June 2003 was dominated by slow moving
synoptic weather systems. The month
began with a very moist low-pressure system from the Gulf States off to the
southwest. On the 2nd, this
system reached the western border of the state and brought more of the
cloudiness, coolness, and rain that marked the previous month. More than one inch of rain fell in Eastern
Pennsylvania as this system slowly made its way through the state over the next
three days.
As this low-pressure system moved out of the
area, another system in Canada prevented the weather from being enjoyable. Although temperatures reached normal, this
low-pressure area caused cloudiness and an inch of rain in the western part of
the state. On the 12th,
another low-pressure system entered the region from the Ohio Valley. Once in Pennsylvania, this system stalled
for several days before moving south on the 15th. Again, more than an inch of rain fell in the
eastern half of the state.
Seasonable temperatures and clear skies
finally came to the state on the 16th. Unfortunately, a short-wave trough from the Gulf States would
push the high-pressure ridge associated with this good weather out of the way
quickly. Fortunately however, this
trough of low pressure stalled south of the Commonwealth and, although cloudy
and cool, only trace amounts of precipitation fell.
Finally, on the 23rd, high
pressure moved in and persisted for several days. With the largest possible amount of daylight occurring at this
time of the year, the clear skies allowed for maximum surface heating. Temperatures finally soared above normal
throughout the state. The June 2003
statewide high temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit was observed at the
Franklin Institute in Philadelphia on the 26th and in York Haven on
the 27th. The month ended
with normal temperatures and small amounts of precipitation as a weak cold
front slowly passed through the state beginning on the 27th.
In general, June 2003 was cool and very
soggy. The following table demonstrates
how many days of the month precipitation was observed in several major
cities.
Table 1: The Number
of Rainy Days in June for Selected Cities
|
|
Number
of Days in June |
|
City |
With
Precipitation |
|
Harrisburg |
19 |
|
Philadelphia |
18 |
|
Pittsburgh |
17 |
|
State College |
19 |
Because of the moist, slow-moving synoptic
systems that occurred in addition to the normally occurring convective storms
of June, most areas of Pennsylvania had extremely high rainfall totals for the
month. More than 13 inches of rain were
reported in East Stroudsburg.
-Lorri Bazzel
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Monthly Weather Summary Table Info |
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Town(s) |
Date(s) |
|
Max High Temp |
100 |
Franklin
Institute, Philadelphia |
26 |
|
|
|
York Haven |
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Min Low Temp |
27 |
Kane |
2 |
|
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|
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|
|
Min Rain |
2.52 |
Erie WSO Airport |
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|
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|
Max Rain |
13.17 |
East Stroudsburg |
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