The climate report for the Southeast from the Southeastern Regional Climate Center is available below.

Southeast Region: (Information provided by the Southeast Regional Climate Center)

  • Temperatures were near average across much of the Southeast region during June. Only eight long-term (i.e., period of record equaling or exceeding 50 years) stations across the region observed June mean temperatures that were ranked within their five warmest or coolest values on record.  However, well-below-average maximum temperatures and well-above-average minimum temperatures were recorded in portions of the region.  Persistent cloud cover and rainfall during the month suppressed daytime temperatures in Alabama, the western half of Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle.  Indeed, at least 13 long-term stations in these areas observed average maximum temperatures that were ranked within their five coolest June values on record.  Several stations recorded an exceptionally low count of daily maximum temperatures at or above 90 degrees F (32.2 degrees C), including Newnan 7 WNW, GA (1901–2017; tied for third lowest June count with 1 day), Camilla 3 SE, GA (1938–2017; tied for second lowest June count with 3 days), and Tuscaloosa Regional Airport, AL (1948–2017; second lowest June count with 4 days).  For only the seventh time in its 115-year record, Greensboro, NC (1903–2017) did not observe a daily maximum temperature of at least 90 degrees F during June.  At least 15 long-term stations across the Florida Peninsula recorded average minimum temperatures that were ranked within their five warmest values for June, including Miami (1896–2017; third warmest), Tampa (1890–2017; fourth warmest), and Daytona Beach (1923–2017; fifth warmest).  From the 23rd through the 26th, Miami observed four consecutive days with a minimum temperature of 82 degrees F (27.8 degrees C), which is its longest June streak and ties its second longest streak for any month on record.  The warmest weather of the month occurred from the 13th through the 15th, as a moist subtropical air mass stagnated over the Southeast.  Daily maximum temperatures exceeded 85 degrees F (29.4 degrees C) across much of the region, with multiple stations in nearly every state reaching 95 degrees F (35 degrees C) or higher.  In contrast, the coolest weather of the month occurred from the 8th through the 10th and the 26th through the 28th, as continental high pressure systems ushered in unseasonably cool air from the north.  Daily minimum temperatures fell below 70 degrees F (21.1 degrees C) across much of the region north of Florida, and numerous locations in North Carolina and Virginia reached 55 degrees F (12.8 degrees C) or lower.  Mean temperatures were near average to above average across much of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during the month.  In southeastern Puerto Rico, Guayama (1914–2017) tied its third warmest June mean temperature on record.
  • Precipitation was well above normal across much of the Southeast region during June, but a few areas of unusual dryness were also observed. The driest locations were found across portions of northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, where monthly precipitation totals were 25 to 50 percent of normal.  Washington, D.C. (1871–2017) and Washington Dulles International Airport, VA (1960–2017) observed their third and fourth driest June on record, with only 1.13 and 1.28 inches (28.7 and 32.5 mm) of precipitation, respectively.  From the 1st through the 15th, Washington, D.C. tied its second longest June streak of 15 consecutive days with no measurable precipitation.  In contrast, the wettest locations were found across much of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Upstate and coastal South Carolina, central North Carolina, and south-central Virginia.  Monthly precipitation totals ranged from 150 to over 400 percent of normal in these areas.  There were at least 23 stations in Florida and 5 in Alabama that recorded 20 inches (508 mm) of precipitation or greater during the month, including the two highest totals of 29.20 inches (742 mm) at Gonzalez 2.1 E, FL and 27.20 inches (691 mm) at Everglades City 5 NE, FL.  Ocala, FL (1893–2017), Pensacola, FL (1880–2017), and Montgomery, AL (1873–2017) observed or tied their highest count of June days with measurable precipitation, at 28, 22, and 19 days, respectively.  At least 21 long-term stations, with 16 located in Alabama and Florida, observed June precipitation totals that were ranked within their three highest values on record, including Chatom, AL (1950–2017; 21.73 inches, 552 mm), Pensacola, FL (20.73 inches, 527 mm), Camilla 3 SE, GA (1938–2017; 11.47 inches, 291 mm), and Greensboro, NC (1903–2017; 9.94 inches, 252 mm).  Numerous heavy rainfall and flash flooding events occurred across the region during the month.  From the 5th through the 7th, several rounds of training thunderstorms produced extreme rainfall across much of southern Florida.  Some of the highest 3-day precipitation totals included 20.64 inches (524 mm) at a Boca West CWOP station in Palm Beach County, 17.37 inches (441 mm) at the Marco Island COOP station in Collier County, and 15.75 inches (400 mm) at a Pompano Beach CoCoRaHS station in Broward County.  On the 6th, Everglades City 5 NE, FL (2007–2017) recorded 14.85 inches (377 mm) of precipitation, which corresponds to an average recurrence interval of approximately 200 years at this location.  