NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY

JUNE 2018

 

2-8:  The focus for heavy rain shifted across the South, where widespread totals of at least 2 to 4 inches totals occurred.  From coastal Texas to southern Louisiana, a few locations received in excess of 8 inches.  However, rainfall in the Southeast provided much-needed moisture for pastures and summer crops, following a record-setting hot spell.  In contrast, only patchy showers dotted the northern and western U.S., favoring fieldwork.  Developing drought remained a concern in a few areas along the Canadian border, mainly from Washington to northern Minnesota. Elsewhere, a warmer, drier weather regime developed in California and environs, following an unusually cool, damp May.  In fact, near- or above-normal temperatures across most of the country promoted summer crop emergence and development, as well as winter wheat maturation.  Weekly temperatures averaged at least 5°F above normal across large sections of the northern Plains and upper Midwest, along with parts of California and the Southeast.  Temperatures topped the 90-degree mark in parts of the northcentral U.S., especially on June 4 and 6-8.

 In early June, cold air remained entrenched across the North.  In Minnesota, record-setting lows for June 2 included 28°F in Hibbing and 29°F in International Falls.  A few days later, however, Fargo, ND, posted a daily-record high of 93°F on June 8.  Meanwhile, cool air briefly affected the Northeast, where record-setting lows for June 4 included 34°F in Dubois, PA, and 46°F in Baltimore, MD.  Farther south, however, hot weather persisted for much of the week.  From May 21 – June 5, Gainesville, FL, reported highs of 95°F or greater on 16 consecutive days.  (Gainesville’s all-time record of 18 consecutive days with 95-degree heat was established from June 1-18, 1899.)  During Gainesville’s hot spell, temperatures of 100°F or greater were recorded on May 26-28 and June 3-4.  Elsewhere in the South, daily-record highs climbed to 98°F on June 3 in Louisiana locations such as Lafayette and New Orleans.  In Florida, daily-record highs soared to 96°F (on June 3) in Miami and 95°F (on June 4) in Tampa.  From June 5-8, Corpus Christi, TX, closed the week with four consecutive daily-record highs (97, 98, 102, and 98°F).  Elsewhere in Texas, record-setting highs for June 7 rose to 109°F in Laredo; 106°F in McAllen; and 104°F in Brownsville.  Brownsville’s high also set a monthly record, previously established with highs of 103°F on June 19, 1918, and June 26, 2012.  In contrast, a late week Northwestern cool spell resulted in a daily-record low (33°F on June 7) in Yakima, WA.  The following day in Wyoming, record-setting lows for June 8 dipped to 33°F in Casper and 36°F in Worland.  With a reading of 27°F, Klamath Falls, OR, also notched a daily-record low for June 8.

 

9-15:  An early-season hot spell occurred in the Far West.  Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10°F above normal at several locations in the Pacific Coast States, but were more than 5°F below normal in a broad area stretching from the central and southern Plains into the Ohio Valley.  In fact, generally cool weather covered east of the Rockies. Early in the week, record-setting heat gripped the Far West.  From June 9-11, the airport observation sites in California locations such as San Francisco (92, 100, and 99°F) and Salinas (98, 105, and 104°F) opened the week with a trio of daily-record highs.  On June 10, both locations also registered monthly record highs.  San Francisco topped its monthly mark of 98°F, previously set on June 8, 1973, and June 22, 1989, while Salinas demolished its standard of 99°F, most recently attained on June 14, 2000.  Elsewhere in California, Thermal reported three consecutive daily record highs (113, 116, and 118°F) from June 10-12.  Stockton, CA, noted a pair of daily-record highs (105 and 108°F, respectively) on June 10-11.  Around mid-week, heat briefly shift into the Northwest, replacing previously cool conditions.  On June 9, Northwestern lows had dipped to daily-record levels in locations such as Stanley, ID (23°F); Casper, WY (27°F); and Burns, OR (31°F).  By June 12, however, daily-record highs were set in Oregon locations such as Roseburg (101°F), Medford (99°F), and Portland (98°F).  On the same date in Washington, Seattle posted a daily-record high of 95°F.  Elsewhere in Washington, record-setting highs for June 13 soared to 101°F in Pasco and 95°F in Wenatchee.  East of the Rockies, however, multiple surges of cool air led to several daily-record lows.  On the Plains, record-setting lows for June 10 dipped to 32°F in Sidney, NE, and 38°F in Garden City, KS.  Later, Hibbing, MN, notched consecutive daily-record lows (31 and 28°F, respectively) on June 12-13.  Record-setting lows for June 14 included 45°F in Lexington, KY, and 49°F in Evansville, IN, and Charlotte, NC.

