This year, nature decided not to wait for the calendar's instructions. Ukrainians, who recently endured the "weather swings" of May, have officially entered meteorological summer. Meteorologists from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center recorded this transition, noting that the season changed earlier than usual.
The second decade of May 2026 turned out to be unusually dramatic. Temperature readings fluctuated up and down, creating an illusion of instability. However, on average for the decade, the temperature was close to the climatic norm, and in the northeast, it even exceeded it. Atmospheric fronts brought uneven precipitation: in some places, there were calm rains, while in others, thunderstorms with hail and gusty winds raged. Overall, the amount of precipitation across the country exceeded the norm, and in some areas reached the monthly indicator.
The main indicator of the change of seasons — a sustained increase in the average daily temperature above +15°C — was recorded on most of Ukraine as early as May 3–5. This is one and a half to two weeks earlier than the long-term average. Only in some areas of the northern, western, and southern regions did the transition occur later, in mid-to-late May, but still within or slightly ahead of the norm.
For agriculture, such conditions proved extremely favorable. Effective precipitation in the second decade allowed replenishing reserves of productive moisture in all soil layers. This became critically important during the period of maximum water consumption by winter crops and the active development of early spring crops. A sufficiently warmed upper soil layer, combined with improved moisture, created ideal conditions for plant growth and development.
Thus, although the weather in May seemed capricious, it ultimately played into the hands of farmers. Meteorological summer arrived ahead of schedule, but brought not only warmth but also necessary moisture, promising a good harvest this season.