Oklahoma’s statewide average temperature for May was 74.6 degrees, breaking the previous record of 74 degrees set in 1962, according to state Climatologist Gary McManus.
Data dates to 1895.
"The jet stream retreated to the north a little bit earlier than it usually does, that’s what usually happens during the summer months, McManus said Friday.
High temperatures include 104 degrees and a heat index of 113 in Grandfield in southwestern Oklahoma on the final day of the month.
"I don’t know what you could attribute that to."
The western third of the state and the Panhandle remained in extreme to exceptional drought, as did large areas of New Mexico and Arizona and portions of Colorado, Kansas, Texas and Utah.
I used to say you couldn’t get too hot for cotton, but the little seedlings are having a difficult time" emerging from the dry land, unless it’s well irrigated.
"We just need some more moisture," Kelly said.
It looks like it’s going to be hot and fairly dry over most of the state," McManus said.
"If the first couple of weeks of June are dry and warm, that’s not a particularly a good omen.