Paul Ruekberg, NewsWatch Dallas
North Texas has finally seen an end to the hottest June in 31 years.
June's average high temperature concluded at 97.6º and ranks No. 4 for the highest maximum temperature in Dallas-Fort Worth since that infamous hottest summer ever in 1980 (69 days of triple-digit heat at DFW Airport).
The monthly mean temperature calculated to 86.8º which ranks No. 3 for the highest average temperature.
Sultry mornings led to a No. 4 spot for the warmest low temperatures at 75.9º.
June - Highest Maximum
Rank Temperature Year
1 99.5 1980
2 98.5 1953
3 98.2 1911
4 97.6 2011*
5 96.7 2008
6 96.6 1952
6 96.6 1934
8 96.4 2010
9 96.2 1977
10 95.9 1998
June - Highest Average
Rank Temperature Year
1 87.5 1953
2 87.0 1980
3 86.8 2011*
4 86.5 2010
4 86.5 2008
6 86.0 1934
7 85.9 1911
8 85.5 1998
9 85.3 1952
9 85.3 1925
June - Highest Minimum
Rank Temperature Year
1 76.6 2010
2 76.5 1953
3 76.3 2008
4 75.9 2011*
5 75.5 1925
6 75.3 1934
7 75.0 1998
8 74.4 1980
9 73.9 1994
9 73.9 1952
9 73.9 1911
June 2011 also finished tied for No. 6 on the National Weather Service Greatest 100º Days by Month list with seven. The 2011 high temperature stands at 104º on the official thermometer at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
"Although it is hot here, it has been worse across parts of West Texas where all-time record highs were set (June 26) ... 111 degrees at Amarillo, 113 degrees at Borger, 110 degrees at Dalhart," stated the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. Childress also tied a record of 117 degrees.
With the drought spreading like wildfire, North Texas welcomed a storm-soaker on the first day of summer. It wasn't a drought-buster, but a short wave upper-level disturbance sparked a severe thunderstorm over Dallas during the early morning hours on June 21.
A record 2.84 inches poured into the rain gauge at DFW Airport (previous record was 1.07 in 1926). This marked the wettest June day since 1989. And it became the first official precipitation since May 24, a streak of 27 straight days without any measurable rain.
"Congratulations Texas residents, you are witnessing history," said Victor Murphy, climate service program manager for the NWS in Fort Worth. "The last nine months (October 2010-June 2011) will go down in the record books as the driest consecutive nine-month period on record in Texas."
Editor's note: Paul Ruekberg is a Dallas-based independent journalist covering national and local news, sports and weather tracking/climatology for Dallas/Fort Worth. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society.
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