For the sixth consecutive month, and the tenth month out of the last
twelve, the Junction City area experienced above average temperatures. For
the second consecutive month, however, we also experienced below normal
rainfall which is somewhat concerning as we head into the heat of summer.
The average daily high during June was 85.6 degrees, 1.3 degrees above
normal. The average overnight low was 67.6, 5.2 degrees above normal. This
gave us a monthly mean temperature of 76.6, 3.2 degrees above normal. For
the first six months of the year we are 5.0 degrees above the long term
average. The highest temperature for the month was 95 degrees on the 17th
and the 20th. The lowest temperature for June was 57 degrees on the 23rd.
There were no new temperature records set in June however the overnight
low of 75 on the 12th and the 13th tied the record high lows for both of
those days. The low of 75 on the 12th was first set in 1952 and reached
again in 1990. The low of 75 on the 12th was set in 1950. The hottest June
on record was in 1953 when we had a monthly mean temperature of 83
degrees. The coldest June was in 1982 with a comfortable monthly mean
temperature of only 67.8.
June is historically our wettest month of the year but for a second
straight month we failed to reach average. Normal rainfall for June is
4.80 inches. Milford Lake received 3.92 inches of rain and Junction City
4.40 inches. Significant rains were reported on the 1st of June and then
the last few days of the month. In between those two we had warm and dry
condtions. While this was convenient for the wheat harvest, it did slow
row crop development and concern was rising until the late month rains
fell. Thanks to some wet months earlier in the year we are still ahead of
normal for the year. Normal year to date rainfall for the first six months
of the year is 16.65 inches. Milford Lake has received 21.83 inches in
2017 and Junction City 19.13 inches. The wettest June on record was 1965
when 11.90 inches of rain fell. The driest was the very next year, 1966,
when 0.20 inches of rain was all that fell!
July is our hottest month of the year. Average daily highs during July are
in the low 90s and overnight lows are in the 67 to 68 degree ranges. If
you look at the raw data over the past 70 years, the hottest day of the
year has been July 18th, with the 17th and 19th coming in 2nd and 3rd. We
normally expect that once we get past then temperatures slowly start to
decline into early September, but that is on average. Every year is
different! The highest temperatures ever recorded in the Junction City
area occurred in July of 1954. For three consecutive days that month, 12th
to the 14th, the mercury hit 114 degrees. The daily high hit triple digits
on 18 days in July of 1954 and the average daily high for the month was
101.8 degrees. Rainfall starts to decline in July with long term average
rainfall of 4.07 inches for the month.
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Chuck Otte
County Extension Agent, Ag & Natural Resources
Geary County Extension Office