Although we did not receive the amount of rain we really need, it seems like a relief, after all these days with clouds and piddling showers, to see clear skies in the forecast, pretty nearly uninterrupted through next week. 

In all, BWI-Marshall has received just 1.55 inches of rain this month. That's two-thirds of an inch behind the average pace for May, so we're not making up the deficit from the driest March on record. Even so, it's been drippy. Through May 18, we've seen 8 days of measurable precipitation. Only three days were rated "clear."  But then again, there were plenty of "partly cloudy" days that were sunny enough, with mild temperatures, to add to what has been a delightful spring, all things considered. Usually, it seems, we've had at least one bout of hot, humid weather by now.

Mercifully, there's been no need for air conditioning yet. (We'll need to save our utility dollars for the big BGE price hike this summer.) Quite the contrary, this May is averaging  2 degrees below normal at BWI. Today's high looks like it will stick in the low 60s - more than 10 degrees below the 75-degree normal high for this date.

And this is odd: Say what you want about global warming, but since 1970, BWI has clocked 17 new record-cold days in May, and only  7 new record highs. The record low for a May 19, for example, is 39 degrees, reached in 2003. The record for May 20 is also 39 degrees, set in 2002. The record for May 21 is 34 degrees, also set in 2002.  And the record low for May 22 is 35 degrees, also set in 2002. Eleven days in May have record lows set since 1996.

Go figure. Have a great weekend. Enjoy the sunshine. No extra charge.