Total precip over these last 2 months was approx 2.90” (not including several days with “trace” readings):  April precip totaled approx 0.62” and May’s total 2.21 inches.  The weather was milder and less volatile than normal for April and May – until May 27th.  Prior to that, precip continued the below-normal pattern that has marked this water-year so far, and a neighbor and I discussed our “luck” here compared to so many areas where extreme and catastrophic weather events have been highlighted in the news.  
     Wed 5/27,  winds with a thunderstorm downed a few trees in the neighborhood (and beyond, where the storm tracked).  NWS predicted “severe” t-storms for Thu 5/28. Thu and Fri, 1.84 inches of May’s total precip fell within a 27-hour period.  Of that amount, 1.17" fell Thu 5/28 between 4:35PM and 7:10PM - a 23-year record rain event that took place during a severe thunderstorm and included a few minutes of [non-damaging] hail.  Internet (only available via satellite) and cellular service was lost during this period due to the weather conditions!  Areas at this site developed standing water.  My 24-hour CoCoRaHS rain gauge precip reading on Fri 5/28 at 7:30 AM was 1.72” – a station record.  The bare soil is drying relatively quickly since the heavy rains.  
     Prescribed burns within a 50-mile radius of this site affected air quality at this site a couple times and resulted in the issuance of reduced Air Quality warning once in April.  Wildfire season is here – with various agencies initiating public restrictions and the wildfire risk signs indicating “moderate” fire danger.  So far, no news of notable wildfire starts from the recent t-storms.   
     Springtime wildlife activity was observed at least 2 weeks earlier than normal in April: chipmunks; flies, moths, native bees and swarming carpenter ants; and bird chicks.  Yellow jackets swarmers came out about mid-May.  I am seeing 2 lodgepole trees on this lot with what appears to be insect damage.