Flooded roads with stalled vehicles were reported on Marco Island, while the airport in Everglades City was temporarily closed due to flooding.  On the 10th, a nearly stationary thunderstorm caused flash flooding in Ocala, FL, with a National Weather Service spotter measuring 4.62 inches (117 mm) of rainfall in less than 30 minutes.  About 15 vehicles were submerged in several feet of floodwater, and one vehicle was swallowed by a 25-foot-deep sinkhole.  From the 19th through the 23rd, Tropical Storm Cindy produced 4 to more than 10 inches (102 to more than 254 mm) of rainfall across much of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, as well as portions of northern Georgia.  Widespread road flooding was reported in these areas, and nearly 50 people in Atlanta, GA were displaced from their apartment building, which partially collapsed after floodwater eroded its foundation.  Some of the highest 5-day precipitation totals were recorded at the following CoCoRaHS stations: 10.70 inches (272 mm) at Navarre 2.1 WNW, FL, 10.44 inches (265 mm) at Tuscaloosa 4.4 SE, AL, and 7.15 inches (182 mm) at Stephens 4.2 WSW, GA.  Pensacola, FL observed its fifth highest 2-day and sixth highest 3-day precipitation totals on record for June, with 7.83 inches (199 mm) from the 20th through the 21st and 8.53 inches (217 mm) from the 19th through the 21st.  On the 21st, a 10-year-old boy was killed at a beachfront home in Fort Morgan, AL, as a high wave from Cindy’s storm surge knocked a wooden log into him.  Precipitation was highly variable across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during June, with well-above-normal amounts in northwestern Puerto Rico and much-below-normal amounts in southern and central portions of the island.
  • There were 416 severe weather reports across the Southeast during June, which is only 45 percent of the median monthly frequency of 925 reports during 2000–2016. At least one severe weather report was recorded on 24 days during the month, but nearly 65 percent (270 of 416) of the reports were recorded on just four of these days (13th, 15th, 19th, and 23rd).  Strong thunderstorm winds accounted for nearly 95 percent (388 of 416) of the severe weather reports during June and were responsible for 4 injuries across the region.  On the 15th, a squall line produced wind gusts ranging from 30 to over 50 mph across broad portions of northern and east-central Alabama, as well as northwestern Georgia.  Some of the highest recorded wind gusts included 54 mph at Huntsville International Airport, AL, 53 mph at Anniston Regional Airport, AL, and 49 mph at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.  Widespread downed trees and power lines damaged numerous homes and vehicles in these areas, with 3 injuries occurring in Alabama.  A total of 9 tornadoes (1 unrated, 4 EF-0s, 4 EF-1s) were confirmed across the region during the month, which is slightly more than half the median frequency of 16 tornadoes observed during June.  Six of the tornadoes, including 4 in Alabama and 2 in Florida, were spawned in the outer rainbands of Tropical Storm Cindy from the 20th through the 22nd.  On the 22nd, an EF-1 tornado damaged several homes and businesses along an 8.3-mile track in Jefferson County, AL, with 4 injuries reported in the city of Fairfield (located less than 10 miles from downtown Birmingham).  One fatality and 7 injuries were caused by lightning strikes across the region.  Five of the injuries occurred in North Carolina, including 1 person in Charlotte on the 15th and 4 people in Pender County on the 16th.  On the 27th, a construction worker was killed and another was injured by a lightning strike in Pembroke Pines, FL.
  • With the exception of a localized area in northeastern Georgia, drought conditions were completely removed from the region during June. The greatest drought improvement occurred in Florida, which observed its second wettest June since records began in 1895.  Consequently, moderate-to-extreme (D1–D3) drought covering about 72 percent of the state was rapidly removed during the month.  Moderate-to-severe (D1–D2) drought covered about one third of Georgia in early June but was nearly eliminated from the state by the end of the month.  Well-above-average precipitation replenished streamflows, recharged soil moisture, and suppressed lingering wildfires across Florida and southern Georgia.  Pasture conditions continued to improve rapidly in Florida, with many livestock producers no longer having to feed hay or provide water for their herds.  Corn, cotton, peanut, and soybean fields in portions of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle were flooded by heavy precipitation during the month, with some crops needing to be replanted.  The heavy rainfall also leached nutrients from the soil and caused herbicide injury to the crops, which could lead to yield losses in some fields.  While irrigation costs were reduced in some areas, excessive wetness during June delayed winter wheat harvesting, hay cutting, and crop planting across much of the region.  In addition, nutrient and pesticide treatments could not be applied to saturated fields, which increased disease pressure on the crops.  Agricultural producers in southern Georgia were prevented from harvesting several fruit and vegetable products (e.g., sweet corn, watermelon, and tomatoes), resulting in significant damage during a small harvest window for these crops.
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