U.S. Had 8th Warmest June, Wetter

2010 Climate Extremes Index: Six pct above average

U.S. Had Eighth Warmest June on Record, Above-Normal Precipitation: NOAA

June 2010 average temperature of 71.4ºF for the contiguous United States was 2.2 degrees F above the century (1901-2000) average of 69.2ºF. At 3.33 inches, the average precipitation for June was 0.44 inch higher than the long-term average.

Temperature: June 2010 Statewide Ranks. Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

U.S. Temp Highlights

• The Southeast, South and Central regions saw their second, fifth and seventh warmest June on record, respectively.  But the Northwest temperature average was below normal for June.
  • Delaware: Record-warm June temperatures.
  • New Jersey and North Carolina: Average temperatures of 5 to 6 degrees F above the long-term mean.
  • Seventeen other states experienced 10 warmest temperatures.
  • Oregon and Washington:  Below normal average temperatures for June.
  • Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island have experienced their warmest January-June period on record.
  • Eight other states in the Northeast and Great Lakes had a top-10 warm January-June period.
  • Florida had its seventh-coolest year-to-date on record.

• April-June period was  much warmer than normal for 20 states, which experienced either their warmest, or second-warmest such period on record.
  • Northeast and Southeast Climate Regions.had their warmest April-June on record.

• Significant cool conditions persisted in the West and Northwest.
  • Oregon and Idaho had below normal temperatures for April-June.
  • Northwest Climate Region’s had 9th coolest such period.

U.S. Precipitation Highlights

• The prevailing high pressure that brought warmth to the South and Southeast also blocked many storm systems from entering the region, increasing the threat of drought. However, the active upper level pattern in the northern tier states alleviated drought conditions and produced record flooding in the High Plains.
  • Michigan: Wettest June on record,
  • Iowa: 2nd wettest
  • Nebraska and Illinois  3rd Wettest
  • Indiana:  4th
  • Wisconsin: 5th
  • Oregon 6th:
  • Ohio: 10th wettest on record.
  • Maryland and Virginia: Below average precipitation for June.

• Widespread precipitation for April-June period
  • Iowa and Washington each had its second wettest for April-June.
  • Oregon: Fourth wettest
  • Nebraska: ninth wettest w
• Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey saw their seventh, ninth and tenth driest such periods, respectively.

Precipitation: June 2010 Statewide Ranks. Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

Other Highlights (Unedited from NOAA Website)

• Alex, the first June hurricane in the Atlantic since 1995, made landfall just south of the U.S.-Mexico border on June 30th, affecting portions of South Texas. Alex’s sustained winds of 105 mph made it June’s most intense Atlantic hurricane since Alma in 1966.
• NCDC’s Climate Extremes Index for the first half of 2010 was about six percent higher than the historical average. The CEI measures the occurrence of several types of climate extremes, like record or near-record warmth, dry spells, or rainy periods. The elevated 2010 value was driven by large footprints of: extreme wetness (more than three times the average footprint), warm minimum temperatures (“warm overnight lows”), and areas experiencing heavy one-day precipitation events.
• NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center tabulated 387 preliminary tornado reports during June. If confirmed, this will be the second most active June on record, behind 1992.
• NOAA’s Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index indicated June’s temperature-related energy demand for the contiguous U.S. was 11.9 percent above average. The unusual warmth in the highly populated South and Southeast resulted in the second highest June value in 116 years.
• Drought coverage decreased slightly in June. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported 8.5 percent of the United States was affected by drought on June 29. Slight improvements were seen in the Northern Rockies and western Great Lakes during June, while conditions deteriorated in Louisiana.

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