It's been a hot summer, and it's only getting started! Someone asked me today why we've been so hot, and the answer is that our summertime pattern set in earlier this year than it has in years past. The sun's angle is higher in the sky and days are longer, so if it's a dry day, chances are it's going to be a hot one. Without any significant push from the jet stream to bring down cold fronts, we lose out on widespread heavy rain and on any chance of cooler temperatures.
That's been the case this month. In fact, through June 26th, GSP International had only seen 0.09" of rain! It's no wonder our highs have been so hot - we've had 13 out of 26 days of 95 degrees or hotter. We're not supposed to be getting this hot - even in the middle of summer. Checking past years, it's interesting to note how June played out. Last year we only had 3 days of 95 or hotter. The total rain in June 2007 was 3.21". 2006 brought us 6 days of 95 degree heat and 5.18" of rain for June. In 2005 we had zero - count 'em - zero days of 95 degree heat, and the monthly rain total was 9.99"! And in 2004 we also had very mild highs with no 95 degree days and a respectable June rainfall of 5.32".
On Friday June 27th we had some more pop up storms around that amalgamated into an organized line of severe weather. The activity came together generally south of I-85 and stretched from Cherokee county to Western Laurens county, bringing the potential for penny-sized hail and damaging wind gusts. Before this line got its act together, GSP DID manage to get in on a shower, so at least we'll record some decent rain amounts to go on the official record.
It looks like Saturday and Sunday will bring another chance for rain. Some people will get some heavy rain. Whether or not that heavy rain impacts the airport where the official observations are taken remains to be seen. Either way, with a good chance for rain, we'll at least be able to keep those temperatures in check and avoid the dubious honor of seeing the driest June on record if GSP picks up some more rain before the end of the month. The driest June on record at GSP was in 1993 when only 0.17" fell.
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