June 2020: Persistent ridge conditions gave us many days of northwest flow. This allowed a few weak fronts to move into the area with upslope conditions. Also occasionally moist flow from the southwest enhanced the development of afternoon mountain showers. A strong low pressure system moved in on the 18-19th and gave us the bulk of our precipitation (0.86in). The rest of the ten remaining events were generally below 0.1 inch. One event of note on the 8-9th was a half an inch of snow,  rare for June in recent years. With a lack of cool air moving in we ended 5 degrees above normal, the second month in a row with excessive warmth. 

Precipitation: Rainfall totaled 1.3 inches, below the average of 1.79. So far Boulder County has escaped a drought designation. The vegetation seems green and lush. As mentioned we had a half inch of snow, near the long term average of 0.8 inches.

Temperature:  Another warmer than normal month with an average high of 75F and a low of 45F. These combined to make the month 5 degrees above normal. 

Winds:  Four windy ( 40mph+) days, none which exceeded 60mph…..very near normal.

Other Features: The scattered nature of the thunderstorms didn’t deliver substantial rain to very many locations. It seemed like we continuously got missed.

Outlook for July:  July is typically a wet month (2.76 in) dependent on the establishment of a steady monsoon flow from the southwest. Early indications are that such a flow will be possible for the first two weeks perhaps bringing 6-7 days of scattered thunderstorms. Average temperatures that go from 77F to 47F, will be warmer than normal. July is a month with significant fire danger given a dry June…..so stay alert.

(Originally published in the July 9, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)