June another nice month weather-wise
Across Southwestern Pennsylvania June is another of my favorites.
Although June 1st does begin the first day of meteorological summer, the intense heat and humidity of summer usually hold off across our area until July and August. Morning temperatures average 54 on the first and 62 by month’s end. Afternoons average 77 on the first and 84 by the end of the month.
June has only two days of 90 degrees or better on average, however last year and 2024 saw six 90-degree days. Records are 33 and 97.
Most June days are sunny and pleasant. Rainfall is more of the afternoon showery type and averages 4.29 inches. Our wettest June saw 10.96 inches and Hurricane Agnes in 1972 produced 4.34 inches on the 23rd when it caused widespread flooding in Pennsylvania.
Agnes produced 20.45 inches of rain near York, and killed 120 in our state with damages of almost $13 billion.
Agnes was interesting from another standpoint in that the storm formed in an El Nino weather pattern in the Gulf of Mexico crossed the Florida Peninsula and then dumped her heavy rains from Virginia into Pennsylvania.
Hurricane Allison in 2001 was a similar Gulf storm in an El Nino year that flooded 70,000 homes in Texas, killing 41 people, and was second to Agnes in costly damages.
A strong El Nino weather pattern is developing this season and these usually mean less Atlantic Basin hurricanes, and with very warm waters already in the Gulf it is feared storms could brew in these warm waters and bring an early start to the hurricane season.
Closer to home it looks like the rains of late May are over and the first 10 days of June should be mostly dry and pleasant with temperatures a bit on the cool side.
Since the first half of May was dry, the month did end up at 4.87 inches. Normal is 4.19 inches. This is getting us off to a good growing season although lots of damage occurred with the April frost and freeze.
Weather records in Uniontown go back to 1913 and on June 7, 1926 and again on the 18th in 1929 a few wet snow flakes are in the record books.
Another nice thing about June is the amount of daylight as we experience the long days and short nights. Enjoy!