Global Focus
Satellite view of Hurricane Adrian off the Central American coast on May 19, 2005
Hurricane Adrian
Global Hazards And Significant Events
May 2005
Hurricane Adrian was the first hurricane in the eastern Pacific of the 2005 season. Additional information can be found below.

Drought & Heat | Flooding | Storms | Tropical Cyclones | Extratropical Cyclones | Severe Winter Weather


Drought conditions
While severe to extreme drought conditions persisted throughout much of the U.S. northern Rockies, heavy amounts of rain and snow since March provided significant relief throughout parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Drought Monitor depiction as of May 31, 2005
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For comprehensive drought analysis, please see the current U.S. drought report.
Latest African weather hazards assessment from the Famine Early Warning System
Africa Precipitation Anomalies
Long-term drought continued over pastoral areas of the Greater Horn of Africa, however, recent beneficial rains eased dryness and improved pasture conditions. Farther south, severe drought continued throughout southern Malawi, much of Mozambique, as well as Tanzania and parts of Zimbabwe. For the latest African analysis and forecast, see the Famine Early Warning System Network.
In India, dozens were feared dead in the eastern state of Orissa due to a heatwave that affected much of the country. Maximum temperatures on May 17 reached as high as 50°C (122°F) in some sections of the country (Reuters). Extremely hot weather is common in India during late spring preceding the climatological onset of the monsoon season in June.
Temperatures across India on May 17, 2005
India Heatwave
CAMS temperature anomalies across Australia during March-May 2005
Australia Temperature Anomalies
Across Australia, exceptionally warm and dry weather prevailed during March-May 2005. The Australian mean temperature during March-May was 1.62°C (2.92°F) above the long-term average, which is the warmest on record. The previous record anomaly for the austral fall was +1.10°C (1.98°F) set in 1958 (Australian Bureau of Meteorology).
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, most of Australia had below-normal rainfall in May. No rain fell over large areas (many of them seasonally dry), including most of the Northern Territory (except the north-east corner), the north-east of Western Australia, and northern South Australia. It was a particularly dry month in much of the southeast, with totals in the lowest 10% of recorded years occurring in northern Tasmania, almost all of Victoria and most of the agricultural areas of South Australia. Records were set locally in central New South Wales and coastal South Australia, particularly on Kangaroo Island and the Yorke Peninsula. It was the second-driest May on record in Victoria and South Australia. See the Bureau's drought statement for more information on drought across Australia. (An Australia reference map is available.)
CAMS Precipitation anomalies across Australia during March-May 2005
Australia Rainfall Anomalies
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Heavy rainfall and flooding
CAMS temperature anomalies across Australia during March-May 2005
Kenya Rainfall Anomalies
Heavy rains caused in flooding in parts of Kenya during the opening days of May. At least 4 people drowned and 25,000 refugees were displaced in northeastern Kenya. In western Kenya, heavy rains caused the Nyando River to rise above the flood stage, affecting several hundred families (AFP).
Across southeastern Ethiopia, thunderstorm rains caused flooding in the town of Dire Dawa, located about 520 km (320 miles) from the capital. There were 32 fatalities from the flooding (AFP).

In Taiwan, torrential rain produced widespread flooding and landslides during mid-May. At least 4 fatalities were blamed on the heavy rainfall (AFP). Heavy rainfall also affected adjacent provinces of southeastern China westward into Hunan province. At least 200 fatalities were reported in Hunan province due to flooding in May 2005 (Reuters).
CAMS Precipitation anomalies across Taiwan and southeastern China during May 2005
Taiwan Rainfall Anomalies
In Bangladesh, heavy rains produced flooding that killed 10 people in the town of Moulvi Bazar (Reuters). The Dholai, Khowai and Manu Rivers all surpassed their flood stages from heavy rainfall during May 22-26.

Across western Romania, flooding during the first two weeks of May damaged 4,400 houses and destroyed 650. The flooding, considered to be the worst in 50-years in this part of Romania, also inundated around 113,000 hectares (280,000 acres) of agricultural land (OCHA).

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Severe Storms
Strong thunderstorms affected parts of the U.S. Great Plains on May 11, 2005. In the Hastings, Nebraska area, significant severe weather occurred, including very large hail, damaging winds and widespread flooding. Radar estimated rainfall accumulation locally exceeded 25 cm (10 inches).
Hail and flooding in downtown Hastings, Nebraska in May 11, 2005
Hail/Flooding in Hastings, Nebraska
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Tropical Cyclones
Satellite image of Hurricane Adrian on May 19, 2005
Satellite Image Of Adrian
Hurricane Adrian, the first named tropical system of the 2005 Eastern Pacific hurricane season, developed about 700 km (440 miles) southwest of Guatemala and El Salvador on the 17th. Adrian reached hurricane intensity by the 19th, and made landfall along the west coast of El Salvador near San Salvador late the same night. Maximum sustained winds at the time of landfall were near 120 km/hr (65 knots or 75 mph). Heavy rainfall over mountainous areas of El Salvador and Honduras produced localized flooding, with one flooding-related death in neighboring Nicaragua (Associated Press).
For 2005 basin tropical cyclone statistics, please refer to the following:
Australian Basin
North Indian Ocean Basin
Western North Pacific Basin
South Pacific Basin
South Indian Ocean Basin
Atlantic Basin
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Extratropical Cyclones
Wind and rain reports along the North Carolina Outer Banks during May 5-7, 2005
NC Wind/Rain Reports
A late-season Nor'easter affected the Eastern Seaboard of the United States during May 5-7, 2005. In North Carolina, winds gusted over 95 km/hr (60 mph) and rainfall locally exceeded 150 mm (6 inches).
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Severe winter weather
In Chile, a heavy snowstorm in the Los Barros range of the Andes Mountains affected a Chilean army exercise. Authorities described the snowstorm as the area's worst in three decades. A total of 45 Chilean soldiers died due to the exposure to the cold and snow (Associated Press/BBC News).
CAMS Temperature Anomalies across South America During May 2005
South America Temperature Anomalies

References:


Basist, A., N.C. Grody, T.C. Peterson and C.N. Williams, 1998: Using the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager to Monitor Land Surface Temperatures, Wetness, and Snow Cover. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 37, 888-911.

Peterson, Thomas C. and Russell S. Vose, 1997: An overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network temperature data base. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 78, 2837-2849.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Hazards for May 2005, published online June 2005, retrieved on March 29, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/hazards/200505.