May 2017: A punishing drought. May 2018: All the rain we needed.

Late spring is when the Tampa Bay area usually runs out of water.

Temperatures are rising, but the regular summer rain hasn’t kicked in.

It’s when bay area residents can expect water usage restrictions and headlines warning of dangerously low reservoir levels. It’s when local governments issue burn notices to reduce the wildfire threat of dry ground.

This time last year, Tampa Bay was enduring one of Florida’s worst droughts.

Not so this year.

Rain fell in historic proportions last month, making May one of the wettest on record locally. Subtropical Storm Alberto led to rainfall in 17 out of the last 19 days in Tampa last month. It was the sixth wettest May on record in Tampa, the second wettest in St. Petersburg and the wettest ever in Lakeland.

The extra rainfall has raised reservoir levels, temporarily reduced the wildfire threat and lifted Florida from drought, weeks before the summer rain engine usually brings relief.

But all that extra water comes with its own problems.