SUBJECT: Late June rains ease water shortfall somewhat
June 1997 St. Cloud weather summary
June 1997 in Saint Cloud turned out to be warmer and drier than normal,
but the dry situation was eased somewhat by last weekend's rainfall. Only
1.07 inches of rain had fallen through June 23, which would have been more
than 3 1/2 inches below normal, but thunderstorms hit the St. Cloud Metro
on the 23rd (.24 inches) and on the 27th and 28th (1.26 inches), bringing the
monthly total to 2.60 inches of rain. Additionally, much of the city of Saint
Cloud and points further west received more rain than that, especially on the
23rd when St. Cloud State University received 1.14 inches and Waite Park
picked up 1.75 inches.
However, the June rainfall total was still 2 inches below normal. The
year to date total rainfall of 7.68 inches is drier than last year's total
of 7.82 inches and 5.21 inches below normal. The 1997 January-June rainfall
total is the 9th driest of the 105 years on record (see table below). More
importantly, the growing season rainfall (since April 1) is only 4.57 inches,
the lowest total since the 1987-88 drought and the 4th driest on record.
The low rainfall this year, combined with the relatively low growing season
rainfall last year, continues to put a stress on area crops and water systems.
June 1997 in Saint Cloud was also a warm one, averaging more than
3 degrees above normal. Since 1971 (25 years), only 4 Junes have been warmer
than June 1997, the last one in 1995.
JUNE STATISTICS JUNE 1997 NORMAL
TEMPERATURE ( F)
Average high temp 81.3 77.4
Average low temp 54.8 52.2
Average temp 68.1 64.8
Hottest high temp for the month 95 on the 23rd
Coolest high temp for the month 73 on the 13th
Warmest low temp for the month 67 on the 23rd,24th
Coolest low temp for the month 46 on the 17th
Records: none
PRECIPITATION (IN) JUNE 1997 NORMAL
Total for month 2.60 4.60
Maximum daily amount .94 on the 28th
TEN LOWEST PRECIPITATION YEARS: JANUARY THROUGH JUNE
SAINT CLOUD RECORDS SINCE 1891
AMOUNT YEAR
5.07 IN 1988
5.18 IN 1900
5.60 IN 1987
6.56 IN 1910
6.76 IN 1934
7.24 IN 1902
7.31 IN 1929
7.55 IN 1921
7.68 IN 1997 <-- 9TH LOWEST ON RECORD
7.82 IN 1996
TEN LOWEST GROWING SEASON RAINFALL YEARS THROUGH JUNE (1 APR-30 JUN)
SAINT CLOUD RECORDS SINCE 1891
AMOUNT YEAR
3.00 IN 1988
3.06 IN 1900
4.36 IN 1987
4.57 IN 1997 <-- 4TH LOWEST ON RECORD
4.69 IN 1929
4.95 IN 1955
5.15 IN 1934
5.27 IN 1910
5.52 IN 1933
5.54 IN 1996
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Bob Weisman, Professor/Meteorologist SUPERVISOR: Shirley (age 5)
Earth Sciences Department PHONE: (320) 255-3247
MS 48 FAX: (320) 255-4262
Saint Cloud State University EMAIL: scsweisman@stcloudstate.edu
720 4th Avenue South (new address)
Saint Cloud, Minnesota 56301-4498
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