June 2016 Mid-South Climate Summary

...JUNE 2016 MID-SOUTH CLIMATE SUMMARY...

June 2016 was defined by both abnormal temperatures and precipitation. It was a warm month, with monthly average temperatures between 2.5 and 4.0 degrees above normal as high temperatures frequented the upper 90s throughout the month. Conditions were dry during June, with portions of the region currently classified in abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions in the latest release of the US Drought Monitor product.

Memphis had the greatest average temperature departure from normal for June at 3.6 degrees warmer. With 2016 now half way complete, Memphis is 1.9 degrees warmer than normal for the year, also the greatest departure of the four official sites. Jonesboro had a 3.2 degree average temperature departure above normal for the month, recording the warmest temperature of all four sites with 99.0 degrees. Jonesboro remains 1.7 degrees warmer than normal for the year to date. Tupelo and Jackson both had a 2.7 degree departure above normal for June, with the sites currently at 1.5 and 1.2 degrees above normal for 2016 to date, respectively. Jackson recorded the coolest temperature of the sites this month with 56.0 degrees.

Despite much of north Mississippi being included in some sort of drought categorization, Tupelo received 6.06” of rain during June, or 1.54” above normal. This was of course the greatest of the four official sites, with the site currently just under an inch of rain below normal for the year to date. Memphis only received a little more than an inch of rain for the month, finishing June 2.46” drier than normal. Despite this, Memphis remains 8.35” of precipitation above normal for 2016 to date. Jackson finished June 2.54” drier than normal and remains 0.84” of precipitation below normal for the year to date. Jonesboro had the greatest departure from normal of all four sites with 3.21” below, having received just 0.54” of rain for the month. Nonetheless, Jonesboro remains 7.94” of precipitation above normal for the year to date.

The climate data for June are as follows:

TEMPERATURE DATA:

                               Memphis    Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Average Temperature (MONTH)  :   83.2       78.9      81.0      80.8

Normal Avg. Temp (MONTH)     :   79.6       76.2      77.8      78.1

Departure from Normal (MONTH):    3.6        2.7        3.2       2.7

Average Temperature (YEAR)   :   61.1       57.3      57.7      60.3

Normal Avg. Temp (YEAR)      :   59.2       56.1      56.0      58.8

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :    1.9        1.2        1.7       1.5

Maximum Temperature          :   98.0       97.0      99.0      98.0

Minimum Temperature          :   66.0       56.0      60.0      60.0

PRECIPITATION DATA:

                                Memphis   Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Total Precipitation (MONTH)  :   1.17       2.30      0.54      6.06

Normal Precipitation (MONTH) :   3.63       4.84      3.75      4.52

Departure from Normal (MONTH):  -2.46     -2.54      -3.21      1.54

Total Precipitation (YEAR)   :  36.26     27.54      32.97     28.16

Normal Precipitation (YEAR)  :  27.91     28.38      25.03     29.12

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :   8.35     -0.84      7.94     -0.96

Percent of Normal            :   130%        97%      132%       97%

Notables:

Memphis

#7 Warmest June on Record at 83.2 degrees

Jackson

#9 Warmest June on Record at 78.9 degrees

Jonesboro

#6 Driest June on Record with 0.54”

Climate Outlook:

July and August are typically the warmest months of the year around the region. The lack of sufficient area wide rainfall throughout much of the months of May and June, and the resultant abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions, have made adequate rainfall essential for the coming months. However, the latest climate outlooks are not optimistic for abundant rainfall. Both the 6-10 and 8-14 day outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), which cover through mid-July, depict below normal precipitation totals for most of the region. The current precipitation outlook for the month of July has equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation totals for the entire region. Similarly, the three month precipitation outlook for the region also highlights equal chances for above, near, or below normal values.

Temperatures could be warmer than normal for much of the summer, according to the current climate outlooks from the CPC. The one month outlook for July highlights enhanced odds of above normal temperatures. Likewise, the three month outlook encompassing the months of July, August, and September also depict enhanced odds of above normal temperatures for this time of year.

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