain firm, despite April showers. Other than that, only concern regarding mountain snowpack and runoff. Looks like a very low total, but persisting normally into midsummer. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | NE-DG-63 | NE | Douglas |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Temperatures were near to below normal all week. No high fire danger warning or red flag warning this week. I received 0.70-inch rain this past week. The soil is dry at the surface but moist 3 inches down. The trees and grass have remained green. Conditions are near normal. April rainfall totaled 4.79 inches, 1.49 inches above normal (147 percent of normal). The first 3 days of May have been dry. Precipitation here for the year is now 7.09 inches, which is 0.22 inch below normal (97 percent of normal). Precipitation for the water year is 1.72 inch below normal (86 percent of normal). Plants and wildlife. Bird visits to the heated bird bath near normal. Approximately 15 species of birds (about 80 to 90 birds visit each day). Water Supply Water level in Standing Bear Lake (approximately 0.2 mile to the east of here) is near normal. Area creeks and ponds are also near normal. Some crops have been planted in nearby fields, but most fields remain in cover crops. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | NJ-MS-59 | NJ | Morris |
Mildly Dry
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Business & Industry
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Society & Public Health
Tourism & Recreation
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Thus far for my “Watershed,” that resides in the “Upper Passaic River” Watershed, that covers from 1.5 miles to the NW to about 1.5 miles to the SE and is about 1 mile in width and in the general shape of a diamond;
There were four days with measurable precipitation and one day with trace precipitation for a total of 2.33”, the past seven days [Sunday-Saturday].
River and stream volume the past week of this CMR again increased and decreased rates of flow over small lake dams west of this station. As of Sunday afternoon, 5/3/2026; one decreased its flow to 80% the width of the dam 6.5 miles from this station moving at a slow volume with some observable turbidity. The other, 2 miles to the west, also decreased its flow over its fall, covering about 60% of its respective fall and moving at a similar volume, but, with no observable turbidity. The Madison Golf Course, adjacent this station also had observable play, between rain-drops. The ground around this station is hydrated and soft to walk on. Grass and weeds have fully emerged out of dormancy and required its first cut of the season. Red Bud flowers continue to fade and juvenile leaves continue to emerge. Cherry Tree leaves beginning to fully develop. Maple tree flowers continue to bloom. The Rhododendron flowers bloomed for the first time on 4/25, continue to emerge. Active Birds around this station included; House Finch, Cardinals, Crows, Mourning Doves and a Blue Jay, all were active. The feeder was refilled the late Sunday morning on 5/3 when it was fully consumed the evening of 4/30. Neighborhood squirrels, chipmunk and rabbits were also observed adjacent this station. The first Frost observation for this station, this season, was reported on October 10th. Since then; this observer has observed and reported a total of 50 days with frost, zero additional the past seven days. Spring Peeper mating songs were first observed the evening of 3/9 and most evenings since. This paused and was again observed on 4/29. Bumble Bees continue working flowers around this station. Juvenal Oaks around the station, their leaves have formed and continue to emerge.
Over the past 31 days; this station has captured and reported 2.96 inches of precipitation. There has been 47 days of precipitation the previous 121 days of CY2026 [1/1/2026 to 5/2/2026] for a “Calendar Year” [CY] total of
12.90”, compared to (again) a total of 35 days of precipitation and a [CY] total of
13.61” the same [year to date] in CY2025. So far, compared to last year, this station has received 0.71” less precipitation than a year ago. Some other totals from previous years, for comparison, are;
YTD2024- 22.32”
YTD2023- 17.95”
YTD2022- 15.81”
YTD2021- 13.91”
YTD2020- 14.32”
YTD2019- 17.40”
YTD2018- 20.85”
YTD2017- 15.56”
YTD2016- 15.10”
YTD2015- 13.32” (First full Year)
The TWELVE year running average reported precipitation for this station is: 16.08 inches, holding this station at a deficit of 3.18” less then the 12 (CY) year average and CY2026 remains the DRIEST year this CMR has been posted. Considering the twelve year annual comparable total for this station and considering the previous years total precipation, is why I believe that it is still appropriate to continue this week’s report on the “Mildly Dry” side of the Condition Scale Bar.
