1.   April was the driest on record in Mobile, Alabama, a reflection of exceptional dryness in much of the Southeast.

2.   Despite some showery rain during the past few weeks, exceptional dryness persists over many parts of the southern and central Plains.

3.   For the past few weeks, however, moist air masses from the Gulf of Mexico have been blocked, leading to exceptional dryness in most of Northeast.

4.   The winter had the least rainfall on record in Jackson, Miss., a reflection of exceptional dryness in much of the Southeast.