By Joseph D’Aleo, CCM

For more than 75% of the nation, May was cooler than normal, as much as 7.5F below in the far North Central.

See larger map here

This is in sharp contrast to May 2007 which was warm in the same areas it was cold this year. May 2007 was the 11th warmest May for the US.

See larger map here

We will see in a few days where this May ranks. Clearly it will be colder than normal. UAH MSU daily data suggest a colder than average May for the globe too.  That continues the downslide we have seen starting in 2002 which accelerated the last year with the Pacific cooling and La Nina. Meanwhile Antarctic ice remains at 1 million square kilometers ahead of last year at this time and ahead of the average since 1979. If it stays at this anomaly, we will surpass the record set late last winter there. The arctic ice is similar to late May at this time after recovering nicely this past winter from record low levels in September and October. Only time will tell whether the same flow patterns will develop in June that developed last year to rapidly diminish the ice. See more here.