WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — Sunday started off with showers and storms and plenty of humidity, and Charleston and Huntington marked their 13th day in the month of June reaching 90 degrees.
Consider that June 2023 had one 90-degree day for the entire month. In fact, all of 2023 had only 14 days of 90 or better, and June 2024 came within a day of tying that mark just in itself.
June will go down with an average temperature around 2.5 degrees above normal.
Many recent Junes (including last year) have tended to be average or cooler than average. This June will end up being the warmest since June 2010, which finished in the top 10 warmest June months on record.
However, at the end of today there has been a notable change thanks to a cold front pressing south.
Northerly breezes are drawing in much drier air, and dewpoints have fallen significantly at the end of the day. This cooler, drier air will continue to march south overnight and it will be quite remarkable to step outside Monday morning to readings in the 50s.
The first day of July will feel more like the first day of October, with temperatures only reaching the mid to upper 70s in the afternoon in spite of sunshine.
Enjoy it because summer heat will quickly make a return as winds turn into the south.
Tuesday will climb well into the 80s although humidity will remain comfortable. By Wednesday, the start of Regatta in Charleston, we'll be eclipsing 90 degrees again, although it should be dry for events and the concert in the evening.
After that it could get a bit dicey with a slow moving front approaching by the Fourth of July. This will spell occasional shower and thunderstorm chances from late Wednesday night into the upcoming holiday weekend.
The exact timing of these rounds of rain will be determined as we get closer.