June 2012 Climate Data and Forecast Accuracy

Another above average month (temperature-wise) went into the books, though June was not as much above average as several previous months. However, cooler days to start the month were overshadowed by a very hot spell as the month ended. There were three daily temperature records tied or broken during the month, including the 25th (100 degrees - tie), 29th (103), and 30th (102).  The high also reached triple digits (101) on the 28th, though a record was not set.

Precipitation was also well below normal with a total of 1.38" for the month - 91% of that amount fell on just 2 days! The metro is now classified as being in a severe drought, up from a moderate drought at the end of May.

Memphis International Airport, Memphis, TN

The average temperature for the month of June was 80.2 degrees, or 0.6 degrees above normal. The average high temperature was 90.6 degrees and the average low was 69.9. The coolest temperature of the month was 58 degrees on the 2nd, while the highest temperature was 103 degrees on the 29th (one degree shy of the all-time record for the month of June).  There were 18 days in which the high reached 90 degrees or higher and 4 days in which the high reached 100.  All below average daily temperatures for the month occurred in the first 2 weeks of June.

Precipitation for the month totaled 1.38", which was 2.25" below average. 91% of the rainfall for the month fell on 2 calendar days (0.86" on the 4th and 0.39" on the 11th) and there was no rainfall recorded after the 12th.  There were only 4 calendar days with measurable rainfall. The peak wind gust was 37mph (from the north in the wake of a derecho) on the 11th with an average wind speed for the month of 7.1 mph. Click here for a daily statistical recap for Memphis International Airport.

Cirrus Weather Solutions, Bartlett, TN

Data from Cirrus Weather Solutions in north Bartlett is incomplete for June as the weather station was taken down for maintenance on May 21 and returned to service on the evening of June 5. The average June temperature at Cirrus Weather Solutions from the 6th through the end of the month was 78.8 degrees with a maximum of 102.2 degrees on the 29th and a minimum of 56.1 degrees on the 27th.  June precipitation, augmented by a manual gauge used for the CoCoRaHS program for the first 5 days of the month, measured 2.14". The measured peak wind gust was 32 mph on the 11th. Average relative humidity was 67% from the 6th through month's end. Click here for a daily recap on MemphisWeather.net.

MWN Forecast Accuracy

For the month of June, the average temperature error in all MWN temperature forecasts was 1.36 degrees, besting all available computer model data. Nearly 85% of the MWN temperature forecasts for the month were within 2 degrees of the actual temperature. MWN's forecasts extend out five periods (or 2.5 days). For dewpoint accuracy, the MWN forecast averaged 2.66 degrees of error and fell within 2 degrees of the actual dewpoint nearly 60% of the time. Historical accuracy statistics can be found here.

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