June Welcomes the Start of Summer

NOAA's Temperature Outlook for June 2016

Following the coolest May since 2005 and wettest since 2009, Washingtonians are optimistic that the dry and warm weather that dominated the final week of May continues into June.  June is the first month of meteorological summer and the Nation’s Capital sees average highs climb markedly.  On June 1, the average high/low temperatures at National Airport are 80 and 61 degrees, while the averages at Dulles Airport are 79 and 55 degrees.  However, by June 30^, the average highs climb to 87 at National and 86 at Dulles. 

The hottest June temperature on record in the Nation’s Capital occurred on June 29, 2012 when it soared to 104 degrees at National Airport and 102 degrees at Dulles Airport.  The coolest June temperature in Washington, D.C. is 43 degrees that occurred on June 2, 1897, while at Dulles it was 36 on June 8, 1977.  June averages 3.13” of rain at National Airport and 4.07” at Dulles Airport.

There have been a number of significant June severe weather outbreaks in the DC Metro Region during the last ten years.  On June 4, 2008 there were dozens of severe weather reports in the Mid-Atlantic Region including tornadoes, large hail (1” in diameter or more) and wind gusts greater than 58 mph.  Four years later on June 1, 2012, there was another significant severe weather outbreak with over two dozen tornadoes from Pennsylvania to Virginia.  A year later on June 13, 2013 three relatively weak tornadoes developed in Maryland – including two in rural parts of Montgomery County.

  

June also marks the beginning of the hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean Basin – which includes the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.  Although June is commonly a quiet month in the tropics, destructive storms can form this early in the season.  For example, the remnants of Hurricane Agnes caused some of the most significant flooding on record in the Mid-Atlantic Region in June 1972.  However, June hurricanes are relatively rare with only four occurring in the Atlantic during the 44 years since Agnes.

Eight of the last ten June’s have been warmer than average in Washington, D.C., with triple digit heat occurring in three consecutive June’s starting in 2010.  Meanwhile, three of the five wettest June’s on record have occurred since 2006.  However, NOAA announced there is an equal chance for above or below normal temperatures and precipitation in the DC Metro Region this month.