The trend of warmer than normal weather in the contiguous United States that began during the fall of 2015 continued during April of this year. For the lower 48 states, the average April monthly temperature ranked as the 18th warmest since 1895. Here in Iowa, April temperatures averaged around 1 degree above normal statewide.

Through about the first three weeks of May, temperatures were averaging about 1 to 4 degrees below normal in most of the state. During this period, most precipitation amounts in Iowa were below normal, with a smaller number of heavier amounts.

A warmer trend later in the month will bring monthly average temperatures closer to normal by the end of May, and a wetter late month pattern will greatly...