GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After the wettest start to the year on record in West Michigan, the month of May has swung hard in the other direction.

Over 5 inches of rain fell within a two-week span in late March and early April. Through April 10, Grand Rapids had received over 14 inches of precipitation — well above the usual through that date. By the end of the month, rain became sparse and April ended about 0.75 inch below average with May only pulling in 0.84 inch so far.

May is usually one of our top three wettest months of the year in West Michigan. Typically an average of about 4 inches of precipitation falls. Most of this usually falls as rain, although a few snow showers are not out of the question. Very little rain is expected to fall for the rest of this May, which could land it as the second driest on record.

The dry trend could last into early June as well, when the sun angle begins to reach its most direct in the sky. The Climate Prediction Center indicates a drier-than-usual pattern expected through at least June 15, although the Drought Prediction Center does not include Michigan in the list of states expected to see drought formation in the next month. It is important to note West Michigan did fall into widespread drought the previous two summers.