By Rod Hill on 2013-05-31
An update to this article: PDX will finish May tied for 3rd all-time on the wet list with 4.75 inches of rain.
Steady rainfall expected tonight will likely push PDX into the top 5 list of wettest Mays at the airport! Monday's record rainfall of .88 inches puts the monthly total at 4.23 inches. Forecast charts show likely rain tonight, totaling .25 - .50 inches through the day Wednesday. The additional rainfall would move PDX into at least 5th place on the wet list and maybe as high as number 3! Here is the list of wettest Mays at PDX:
1. 1998 - 5.55 inches
2. 1996 - 4.88
3. 2010 & 2013 - 4.75
4. 1945 - 4.57
5. 1993 - 4.36
As you can see, we only need .13 inches to tie 1993 for 5th place. Normal May rainfall at PDX is 2.47 inches. Most of this months rain has fallen since May 16th. May is the first above normal precipitation month since December when PDX was better than 2.00 inches above normal with 7.56 inches of rainfall.
Other Monday rain totals: Astoria .93 inches, Tillamook 1.14, Kelso .38, Vancouver .73, Troutdale 1.28, Hillsboro .47, McMinnville .45, Salem .51, Hood River .32
Several of Monday's rain totals were records for the date, including PDX and Vancouver.
Needed rainfall delays fire danger