National Overview:

  • Temperature Highlights
  • For the contiguous United States, the average temperature for June was 69.5°F (20.8°C), which was 0.2°F (0.1°C) above the 20th century mean and ranked as the 49th warmest June on record, based on preliminary data.
  • Regionally, above-normal temperatures in the South, Southeast, and parts of the Northwest U.S. were countered with below-normal temperatures in the Northeast and areas in the Southwest and North Central regions.
  • Using the Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index (REDTI - an index developed at NOAA to relate energy usage to climate), the nation's residential energy demand during June was approximately two percent above average consumption.
  • Precipitation Highlights
  • This was the 53rd driest June in the 1895—2009 record. An average of 2.90 inches (74 mm) fell across the contiguous U.S. this month, which is 0.01 inch (0.2 mm) above the long-term value.
  • June precipitation was above normal in the Northeast, West, and parts of the Southwest regions. Both the South and Southeast regions experienced precipitation averages that were below normal.
  • Other Items of Note
  • The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) reported that ENSO-neutral conditions were transitioning to El-Niño in the equatorial Pacific Ocean during the month of June. Equatorial sea surface temperatures (SSTs) have continued to increase as the SSTs were at least 0.9°F (0.5°C) above average across the region during the month of June. El Niño is characterized by a positive Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) greater than or equal to +0.9°F (+0.5°C). By historical standards, to be classified as a full-fledged El Niño or La Niña episode, these thresholds must be exceeded for a period of at least five consecutive overlapping three-month seasons. Observations and model forecasts by the CPC indicate favorable conditions for the transition of ENSO-neutral conditions to El Niño during late summer 2009. For additional information on ENSO conditions, please visit the NCDC ENSO Monitoring page and the latest NOAA ENSO Advisory.

For additional details about recent temperatures and precipitation across the U.S., see the Regional Highlights section below and visit the May Climate Summary page. For information on local temperature and precipitation records during the month of June, please visit NCDC's Extremes page. For details and graphics on weather events across the U.S. and the globe please visit NCDC's Global Hazards page.

Regional Highlights:

These regional summaries were provided by the six Regional Climate Centers and reflect conditions in their respective regions. These six regions differ spatially from the nine climatic regions of the National Climatic Data Center.

