June temperatures were second highest on record
The dog days of summer seem to be starting earlier.
June temperatures were the second highest ever in the United States and the warmest since June 1933, according to a monthly summary from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The average contiguous U.S. average temperature was 71.4 degrees, 2.9 degrees above the 20th century average.
The hot temperatures are being seen in other parts of the world, including Europe, which is going through a brutal heat wave, and South Asia where the heat has left thousands dead.
Above-average temperatures were widespread in the Western U.S. and along the Southeast coast, where 16 states were much warmer than average. California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington endured record warmth as did several western cities including Boise, Idaho, where the temperature soared to 110 degrees.
The warmer conditions followed a trend that has been building all year. The average contiguous U.S. temperature for the first half of 2015 was 49.5 degrees, 1.9 degrees above the 20th century average, and the 10th warmest January-June on record.
The prolonged warmth took its toll in Alaska, where dryness and lack of winter snow created ideal wildfire conditionswith dozens of large wildfires impacting the central and southern areas of the state during June.
The only bright spot in the monthly summary was that June was wetter than average. The precipitation total for the contiguous U.S was 3.53 inches, 0.60 inches above average. That made it the ninth wettest June on record, and marked the third consecutive month of above-average precipitation for the lower 48 states.
Above-average precipitation was observed in the Southwest, Southern Plains, Ohio Valley, and Northeast, while the Northwest was dry. The wetter conditions in the Northeast and Great Lakes were attributed to suppressed daytime temperatures, while nighttime temperatures were near- to above- average.
In the first six months of the year, the U.S. precipitation total was 16.53 inches, 1.22 inches above the 20th century average, the 19th wettest January-June on record and wettest since 1998. Above-average precipitation was observed across the Great Plains, Southern Rockies, and Midwest where four states were much wetter than average. Texas had its wettest year-to-date on record with 24.04 inches, 10.70 inches above average.
But the wetter conditions didn't extended to the Northwest, where drought conditions worsened due to both record warmth and lack of precipitation. Oregon had its ninth driest June, while Washington had its third driest. Lake Mead, a key source of water for Arizona, Nevada and California, is at record low levels.
According to the June 30 U.S. Drought Monitor report, 25.9 percent of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up from 24.6 percent at the beginning of June. Drought conditions remain dire across California, with 46.7 percent of the state experiencing the worst category of drought.