 

16-22:  Mostly dry weather prevailed west of the Rockies, although chilly conditions across the Intermountain West contrasted with periods of heat in the Pacific Coast States and the Desert Southwest.  In fact, cooler-than normal weather—with temperatures locally averaging more than 5°F below normal—stretched from the Intermountain West into the Great Lakes region. Temperatures failed to reach 80°F during the week in most areas from the northern Plains to New England.  In contrast, near- or above-normal temperatures dominated the Pacific Coast States, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic States.  Record-setting heat was confined to parts of the Deep South, where McAllen, TX, posted a high of 103°F on June 19.  McAllen reported highs of 100°F or greater each day from June 6-9 and 18-20.  Late in the week, overnight low temperatures remained above 80°F in parts of the Gulf Coast region.  On the 22nd, a low of 82°F in Houston, TX, tied a June record for highest minimum temperature, most recently achieved on June 21, 2011.  In contrast, a late-week surge of cool air chilled the Northwest.  On June 22, daily-record lows dipped below the freezing mark in locations such as Lake Yellowstone, WY (23°F); Stanley, ID (24°F); and Ely, NV (27°F).  Consecutive daily-record lows occurred on June 21-22 in Alta, UT (28 and 29°F), and Idaho Falls, ID (32°F both days).  The cool weather extended southward into California, where Paso Robles (44°F) notched a daily-record low for June 22.  

 

23-29: Mostly dry weather prevailed across the southern Mid-Atlantic region and the central and southern High Plains. In parts of the lower Southeast, drought remained a concern with respect to the condition of pastures and summer crops.  Some drought persisted across the western half of the nation’s northern tier, although occasional showers provided relief in Montana and North Dakota. Significantly above normal temperatures were confined to Florida’s peninsula and portions of the Great Lakes and Northeastern States.  In the Midwest. Early in the week, chilly conditions dominated the Rockies and Intermountain West.  Cortez, CO, posted consecutive daily record lows (32 and 34°F, respectively) on June 23-24.  Cedar City, UT, opened the week on June 23 with a daily-record low of 34°F.  Cool weather extended to the Plains, where record-setting lows for June 24 dipped to 43°F in North Platte, NE, and 45°F in Dalhart, TX.  As the week progressed, additional Western daily record lows included 30°F (on June 28) at the Bryce Canyon Airport in Utah and 31°F (on June 29) in South Lake Tahoe, CA.  In contrast, hot, steamy weather gripped Florida, where Miami registered four consecutive daily-record highs (95, 98, 97, and 95°F) from June 23-26.  Miami’s high of 98°F tied a monthly record most recently achieved on June 22, 2009.  On June 25, Florida locations such as Fort Myers and Tampa logged daily record highs of 98°F.  Fort Myers attained 98°F again on June 26.  Elsewhere in Florida on the 26th, Sarasota-Bradenton (99°F) notched a daily-record high, while Naples (98°F) tied a monthly record previously set on June 6, 1985, and earlier dates.  Elsewhere, late-week heat arrived on the Plains.  Although no records were set, triple-digit temperatures spread as far north as South Dakota, where Pierre recorded a high of 100°F on June 29.

Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com