  • Northeast Region: (Information provided by the Northeast Regional Climate Center)
  • The first month of climatological summer was not very summer-like in the Northeast. Eleven of the twelve states in the region posted below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation in June. Overall, the Northeast's average temperature of 63.8°F (17.7°C) was 1.2°F (0.7°C) below the normal June value and 3.4°F (1.9°C) cooler than June 2008. West Virginia was the only state that averaged above normal (+0.7°F, +0.4°C) temperatures; however, Delaware and Maryland were close to normal, at -0.3°F (-0.2°C) and -0.6°F(-0.3°C), respectively. The New England states had the greatest negative temperature departures; in fact, it was the 10th coolest June in 115 years in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These two states were also the coolest in the Northeast. Departures were 2.7°F (1.5°C) below normal in Massachusetts and 3.2°F (1.8°C) cooler than normal in Rhode Island.
  • Most of the region saw above normal rainfall in June, the exceptions being central West Virginia, parts of central and western Pennsylvania, and western and northern New York. West Virginia's total of 4.24 inches (10.77 cm) was exactly 100 percent of the normal June rainfall while Delaware's 6.51 inches (16.54 cm) was 184 percent of normal. It was the 5th wettest June since 1895 in Delaware, the 6th wettest in New Jersey and the 7th wettest in Maine. Overall, the Northeast total of 5.15 inches made June 2009 the 10th wettest in 115 years. The wet conditions were not a result of a few extraordinary rain events, but lots of rainy days. In New Jersey, for instance, measurable rain fell somewhere in the state every day of the month except the 1st.
  • Weather events during the third week of June brought attention to the New York metro area. Residents in a few Bergen County, NJ communities broke out their snow shovels when a slow moving thunderstorm dumped several inches of dime-size hail along with about 1-1.5 inches (2.54-3.81 cm) of rain. The rain/hail combination that flowed like a river of ice down neighborhood streets into foot (30.48 cm) high piles that had to be removed by front-end loaders. A few days later, up to 1.9 inches (4.83 cm) of rain fell during the opening round of the US Open Golf Tournament in Bethpage, NY, suspending play after about 3 hours. Further rain delays on Saturday forced a Monday finish, only the third time since 1926 that the tournament finished on a Monday due to the weather and not a playoff.
  • For more information, please go to the Northeast Regional Climate Center Home Page.
  • Midwest Region: (Information provided by the Midwest Regional Climate Center)
  • Average daily temperatures during June ranged from 4°F to 5°F (2.2°C to 2.8°C) below normal in northern Minnesota to 2°F to 3°F (1.1°C to 1.7°C) above normal across southern Missouri eastward into Kentucky, but this pattern does not tell the whole story. There were wide swings from cool to hot to cool again as the month progressed. The cool weather regime in May continued through the first half of June. Temperatures the first two weeks of the June were below normal across much of the region, ranging from 8°F to 9°F (4.4°C to 5.0°C) below normal in western Minnesota to near normal along and south of the Ohio River. There was a marked change the last two weeks of the month as an upper level ridge centered over the Gulf Coast states developed northward into the Midwest. High temperatures well into the 90s (32°C) and dew points in the 70s (21°C) spread as far north as Minnesota and Wisconsin. In contrast, temperatures the last two weeks of the month were near to above normal across the entire region, ranging from near normal in eastern Ohio to 6°F (3.3°C) above normal across southern Missouri and Illinois. There were numerous temperature records set throughout the Midwest this month. During the first two weeks of the month a few record highs were set across the far southern Midwest, while scores of record low maximum temperatures were set across the northern portions of the region. During the week of June 17-23 more than a hundred record high minimum temperatures were set across the region as the warm humid air settled over the Midwest. Record maximum temperatures were being set in the western portions of Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota by the end of this week. The heat intensified into the last week of June with numerous records highs set June 24 and June 25. A strong upper level low moved over the Great Lakes on June 28 and the surface cold front that swept through most of the Midwest brought cooler and drier conditions. The slow-moving upper low and the associated extensive area of cloudiness kept high temperatures in the 50s (12°C) and 60s (17°C) in the northern Midwest and in the 70s (21°C) to low 80s (28°C) south. Record low maximum temperatures were set across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan the last two days of the month.
  • Precipitation was normal to more than 175 percent of normal across the southern half of the region, but only 50 to 75 percent of normal in eastern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and the Michigan Upper Peninsula. Moderate to Severe drought persisted in this region during June, with some expansion of Moderate Drought into western Minnesota by the end of the month according to the June 30 U.S. Drought Monitor. June rainfall was heaviest in Missouri and in eastern Kentucky where more than 10 inches (254 mm) of rain accumulated during the month. Monthly rainfall records were set at several locations in Kentucky and Ohio based on preliminary data.
  • The frequent and heavy rain in the central Midwest continued to frustrate agricultural interests. At the end of June soybean planting was still behind schedule in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. Soybean planting was nearly complete in Iowa. Severe weather throughout the Midwest also impacted agriculture. Hail damaged 150,000 acres of crops in Chickasaw and Fayette counties in northeast Iowa on the night of June 17 with about 10 percent of these acres being a total loss. In western Michigan, blueberries and cherries have been taking the worst of the weather. At one farm 100,000 pounds of blueberries were torn from their bushes by winds associated with severe thunderstorms in the third week of June.
  • For details on the weather and climate events of the Midwest during May, see the weekly summaries in the MRCC Midwest Climate Watch page.
