Lingering showers early Thursday morning extended the streak of days with measurable rain to 10, but now we can enjoy several days of dry weather.
Despite the 10-day streak, less than 2 inches of rain accumulated at Reagan National Airport, bringing its monthly total to 2.85 inches, which is more than 0.5 inches below normal. With no rain expected the rest of May, National is poised to have its 10th drier-than-normal month out of the last 11.
But many parts of the region, especially those west of Interstate 95, received 3 to 5 inches of rain and are set to post a wetter-than-normal May.
The rainy stretch reduced the intensity of the area’s drought from severe to moderate west of I-95. However, much of the area still has a rainfall deficit of 6 to 10 inches or so over the last year, so we will need more rainy stretches or several big rainstorms to break the drought over the coming months.
