Record June: 'A crazy, historic, hot month'

Propelled by the ongoing heat wave, last month wrapped up as Kalispell’s hottest June on record as well as the sixth-driest.

At press time Tuesday, the average temperature for the month wasn’t final at Glacier Park International Airport, where the National Weather Service maintains its official weather gauges.

But Bob Nestor, senior meteorologist at the agency’s Missoula office, was certain it would be the warmest June on the books, which date back to 1899.

“We were tied [Sunday] with 1961, and we leapfrogged that by 0.3 degrees. So yeah, this will be our hottest June on record,” he said. “It’s just been a crazy, historic, hot month.”

The previous warmest June was 1961 averaged 64.4 degrees, compared with the normal 58.3 degrees. Excluding Tuesday, this June’s average temperature was 64.7 degrees.  

Three daily high temperature records were set: June 8 at 94 degrees, June 27 at 97 degrees and June 28 at 102 degrees. June 9 and 11 tied existing records at 95 and 90 degrees, respectively.

Tuesday was the eighth 90-plus day in the month. That also breaks the previous record set in 1974.

June 2015 was also the driest for the Flathead Valley since 1977.

Scattered thunderstorms swept through Northwest Montana between Sunday night and Monday night, but deposited only trace amounts of rain at the airport gauge — not enough to count as measurable precipitation.

Nestor said Libby, Troy, Eureka and West Glacier got less than 0.05 inches and the “big winner” was Whitefish with 0.08 inches.

June’s official rainless streak stands at 27 consecutive days. The previous record was set in 1955 when the airport went 15 days without any rainfall.

Kalispell registered 0.6 inches of rain in June, compared with an average 2.56 inches.

As of Tuesday, Kalispell was 2.74 inches behind on precipitation since Jan. 1 but only 0.66 inches below the norm for the water year, which began Oct. 1, 2014.

There’s little relief in the forecast.

Temperatures above 90 degrees are expected every day through Independence Day, with a minor dip to 88 degrees predicted for Sunday. However, Monday could be back up to 93.

Today is expected to hit 91 degrees, shy of the 92-degree record set in 1987.

Thursday is forecast to reach 95 degrees, which would tie the 1924 record.

Friday could continue to climb to a record-breaking 96 degrees. On July 3, 1922,  the mercury hit 94.

The high on the Fourth of July is predicted to hit 93. The record high for July 4 is 95 in 2001.

The longest run of over-90-degree days in Kalispell began in mid-July 1960 and lasted 12 straight days.

If Weather Service predictions hold true, this week’s scorching streak should reach nine days on Independence Day.

Reporter Samuel Wilson may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.