Warmest Start to June Since 1959

Warmest Start to June Since 1959:

Has heat this month so far bothered you? I have heard many complaints about it, especially after experiencing a cooler than normal April and May. The average temperature for the first ten days of June was 5 to 9°F above normal and the warmest since 1959 across Minnesota. In the Twin Cities Climate record back to 1873 only 1959 and 1933 were warmer.

Since June 1st over 80 new daily high maximum and minimum temperature records have been set within the Minnesota climate station network, including a new high minimum temperature of 74°F at MSP on the 8th. Both Milan and Canby set new high minimum temperatures on that date as well with readings of 77°F. Sabin (Clay County), Artichoke Lake (Big Stone County), Milan (Chippewa County), and Morris (Stevens County) all hit 100 degrees F earlier this week, the highest statewide temperatures so far this year. The cool breezes and lower dew points brought by Canadian high pressure on Wednesday and Thursday brought real relief, especially for those engaged in outside activities.

In addition to the heat, the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal brought heavy rains to portions of southeastern Minnesota this week, where there were reports of 2-4 inches of rain. Portions of Fillmore and Winona Counties reported over 4 inches of rain on June 9th. There is a good description of this storm provided by the Minnesota State Climatology Office.

One further note, on June 7-8 severe thunderstorms brought high winds, large hail, and heavy rains to portions of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Lancaster (Kittson County) reported a record 4.70 inches of rainfall. Combined with thunderstorms earlier in the month, some very large June rainfall totals (over 6 inches ) have already been reported from Kittson and Beltrami Counties. So both northwestern and southeastern Minnesota are well above normal for June rainfall to date.

It has also been an unusually windy month of June so far, with six or more days bringing wind gusts over 30 mph.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

On the other hand, the NOAA-National Weather Service at Anchorage, Alaska reports that June has begun with a mixture of slightly above and below normal temperatures this year. A relief for residents there who experience one of the hottest summers in history last year, setting many new temperature records, including the first ever reading of 90°F at Anchorage.

The BBC reported this week that the unusual pattern of warm temperatures that prevailed across Siberia this spring has continued into June. The town of Nizhnyaya Pesha saw temperatures reach 86 degrees F this week, about 30 degrees above normal for this time of year. It is located at 72 degrees North Latitude. In fact all of Siberia is continuing to record a record setting hot year in 2020. This is producing a dangerous wild fire season.


A recent paper from the Earth Institute at Columbia University documents many cases of lethal high heat and humidity that have occurred over the past four decades around the globe, but have not been widely reported. Some areas have seen Heat Index Values soar well above 130°F at times, a level that can be lethal if exposure is very long. You can read more details from Science Daily.

MPR listener question:

We’ve noticed, since the last week of May, what seems to us an unusual amount of wind activity in our Duluth back yard and up the shore. Seems like the lilacs and all the trees in sight are shaking around more vigorously and regularly than we remember. While we haven’t had any record-breaking gusts, the sustained windiness has impressed us. Are we correct in this? Has June been at all notable for wind so far?

Answer:

Yes, your perception is correct. During the last days of May, notably the 28th and 29th average wind speeds in Duluth were higher than normal by 20 percent (historical average is 10.4 mph), with peak gusts well over 30 mph. And for June so far, from the 5th through the 11th average wind speeds have been from 20 to 70 percent greater than normal (historical average is 9.3 mph), and 6 consecutive days saw winds gust to over 30 mph. On June 7th and 10th winds gusted to 40 mph. I might add that this pattern of higher than normal winds has been prevalent across most of the state.

Twin Cities Almanac for June 12th:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 78 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 58 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for June 12th:

MSP records for this date include: highest daily maximum temperature of 95 degrees F in 1956; lowest daily maximum temperature of 51 degrees F in 1929; lowest daily minimum temperature of 39 degrees F in 1877; highest daily minimum temperature of 72 degrees F in 1920; record precipitation of 2.35 inches in 1899. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for June 12th is 55°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 74°F in 1961; and the minimum dew point on this date is 30°F in 1969.

All-time state records for June 12th:

The state record high temperature for this date is 102 degrees F at Crookston (Polk County) in 1893. The state record low temperature for this date is 23 degrees F at Remer (Cass County) in 1985. The state record precipitation for this date is 8.00 inches at Minnesota City (Winona County) in 1899. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Past Weather Features:

June 12, 1893 brought extreme heat to most of Minnesota. Nearly all locations reported high temperatures in the 90s F, while Moorhead and Crookston broke 100 degrees F. Overnight lows did not drop below the mid 70s F, making sleeping very difficult.

June 11-13, 1899 brought a series of heavy thunderstorms to many parts of the state, especially southeastern Minnesota where 6-9 inches of rain fell. There were widespread flashfloods and mudslides. Minnesota City (Winona County) later reported a remarkable June rainfall total of 14.35 inches.

Campers in northern Minnesota awoke to one of the coldest ever June 12th mornings in 1985 with temperatures in the 30s F across most of the northern third of the state. Those in Cass, Lake, St Louis, and Carlton Counties appreciated a hot cup of coffee that morning as lows ranged in the mid to high 20s F.

Outlook:

Generally sunny, dry and pleasant with near normal temperatures over the weekend. Clouds will increase with a chance for showers on Monday and a warming trend starting. Temperatures will generally run 10 to 15 degrees F warmer than normal much of next week, with another chance for showers later on Wednesday and into Thursday.