Climate Change: Rochester Drowns in June – 8th Wettest/19th Coolest In 139 Years of Weather Records
The June climate summary is now in from the National Weather Service office for greater Rochester and it speaks to one issue — rain. It just doesn’t seem to stop, particularly during the second half of June with storm after storm.
June was a tale of two months in the Rochester area. It started out with a continuation of the preceding spring months with quiet and pleasant conditions for its first half, but then turned very unsettled and stormy during its second half. This was especially true during the final week when repeated storms brought excessive rainfall across the region. Overall, Rochester had its 8th wettest and 19th coolest June in its 139 years of weather records.
The average temperature of 63.5 was 2.3 degrees cooler than average. There were no extremes or records, but very consistent temperatures. Nineteen of the month’s first 21 days averaged normal or a little below, which was finally balanced out a bit by six consecutive warm days from June 22-27th. This period featured the only humid period of the month, the bulk of which was very comfortable in the temperature department. In fact, only two days reached the 80s this June in Rochester, matching 1889 with the fewest 80 degree days ever in June. Normally the city gets 13 such days during the month.
Rainfall was the big story of the month. It totaled 6.25 inches, nearly double the normal of 3.36 inches. Even more fell across the northern and eastern portions of the metro area, with up to 8 inches reported. The month started out deceivingly dry, with no rain until the 8th and just 1.25 inches through the 16th. But two very wet periods ensued: with 2.84 inches falling from the 17th-20th and another 2.01 inches from the 26th-30th.
The unsettled weather of the final week took its toll on our usual abundant June sunshine. The monthly total, as measured at nearby Buffalo and considered representative for Rochester, of 54% was 11% shy of normal and the least for June in nine years. It also ended a streak of unusually sunny months which began in January. Still, sunshine was no stranger as 12 days were mostly sunny while nine were mostly cloudy during the month.
The month’s first half was quiet, mild, and dry. Ground moisture was becoming short. Then the pattern changed with a very wet period from June 17-20th. Three of the four days had no sun at all, a rarity in June here. Up to two inches of rain caused some local flooding across eastern suburbs of Irondequoit, Brighton, Pittsford, Webster, Penfield, and East Rochester on June 17, with a similar amount area wide on June 20th. The 1.58 inches on June 20th at the Rochester airport was an all-time daily record. After a taste of summer for a few days, violent storms raked the area on the 26th with hail and over two inches of rain closer to Lake Ontario resulting in urban flooding. More heavy rains during the afternoon of June 30th caused additional street flooding. The month ended with the area under a cool unsettled pattern.
Summing up, a good start but an ugly finish to June in Rochester.
