June 2018 weather recap: Another warm, dry month

The running theme so far for 2018 seems to be warmer than normal temperatures and drier that average conditions.  That trend continued in June for Thornton.

Like May, June was somewhat a tale of two halves.  The first half of the month was marked by very dry conditions with no precipitation until the 16th of the month. Similarly, overall temperatures trended well above normal during the first half of June.

While the warm and dry conditions were notable, the most memorable weather event came on the evening of the 18th when large hail pounded the northern half of Thornton.  Extensive damage to homes and vehicles was seen as hailstones pushing 2 inches in diameter struck.

The month also featured Thornton’s hottest mercury reading in six years. We saw a high of 102.4 degrees on the 28th.  You have to go back to June 25, 2012 to find a warmer reading (102.9). Additionally, the reading ties for the second warmest high temperature ThorntonWeather.com has recorded since coming online in 2007.

Thornton saw an overall average temperature for the month of 71.3 degrees. This was well above the 30 year average June temperature for Denver of 67.4 degrees. Out at DIA where Denver’s official measurements are taken, it was even warmer with an average for the month of 72.4 degrees.

Temperatures ranged from a high of 102.4 degrees on the 28th down to a low of 46.8 degrees on the morning of the 25th.  The Mile High City saw it warmest reading of 105 on the 28th as well and its coldest reading of 44 degrees on the 2nd.

The National Weather Service reports that June 2018 will go into the books as the seventh warmest June on record for Denver.  Additionally, three days saw record tying or setting highs. The 5th brought a record high of 95 degrees, the 6th saw a record-tying high of 95 degrees and the 105 degree reading on the 28th was a record for that date.

Denver averages 1.98 inches of precipitation during the month of June. Both Thornton and Denver fell short of that mark.  Thornton saw 1.28 inches fall in its rain bucket while at the airport, it was even drier with only 0.43 inches.

Click here to view Thornton’s June 2018 climate report.

June 2018 temperature summary chart for Thornton, Colorado. (ThorntonWeather.com)
June 2018 temperature summary chart for Thornton, Colorado. (ThorntonWeather.com)
June 2018 precipitation summary chart for Thornton, Colorado. (ThorntonWeather.com)
June 2018 precipitation summary chart for Thornton, Colorado. (ThorntonWeather.com)
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
320 PM MDT SUN JUL 1 2018

...................................

...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2018...

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2018

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART  LAST YEAR`S
                 VALUE   DATE(S)  VALUE   FROM    VALUE  DATE(S)
                                          NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH             105   06/28/2018
                        06/26/2012
                        06/25/2012
 LOW               30   06/02/1951
HIGHEST           105R  06/28       104       1       99  06/20
LOWEST             44   06/02        30      14       42  06/13
AVG. MAXIMUM     88.8              82.4     6.4     85.5
AVG. MINIMUM     56.0              52.3     3.7     53.6
MEAN             72.4              67.4     5.0     69.5
DAYS MAX >= 90     16               7.9     8.1        9
DAYS MAX <= 32      0               0.0     0.0        0
DAYS MIN <= 32      0               0.0     0.0        0
DAYS MIN <= 0       0               0.0     0.0        0

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM         4.96   1882
 MINIMUM            T   1890
TOTALS           0.43              1.98   -1.55     0.33
DAILY AVG.       0.01              0.07   -0.06     0.01
DAYS >= .01         5               8.4    -3.4        5
DAYS >= .10         2               4.6    -2.6        2
DAYS >= .50         0               1.4    -1.4        0
DAYS >= 1.00        0               0.3    -0.3        0
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL    0.25   06/17 TO 06/17

SNOWFALL (INCHES)
TOTAL             0.0               0.0
RECORD            0.4   1919

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL       9                62     -53       25
 SINCE 7/1       5410              6058    -648     5109
COOLING TOTAL     241               133     108      167
 SINCE 1/1        289               155     134      173

FREEZE DATES
RECORD
 EARLIEST     09/08/1962
 LATEST       06/08/2007
EARLIEST                        10/07
LATEST                          05/05
.................................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              10.5
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION   1/129
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    40/240    DATE  06/05
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    57/160    DATE  06/27

SKY COVER
AVERAGE SKY COVER               0.40
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR               11
NUMBER OF DAYS PC                 16
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY              3

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)              42

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORMS            12   MIXED PRECIP           0
HEAVY RAIN                2   RAIN                   5
LIGHT RAIN                5   FREEZING RAIN          0
LT FREEZING RAIN          0   HAIL                   0
HEAVY SNOW                0   SNOW                   0
LIGHT SNOW                0   FOG W/VIS <=1/4 MILE   1
FOG                       5   HAZE                   2

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

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