  • Southeast Region: (Information provided by the Southeast Regional Climate Center)
  • Mean temperatures for June 2009 were above normal across most of the region. Temperatures were more than 4°F above normal over small portions of SE and NW GA as well as the western panhandle of FL. Tallahassee FL experienced seven straight days of 100°F (38°C) plus heat between the 23rd and 30th of the month, which ties for the longest streak of 100°F or higher daily maximum temperatures. Also, Atlanta, GA experienced a streak of 15 days between the16th and 30th in which the daily maximum temperature equaled or exceeded 90°F (32°C). This was the third longest streak of 90°F and higher daily maximum temperatures for a record extending back to 1878. Tallahassee, FL and Dothan, AL, both recorded daily maximum of temperatures of 104°F (40°C) on the 23rd of the month. And Venice, FL recorded an all-time daily low maximum when the temperature did not fall below 85 °F (29°C) on the 24th. The month was especially noteworthy for the lack of unusually cool conditions. There were only 21 daily record lows set across the entire region during the month.
  • Monthly precipitation totals were below normal across much of the region including broad portions of AL, GA, FL, SC and the eastern NC. Precipitation totals were less than 50 percent of normal across portions of GA, AL as well as local areas of FL, SC, and NC. Newnan, GA and Lake City, FL received only 0.38 inches (10 mm) and 0.86 inches (22 mm) of precipitation for the month, respectively, which was only slightly above 10 percent of the average total for the month of June. Precipitation totals were more than 150 percent of normal across portions of VA and numerous isolated areas across the remainder of the region. Miami Beach, FL recorded 18.04 inches (458 mm) of precipitation making its 2nd wettest June in a record extending back to 1927. Slightly more than half of this precipitation fell on the 6th of the month as a weak upper level low drifted slowly northeastward across FL. This was the greatest daily precipitation total at Miami Beach over the 80 plus year period of record. Several locations in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge foothills of NC and VA were especially wet. Asheboro, NC recorded over 11 inches (279 mm) of precipitation for the month, and more than half of this total fell on the 18th of the month as slow moving thunderstorms moved across the area. Flash flooding was reported around Asheboro and Raleigh, NC. Philpott Dam, VA and Lenoir, NC recorded 10.83 inches (275 mm) and 9.51 inches (241 mm) of precipitation for the month. Also, Tallapoosa, AL recorded over 10 inches (254 mm) of precipitation for the month. The wet conditions across portions of western and northern NC in late May and early June prevented farmers from cutting hay and planting tobacco in their fields. This was also the case across portions of GA where the wetness contributed to problems with tobacco virus and sprouted wheat.
  • In spite of the dryness across much of the region, there were no areas displaying drought conditions (D1 or greater) during the month. Very small areas of abnormally dry conditions (D0) persisted across extreme NE NC and South FL. A small area of abnormally dry conditions developed over east central AL. Severe thunderstorms across the region produced damage in localized areas. A 92 MPH wind gust was reported at Hilton Head SC that damaged 7 cars and a fence at the airport. A 70 year-old tree was felled on the White House grounds in Washington, DC by winds accompanying a severe thunderstorm. According to the Severe Storms Prediction Center (SPC), there were numerous reports of hail and high winds across the region, as is typically the case in the month of June. There were 10 reports of tornadoes across the region. Most notably, an EF-1 tornado caused a damage swath that was 6 mile in length near Kings Mountain, NC on the 16th causing damage to the roofs of homes and downing trees and power lines. The storm spawning the tornado also produced baseball-sized hailstones that caused damage to the siding on homes.
  • For more information, please go to the Southeast Regional Climate Center Home Page.
  • High Plains Region: (Information provided by the High Plains Regional Climate Center)
  • June 2009 started cool for the High Plains region. However, a short heat wave developed towards the end of the month. The combination of hot and muggy conditions created afternoon heat indices well over 100°F (37.8°C) in a number of locations, which negatively impacted cattle producers in the region. Despite this heat wave, overall, temperatures across the majority of the region were cooler than normal. Common average monthly temperature departures ranged from 2°F (1.1°C) to 6°F (3.3°C) below normal. Eastern Kansas was the only exception where average monthly temperature departures ranged from 2°F (1.1°C) to 4°F (2.2°C) above normal. At least one location recorded its coolest June on record and several locations ranked in the top 10 coolest Junes. Del Norte, CO recorded its coolest June with an average temperature of 54.0°F (12.2°C). This broke the old record of 55.6°F (13.1°C) recorded in 1969.
  • After a month of record setting dryness in May, June 2009 saw a return of active weather across the High Plains Region. A large swath of the Region extending through Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska received over 200 percent of normal precipitation and many locations ranked in the top 10 wettest Junes on record. Interestingly, according to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, SD, there were an unusually high number of days with measurable precipitation at several locations. This June, Sioux Falls, SD and Sioux City, SD both had 16 days with measurable precipitation and Huron, SD had 15 days with measurable precipitation. Each city tied the record for the most number of days with measurable precipitation for June.
  • Only small pockets of the region received less than 50 percent of normal precipitation this month. These areas include southeast Colorado, extreme south central Nebraska, and northern and central North Dakota. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, many of these locations remain abnormally dry and a small section of abnormally dry conditions and moderate drought conditions have developed along the central Kansas/Nebraska border where little to no precipitation was received towards the end of the month. This month's extreme dry location is Jamestown, ND which recorded its 9th driest June with 1.27 inches (32.26 mm) of precipitation, or 39 percent of normal.
