Sheboygan County moved from record-setting wet weather in April to a notably dry stretch in May, but the recent slowdown in rainfall has not yet triggered drought concerns. April finished as the wettest on record for the county, with rainfall measuring about 5.42 inches above normal. That surplus accounts for most of the area’s precipitation excess for the year so far.
In contrast, May has been much drier. With a little more than a week remaining in the month, precipitation has totaled less than half of the normal amount for May. Despite the sharp month-to-month swing, conditions have not deteriorated into drought, a problem that has affected the region in previous years. The National Drought Information System is not forecasting drought development over the next three months, offering some reassurance after the prolonged dry spell.
The short-term outlook suggests the dry pattern may continue through the end of the month. Forecasters are calling for nearly a 70% chance of above-normal temperatures during the remainder of May, while precipitation is expected to stay below normal through May 31. That combination could keep soil moisture from recovering quickly, even if the area avoids formal drought classification for now.
The weather pattern reflects a stark contrast between two consecutive months. April’s abundant rain boosted totals well above average, while May’s limited precipitation has reversed much of that momentum. Still, the earlier surplus has helped cushion the impact of the drier stretch, reducing immediate drought risk across Sheboygan County.
For residents and local interests such as agriculture, the current conditions may be manageable in the near term, but the evolving balance between rain and heat will remain important to watch. Continued below-normal precipitation could begin to affect local moisture levels if the pattern persists into June. For now, however, the outlook remains relatively stable, with no drought expected and only a warm, dry finish to May on the horizon.
