01.06.2018
Climate characteristic of May 2018
May of 2018 was extremely warm in Belarus. Average air temperature was +16,9°С which is 3,5°С above climate normal. Such warm May was registered for the first time in the entire observed period. Until this year May of 2013 was considered the warmest with the nationwide average air temperature +16,7ºС.
The deviation of the average air temperature in May from the climatic normal across the territory of Belarus
Positive anomaly spread throughout the country and maximum was on the territory of Grodno region (on average across the region +3,9°С), minimum was on the territory of Vitebsk region (on average across the region +0,5°С). Abnormal warm weather was at the beginning and the end of month when average daily temperature was over +20°С. During daytime hours air temperature has been rising to +25°С and more, in certain days – to +30°С and more. Maximum air temperature (+31,3°С) was registered at meteorological station Brest in 30 May. Despite warm weather absolute maximum air temperature in May had not been exceeded however there were some stations that broke day records. Night air temperature was never below +10°С most of the month. Only some nights were cool when air temperature was down to +2 +7°С. Minimum air temperature (+1,5°С) was registered at the swamp station Polesskaya on 21 May.
All three decades of May were warm, but the first one was especially hot and it was 5,8°С above normal.
All three decades of May were warm, but the first one was especially hot and it was 5,8°С above normal.
The average air temperature and the climate normal for the decades of May 2018
On average, across the country 29 mm of rain fell in May (49% of climate normal). Such and even fewer precipitations in May are registered about every ten years. Rainfall deficit was observed throughout the country. Grodno region was least moisten where on average, across the region 25 mm of rainfall or 38% of climate normal, such dry weather in May is observed about every twenty years. Most of the rainfall was in the territory of Vitebsk region - on average, across the region 45 mm or 76% of climate normal.
The amount of precipitation for June 2018 and the climate normal across the regions and territory of Belarus
Despite rare rainfall heavy precipitation was in certain days. Maximum daily rainfall (45,1 mm) was on 18 May in Minsk. Rains were often followed by thunderstorms, hail. Hail with hailstones 27 mm in diameter reached criteria of hazard and it was registered on 17 May in Polotsk. There was wind gusts to 15 m/s and more in certain days in some areas, maximum speed wind (23 m/s) was registered at the meteorological station Dokshytsy on 02 May.
The amount of precipitation for May 2018 and the climatic norm by regions and territory of Belarus
And although precipitation fell out infrequently, on a single day they were abundant. The maximum daily amount of precipitation (45.1 mm) fell on 18 May in Minsk. Rains were often accompanied by thunderstorms, the fall of hail. In Polotsk on 17 May , a hail of 27 mm in diameter fell, reaching the criterion of a dangerous phenomenon. On some days there was a marked increase in winds up to 15 m / s and above, the maximum wind speed (23 m / s) was recorded at the Dokshitsy meteorological station on 2 May.
