By Jim Noel
Weather map week of June 24
After a really wet period last week and even some flooding in northwest Ohio, we will be seeing a switch toward hotter weather and a drier window from Thursday into the weekend.
We have had a few hot bursts this summer but nothing like the stretch ahead. So far May and June have been warmer and wetter than normal in most places. It looks like after one more round of showers and a few storms the middle of this week it will turn hot for the end of June. This heat will last into the first half of July before relaxing some for the second half of July. There may a a day or two break from time to time during the warm weather the next few weeks but above normal temperatures will rule into July.
Rainfall also looks to relax more toward the normal range but with longer stretches of dryness mixed in with the wetness.
The outlook for the remainder of June calls for temperatures to average 3-5 degrees above normal. Rainfall will average 0.50-1.0 inches for the last week of June which is close to normal or slightly below normal. The outlook for the first week of July calls for temperatures to average 6-8 degrees above normal with highs mostly 85-95. Lows will be 65-75. Rainfall will average 0.25 to 1.00 inches which again is normal to below normal for most of Ohio. The outlook for the rest of July (weeks 2-4) calls for temperatures 1-3 degrees above normal and rainfall of 1-4 inches. Normal highs in Ohio are 80-85 and normal lows are 60-65. Rainfall normally average near 1 inch per week.
Looking further ahead in the growing season and harvest season, it appears August will still see slightly above normal temperatures and slightly below normal rainfall. September looks near normal temperatures and normal or slightly wetter than normal. Finally, October appears to be about normal temperatures and slightly drier than normal. For the latest 2 weeks rainfall predictions, see the graphic from the NOAA/NWS/Ohio River Forecast Center using the North American Ensemble Forecasting System average rainfall.