  • Hundreds of thousands of acres of crops were adversely affected by severe weather this month. Crop damage was reported in many locations due to flooding and hail. Wheat was especially hit hard as it was near harvest in many areas and some fields were complete losses. Other crops affected include, but are not limited to, alfalfa, corn, dry beans, and sugar beets. In Nebraska alone, preliminary estimates indicate that over 150,000 acres of crops received crop damage from severe weather and losses exceed 10 million dollars.
  • For more information, please go to the High Plains Regional Climate Center Home Page.
  • Southern Region: (Information provided by the Southern Regional Climate Center)
  • Mean June temperatures in the Southern Region were generally above-normal. Most stations in the Southern Region averaged between 2-6°F (1-3°C) above normal. The latter half of the month proved to be extremely hot, with many locations being under heat-advisories for most of the last week and a half of the month. Dozens of stations set or tied daily maximum temperature records. In Alexandria, Louisiana for example, the daily maximum temperature record was equaled or exceeded each day from the 16th of the month to the 30th. Similarly, Austin Mueller Municipal Airport in Austin, Texas tied or broke a total of 11 daily maximum temperature records, including a streak that lasted from the 23rd of the month to the 29th. Fernwood McComb Pike Airport in McComb, Mississippi also tied or broke 11 daily maximum temperature records.
  • It was a very dry June over much of the Southern region. Almost all stations in Louisiana reported less than 50 percent of the monthly normal. Similar dry conditions were also observed in: southern and eastern Texas, southern Mississippi, central Oklahoma, southern Arkansas and south central Tennessee. In fact, many stations in southern Texas and southern Mississippi reported precipitation values that were as low as 5-25 percent of normal. The Baton Rouge area was one of the driest locations in the regions. According to the ThreadEx station at Baton Rouge, a total of 0.56 inches (14.22 mm) of precipitation was recorded for June, making it the sixth driest June on record (1892-2009). At the Houston ThreadEx station, a total of 0.27 inches (6.86 mm) of precipitation was measured, making it the 8th driest June on record (1888-2009) there. Only small portions of the Southern region received above normal precipitation for the month. This included parts of west central Texas, north eastern Arkansas and northeastern Tennessee.
  • The drought pattern in the Southern Region has noticeably changed from last month. For example, the month of June turned out to be a very dry month for most stations in southern Texas and Louisiana. This dryness was compounded by anomalously high temperatures. In the case of Louisiana, approximately four fifths of the state was showing adequate soil moisture conditions, however; by the end of the month, the situation had reversed with four fifths of the state showing shortages in soil moisture. As a result, moderate drought conditions have been introduced to the southeastern portion of the state, including a small portion of southeastern Mississippi. In Mississippi, abnormally dry conditions exist in the southern half of the state, even after an ample supply of precipitation in the preceding month. Similar dryness in central Oklahoma led to the formation of moderate drought conditions there as well. Over the past month, there has been little change to drought conditions in southern Texas. There has been only a slight expansion of severe to exceptional drought. The only area that has shown improved drought conditions is in the western panhandle of Texas. There, conditions over the past month have improved from moderate and severe drought, to just abnormally dry.
  • Western Region: (Information provided by the Western Regional Climate Center)
  • The first half of June 2009 saw abnormally cool temperatures for most of the West region. Even though the latter half of the month saw warm conditions, most of the region remained cooler than normal for June. Only the Pacific Northwest escaped this pattern, with above normal temperatures the first half and below normal the second half, and a net result of above normal for the entire month. Average maximum temperatures were at or below normal every day for the month in Los Angeles, and in fact had been so for 40 consecutive days since May 22nd. No day at the Los Angeles Airport was warmer than 71°F (21.6°C). The average June maximum temperature in downtown Los Angeles was only 0.3°F (0.2°C) above the average for January 2009. In Las Vegas, NV, May 2009 averaged 0.2° F (0.2°C) warmer than June 2009, the first time this had ever happened dating back 100 years.
  • In the West, precipitation was below normal for the northern tier of states, above normal in the central regions, and dry in most portions of the extreme Southwest. It was the wettest June on record (4.00 inches, 101.6 mm) in Pocatello, ID, dating back to 1939, and the 19 days with measurable rain shattered the old June record of 16 set back in 1967. This was the second wettest June at Denver (4.86 inches, 123.4 mm) since records began in 1872. Conversely, the 0.18 inches (4.6 mm) at Seattle-Tacoma Airport was the third driest June on record dating back to 1948. There were 29 consecutive days (May 20th to June 17th) without measureable rain in Seattle, tying the record for a May-June dry spell. Reno NV recorded 12 days with measureable rain, besting by 1 day the June record at the airport location, which extends from 1937, and falling 0.01 inches (0.4 mm) short of the June precipitation record for that site.
  • For more information, please go to the Western Regional Climate Center Home Page.

See NCDC's Monthly Extremes web-page for weather and climate records for the month of May. For additional national, regional, and statewide data and graphics from 1895-present, for May, the last 3 months or other periods, please visit the Climate at a Glance page.

PLEASE NOTE: All of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are provided on the Climate Monitoring Products page and the Climate at a Glance page as they become available.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly National Climate Report for June 2009, published online July 2009, retrieved on May 4, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/national/200906.