June 2026 – Warm and Dry Across Delaware

June Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in June was 74.5^o F, which is 1.9^o F above the 1991-2020 average value of 72.6^o F (Figure 1).  June 2026 was the 7^th warmest June since observations began in 1895.  At the Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown Airports (Figures 2a, 2b, 2c), the month began with very warm temperatures featuring highs in the 90s at each station on the 4^th and 5th.  A second heatwave gripped the state on the 11^th and 12^th as all three stations reached daily high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s. 

June Precipitation

Delaware’s statewide precipitation for June 2026 averaged 2.83 inches, 1.26 inches below the 1991-2020 average of 4.09 inches (Figure 3).  June 2026 was tied with 1950 as the 42^nd driest June since observations began in 1895. June was also the 11^th month in a row with at or below normal precipitation across Delaware.

Statewide Spatial Anomalies

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that temperatures varied depending upon location across the State, with most stations seeing positive departures of 1^o – 2^o F (Figure 4).  Precipitation was uniformly below normal across New Castle and Kent counties, while some locations across Sussex County experienced slightly positive precipitation departures (Figure 5).

National Anomalies

Temperatures were above or near normal across all of the United States except eastern portions of Montana (Figure 6).  The largest positive temperature anomalies were found across the southwestern portions of the country.  Precipitation was significantly above normal across much of the Mississippi Valley (Figure 7), while large negative precipitation anomalies dominated much of the Atlantic Coast.  In general, the western one-third of the country saw precipitation near or just below normal.

Global Anomalies

June 2026 was the 2^nd warmest June on record for the globe since 1850.  Global temperatures were 1.96^o F above the 1901-2000 mean.  Of particular note this month were the record warm temperatures across most of Europe.  Western Asia and Canada also saw very warm conditions during the month (Figure 8).

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