Wet Start to May for U.S. and Canada

May has started with widespread wet weather across much of the United States and parts of Canada, following a dry and cooler-than-average April in many areas. Anchorage, Alaska, recorded its wettest April since 2008, helping to alleviate drought in Southcentral Alaska, while coastal Alaska continues to receive significant rainfall. In Washington, D.C., forecasters expect a wetter and warmer-than-average May, which could help ease ongoing drought conditions. Southern Colorado is seeing rain, snow, and thunderstorms, and southeast Wisconsin is getting steady rainfall after a dry April. Meanwhile, the onset of 'solar summer' means the Northern Hemisphere is now receiving its maximum annual sunlight, with peak temperatures expected to follow as the season progresses. Warmer conditions are anticipated in cities such as Edmonton and Seattle as the region transitions toward summer.