Q’s: emails me at: JasonJLeffler@aol.com. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | NM-BR-233 | NM | Bernalillo |
Moderately Dry
|
General Awareness
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Society & Public Health
|
| moderately dry approaching severely dry, particularly thinking of wildfire, air quaity, and water for wildlife conditions. Close to 1/5" precipitation during past week was welcome but impact offset by relentless drying winds. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | NY-AB-23 | NY | Albany |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
|
| Had about three quarters of an inch of rainfall early last week. This was enough to bring sooo conditions back to normal, including a few wet spots. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | NY-SL-21 | NY | St. Lawrence |
Moderately Wet
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Society & Public Health
|
| With over one inch of rain in the past week, the local river is running fast and higher than normal, and the basement is damp, I'm going with Moderately Wet. The ground is very damp looking and wet/soggy in the regular wet spots. Temperatures have felt cool for the season, often because a temperature in the 40s or 50s comes with a chilly wind.
Trees are at green-up right now. Walnuts have broken bud. No sign yet on Chestnut trees.
Grass has been mowed once by most neighbors.
Some of the earliest vegetable gardeners have already been at work, but the ground is most and slightly too wet (to my preference) for working in.
Tulips are in bloom, daffodils are past peak, and alliums are showing bloom heads but they are not open. Violets are open. Bees are slightly more visible, as is the occasional mosquito. Punkies (gnats?) have already been around and annoying.
Up to four red squirrels are around, eating winter leftovers of dried apples.
Allergies have been lower.
|
|
| 5/4/2026 | NY-WY-11 | NY | Wyoming |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
|
| Mostly sunny and cool with gusty winds, then partly cloudy and cold overnight with moderate winds. The high temperature was around fifty five degrees, and the low around forty three degrees Fahrenheit. Songbirds are eating a feederful every day. Silver Maple leaves, Black Cherry leaves, Apple Tree leaves, Weeping Willow leaves, Pussy Willow leaves, Black Walnut buds, Dead Nettle flowers, Nettle leaves, Glecoma hederacea leaves, Bush Honeysuckle leaves are appearing. The local intermittent stream and nearby trout stream are flowing at spring levels. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | NC-MS-19 | NC | Madison |
Moderately Dry
|
General Awareness
Fire
Water Supply & Quality
|
| We had some good rain in the past week, totaling 1.27 inches but we remain pretty dry overall. Water supply is still good but the fire risk is still high. The statewide burning ban has been lifted for 81 counties this morning . |
|
| 5/4/2026 | OH-ER-5 | OH | Erie |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
|
| Creek running 1/4 full. Ground under Willow tree wet. Standing water at entrance to woods. Bare ground is damp with no cracks. Lawn mower leaving tracks in places in the back back. Grass Green, cutting it every time it's dry. Hard Frost 5/3. If it rains as predicted this week, next report may be mildly wet. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | OH-ST-12 | OH | Stark |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
|
| 1.02" of rain this week, 4.16" in the last 30 days. A couple more unwelcome frosty mornings late in the week. Farm field work continued this week with more field prep and planting. Wheat is growing well. Most trees are leafing out with about a third fully leafed. Lawn is green and lush. Local creeks are running at normal levels. Lots of woodpeckers, orioles, and a few more turkeys hanging around. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | OK-MY-10 | OK | Mayes |
Mildly Wet
|
General Awareness
|
| With only 0.07" of rain this past week, we've dried out a bit, but the vegetation remains lush and green, and the soil is still moist. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | PA-WT-18 | PA | Westmoreland |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
|
| all normal here meteorologically. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | SC-HR-172 | SC | Horry |
Moderately Dry
|
General Awareness
|
| Local weather still reporting extreme or severe drought.
Saturday's rain helped the garden, and spinach, bok choy and peas are happy for the cooler temps. While there is an article here and there about plants that tolerate dry conditions in the paper and Clemson report, we do not have any water use restrictions. Burn ban no longer in effect. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | SC-YR-64 | SC | York |
Moderately Dry
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
|
| We are still well below average rainfall at this point of the year, even with the rain that fell last week. Ground is dry just below the surface. All large lakes in the region are down from normal pool levels by about 4 feet (Norman, Wylie, Wateree), |
|
| 5/4/2026 | TN-CT-17 | TN | Carter |
Severely Dry
|
General Awareness
|
| Planting and clearing out flower beds. It was so dry that I could easly push by trowel 9 inches into the loamy soil. Too discouraged to dig a big hole to see how deep the dry is. Will not be planting the native perennial bed I was planning on until fall. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | TX-CMR-85 | TX | Cameron |
Severely Dry
|
|
| water 3 x weekly |
|
| 5/4/2026 | TX-LV-21 | TX | Lavaca |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
|
| We've had sufficient rain recently to bring soil moisture levels up and fill the stock ponds. Garden beds are nicely growing with the recent rain.
