June 2021: After a cool first few days, an upper level ridge moved in and stagnated, producing over two weeks of temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal. Coupled with hardly any rain we were looking at a severe fire hazard. It is rare to have temperatures over 90F in June. We ended up with three days over 90F and three more in the upper 80s. By June 21 the high shifted to the northwest (causing blistering record highs over the Pacific Northwest) generating a low over us with attendant disturbed weather: showers and thunderstorms. Rain from June 21 to June 30 totaled 1.92 inches with more to the east. The monsoon made its arrival bringing welcome rain to the entire state and impacting the existing major fires.

Temperature: Holy smokes….this was a warm one with an average high of 77F and an average low of 47F. This combined to make the month six degrees above normal, quite extreme. We had our warmest June in 2012, a big fire year, and several other years (2002, 2006, 2016 and 2018) warmer than this year. Our highest high temperature was 93F on June 14 and 15. The lowest low was 32F on the first day of the month. Our lowest high was 55F on a rainy June 26.

Precipitation: It looked really bad for the first few weeks with only a quarter of an inch of rain. The rain started on June 21 with rain every day from June 24 through June 30. When the dust (and the pine pollen) settled we had 2.28 inches for the month. This was half an inch above normal. The big day was June 26 with 0.71 inches. We had several thunderstorms over the week.

Winds: No days exceeded 40 mph. Normally we see about three.

Other Features: That nasty upper level high kept the mountain west with searing temperatures most of the month. These shifted to the Pacific Northwest where even western Oregon and Washington and even British Columbia had highs of 110F to 115F.

Outlook for July: It looks like the summer monsoon should hold on for the first 10 days of the month bringing scattered afternoon thunderstorms over the state. Mid month the ridge shifts to the west and we’ll see north westerly flow aloft promising more organized storms every few days. After that the pattern will allow a big warm up and drier conditions. Average high on a July day is 77F with an average low of 47F. With a good monsoon we’ll see 2.68 inches of rain.