1. A rare heat burst occurred in Hastings, NE between 1120 and 1140 pm on June 3, 2002 as an area of high based showers moved overhead. Rainfall from these showers evaporated on the way down through the atmosphere, this cooler air started to sink and was then was compressionally warmed. Temperatures rose from 85 degrees F. at 10:00 pm to a record 100 degrees F. at 11:35 pm. This broke the old record of 99 degrees F which was set earlier in the afternoon, the previous record for the date was 94 degrees F. set in 1973.
2. The high temperature at Bismarck, ND on June 29th, 2002 was 111 degrees F. This not only broke the daily record of 100 set in 1931 it is also a new record all time high temperature for the station for the month of June. The old June record was 107 set in 1988 and 1921. The 111 degree F temperature is also the second hottest temperature recorded at the station. The all time record high is 114 degrees F. recorded on July 6th, 1936. The high temperature at Flasher, ND of 112 degrees F. (on June 29th) if verified, would be a new record ND high for the month of June, breaking the old June record of 111 degrees F set at Coal Harbor in 1910.
1. On June 8, 2002 2.30 inches of rain fell at Cut Bank, MT. This broke the daily record of 1.98 inches set in 1964. This was also the seventh highest daily total ever at Cut Bank and the most rain to fall at the station in a single day since 2.43 inches of rain fell on June 20, 1991. The highest daily total for the station is 2.80 inches of rain which fell on June 7, 1924.
2. The first six months of 2002 were the driest on record at Phoenix, AZ. The precipitation from January 1st through June 30th, 2002 was just 0.19 inches. The old record for driest Jan-June period was in 1904 when 0.49 inches of rain fell. In 1972, only a trace of precipitation fell during the first five months of the year but then 1.7 inches of rain fell at the airport in June.
3. At San Diego (Lindbergh Field) , the 2001-02 seasonal rainfall for Jau -June 2002, is just 3.02 inches. That is the lowest seasonal total since records began back in 1850-1851. The previous seasonal rainfall total was 3.46 inches set in 1960-1961 and the average seasonal value is 10.77 inches. Every month, this season, has had below normal rainfall and no month has exceeded 0.99 inches. Lindbergh Field has now gone 16 consecutive months with no month exceeding a total of one inch of rain which is a record as well. However, the 1.58 inches of rain recieved during the Jan -June 2002 season is not the driest for the 6th month period. The calendar year rainfall of 1972 holds that record with a meager 0.67 inches for the same period. However, record seasonal dryness is impacting most of extreme southern California and the following stations also reported record mimimum seasonal rainfall: Borrego Desert Park, Santa Ana Fire Station, Palm Springs and Big Bear Lake.
4. Rapid City, SD received just 0.42 inches of rain in June 2002. This is the driest June since records began in 1888. The previous dry June was back in 1898 when 0.50 inches of rain was recorded.