No worries about the well. Lots of water for animals, the garden and us! |
|
| 5/4/2026 | TX-NU-7 | TX | Nueces |
Severely Dry
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Very little rain this past week |
|
| 5/4/2026 | TX-TN-124 | TX | Tarrant |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
|
| Over 9 inches of precip in April and 13.5 YTD. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | VT-CH-62 | VT | Chittenden |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
|
| I've recorded 0.49" of rain in the past seven days, and it was welcome after nine consecutive dry days. It was enough to push greening along a bit (but not dramatically). While walking in the area, ditches contain typical amounts of water with light flow in spots. Work in the woods yesterday showed soil that was slightly damp. All in all, it seems typical for early May. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | VA-FQ-21 | VA | Fauquier |
Severely Dry
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Lack of awareness is concerning as is failure of localities to effectively inform public. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | VA-RCC-26 | VA | Richmond (city) |
Moderately Dry
|
General Awareness
Plants & Wildlife
|
| We had only .81" the month of April, and 1.64" the month of March. The ground is hard and dry 5-6" down. Small trees are dying or struggling, but large ones are not showing signs yet of stress. Nearby stream is almost completely dry, with just small pools and patches of mud in some areas. Two weeks in early-mid-April of temps in the mid-80s-mid-90s exacerbated plant stress, but the last 10 days have been below average and cooler which is helping somewhat. Rain barrels have been empty for weeks. Bird baths are being visited by birds and wildlife daily. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | WI-DA-144 | WI | Dane |
Mildly Wet
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
|
| Intended to send this out yesterday. A few periods of rain over the past week, but fortunately amounts were light enough to keep us from experiencing renewed problems. Grass is still very lush and green. Soil moisture levels remain above normal but no longer saturated. The standing water in farm fields have largely receded, except in one field just south of me that has very poor drainage. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | WI-MW-18 | WI | Milwaukee |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Plants & Wildlife
|
| Below normal temperatures and dry, allowing soils to recover. Set two cold temperature records last week.
(28 APR to 04 MAY)
Precipitation for the period was 0.37”. -0.61” for the period.
Cal yr 16.62, +5.46” above annual seasonal normal.
Evaporation : 0.44” Water Balance from 4/11 to date: +4.96” surplus
Soil Moisture 4” Depth: 38.8 cb - Normal
Soil Moisture 8” Depth: 35.0 cb - Normal
Temperatures averaged 48.6 degrees, -5.0 below normal for the period.
Soil temperatures, for the period, at 2” have averaged 47.1 degrees, 4” average is 49.9 degrees, 8” average is 52.6 degrees and 20” average is 53.0 degrees. -2085 overall decrease, on average, from the previous period.
A drier and cold week to help continue to dry out soils with plenty of clouds and lake breezes. A record low max temp of 45 and record low min of 30 were set on the 2nd.
90% of the trees have leafed out and grass is growing well with weekly mowing. Flowering trees are in bloom and pollen levels are high based on allergy response.
Plenty of bird activity with Starlings, Robins, Grackles, Sparrows and Cardinals. Squirrels, chipmunks and bunny rabbits are out and feeding on grass and seed overspill from bird feeder.
|
|
| 5/4/2026 | WY-FM-21 | WY | Fremont |
Near Normal
|
General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Tourism & Recreation
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Precipitation although in the form of snow has pushed up soil moisture to near normal and vegetation, despite the loss of the entire orchard bloom to extended cold period on the 17th and 18th of April, is green and a month ahead of schedule. |
|
| 5/4/2026 | CAN-ON-771 | CAN | Ontario |
Mildly Dry
|
General Awareness
Fire
Plants & Wildlife
Tourism & Recreation
Water Supply & Quality
|
| Dry cool week until this weekend which brought warm sunny spring days, with showers starting last night and into today. 3.4mm of much-needed rain overnight as lawns were pretty dry and brown. A new septic field was seeded in the fall and hasn’t sprouted yet. Bush trails had a few icy trail patches remaining. Forest detritus, especially on higher ground, has dried out. Creeks are running, and low-lying areas are wet. Lake ice is black and candling, and the strong winds overnight and this morning have pushed the ice pack around, and there is a fair bit of open water. Lake level has risen 6” since the ice first pulled away from shore, but the rate of rising has slowed. May showers would be welcome to help with early growth. Loons have returned. |
|