May Outlook: Wet Weather Likely to Continue

Climate Prediction Center forecasts above-normal rainfall and temperatures for Central Texas in May

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A sweeping, dramatic landscape painting in muted tones of grey, blue, and green, with heavy rain clouds dominating the sky and obscuring the horizon, conveying the powerful, sublime scale of an approaching storm system.A moody, atmospheric landscape captures the impending storm system expected to bring heavy rainfall to Central Texas in the coming month.Austin Today

The Climate Prediction Center's early outlook for May indicates that the wet weather pattern that has developed in April is likely to continue into the upcoming month. May is typically the wettest month of the year in Austin, with an average rainfall of over 5 inches, and the CPC's forecast leans toward above-normal precipitation totals for the region. While rainfall has been below normal so far in 2026, a wet May could help chip away at the year-to-date deficit.

Why it matters

The wet weather pattern is important for the region, as Central Texas has been dealing with a rainfall deficit so far in 2026. A wetter-than-normal May could help replenish water supplies and reduce drought conditions before the typically hotter and drier summer months. However, the increased rainfall also raises the risk of severe weather, which peaks in May according to historical data.

The details

The Climate Prediction Center's outlook for May indicates that temperatures are also expected to trend warmer than normal across much of the southern United States, including Central Texas. This continues a pattern of above-normal temperatures that has been observed throughout the first three months of 2026. While rainfall has been below average so far this year, the wet weather in April and the forecast for a wet May could help make up some of that deficit before the summer.

  • May is typically the wettest month of the year in Austin, with an average rainfall total of 5.04 inches.
  • The severe weather season in Central Texas, including the risk of hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes, also peaks in May according to historical data from the National Weather Service.

The players

Climate Prediction Center

A division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that provides long-range weather forecasts and outlooks for the United States.

National Weather Service

The primary government agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing weather-related warnings in the United States.

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The takeaway

The wet weather pattern that has developed in April is expected to continue into May, which could help alleviate the rainfall deficit that Central Texas has experienced so far in 2026. However, the increased rainfall also raises the risk of severe weather, which peaks during this time of year according to historical data. Residents should stay vigilant and prepared for the possibility of hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes throughout the month.