West Virginia Climate Summary, June 2003, (courtesy of Brad Rippey of the USDA).

West Virginia's wetness took a serious turn in June, when repeated bouts of heavy rain triggered
major flash flooding in and near Charleston.  The state capital weathered 2.73 inches of rain on
June 11 and another 2.48 inches on June 16, according to Yeager Airport records.  By the time
June ended, monthly rainfall in Charleston reached 9.93 inches (243 percent of normal), second
only to a 10.56-inch total in 1998.  Extremely wet conditions also prevailed in the state's Eastern
Panhandle, where Martinsburg collected 9.23 inches (264 percent of normal).  However, given
the spotty nature of the month's showers, a few locations including--Bluefield and Elkins--
measured below-normal totals for the month.

According to NWS data from the state's major observing sites, the number of days with
measurable rain (at least 0.01 inch) ranged from 11 in Parkersburg to 17 in Martinsburg.  In
addition, Martinsburg recorded an incredible 9 days with rainfall totaling one-half inch or more
(June 3, 4, 7, 12, 13, 20, 21, and 30), while Charleston experienced 7 such days (June 3, 7, 11,
13, 16, 19, and 20).  Mercifully, the last 10 days of June were mostly dry, featuring only a trace
of rain in Parkersburg and Elkins, 0.05 inch in Huntington, 0.07 inch in Beckley, and 0.09 inch in
Charleston.

The month's coolest weather was noted virtually statewide on June 2.  In fact, temperatures on
that morning were lower than during the entire month of May at all major observing stations
except Martinsburg.  Beckley's June 2 minimum of 38 degrees F was 5 degrees F lower than its
lowest reading the previous month (43 degrees F on May 14).  Toward month's end, a warming trend
finally boosted temperatures into the 85- to 90-degree range in many locations, including
Martinsburg (90 degrees F on June 25-26).  Nevertheless, monthly temperatures generally ranged
from 2 to 4 degrees F below normal across the state.

              Preliminary Station Data, June 2003*
Temperatures (Degrees F), Precipitation (Inches), and Departures from Normal

Station         Avg    Dep    Hi / Lo Temp (Dates)          Pcpn   Dep       % of Nml
Beckley         64.2   -2.8   84 (25th, 26th) / 38 (2nd)    4.67   +0.75     119       
Bluefield       64.1   -3.9   82 (25th) / 40 (2nd)          3.03   -0.82     79        
Charleston      67.6   -2.3   88 (26th) / 40 (2nd)          9.93   +5.84     243
Elkins          63.6   -2.0   86 (25th) / 34 (2nd)          2.96   -1.65     64
Huntington      68.5   -2.8   88 (26h) / 42 (2nd)           5.19   +1.31     134
Martinsburg     67.5   -4.4   90 (25th, 26th) / 42 (2nd)    9.23   +5.74     264
Parkersburg     66.8   -4.0   88 (26th) / 37 (2nd)          6.77   +2.81     171

Nearby Stns     Avg    Dep    Hi / Lo Temp (Dates)          Pcpn   Dep       % of Nml
Pittsburgh, PA  65.8   -2.7   88 (25th) / 39 (2nd)          3.88   -0.24     94
Blacksburg, VA  65.8   -1.1   87 (25th) / 42 (2nd)          7.48   +3.55     190
Jackson, KY     68.2   -3.2   86 (25th) / 48 (2nd)          7.54   +2.87     161

* Preliminary station data provided by National Weather Service offices in Blacksburg, VA,
Charleston, WV, Pittsburgh, PA, Sterling, VA, and Jackson, KY.