HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The soaking rain we saw in May was beneficial not only in our area but for Alabama as a whole, as the drought continues to shrink.
On Thursday, the latest drought monitor was released, and there was a huge improvement here in the Tennessee Valley. The rain we received this past week was very beneficial to the area, though it led to a flooding threat. The yellow area indicates Abnormally Dry conditions, while the beige represents a Moderate Drought.
The drought monitor is released weekly on Thursday mornings. The data analyzed is collected each Tuesday morning.
The Tennessee Valley saw monthly rain totals ranging from 5.50 inches to nearly 8.50 inches. Some areas even saw higher amounts thanks to the tropical downpours associated with storms. Huntsville specifically recorded 8.42 inches of rain in May, which was 3.75 inches above normal. While we did end the month wetter than normal, it was only the eighth wettest May on record.
After the first four months of 2026 ended with a rain deficit, the rain received in May proved beneficial. The yearly rain totals are now up to 24.00 inches, which is around 1.41 inches below normal.
State Drought Also Shrinks:
While storms in May led to damage across the state, they also led to torrential downpours! It was the soaking rain that helped the state see a drought reduction by 50-percent! After the beneficial rain, roughly 41 percent of the state is experiencing Moderate Drought conditions. This is a vast improvement compared to a month ago…