San Antonio, Austin experienced their hottest June on record this month
June 2022 was the hottest June on record for San Antonio and Austin.
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No, you haven’t been imagining it. This past month was extremely hot. I don’t think it’s wrong to say it was biblically hot. Fire and brimstone, scorched earth, plague of locusts hot. It’s been face melting, thighs burning on the seat leather after cracking open your car that’s been baking in the H-E-B parking lot hot.
This June was the hottest June ever recorded for both Austin and San Antonio, according to the National Weather Service. Both cities average temperature for the month was 87.7 degrees. The last hottest June in San Antonio was June 1990, when the average temperature was 87.4. Austinites experienced a record breaking June back in 2008, when the average was also 87.4.
San Antonians also experienced the highest number of 100 degrees days on record in June. In June 2009, San Antonio broke the record with 12 triple-digit days. This past month, we shattered that record with 17. There are multiple reasons for this. One major factor is the ongoing drought.
“The larger scale weather patterns for this late in the spring and into early summer typically aren’t quite as dry for us,” says Keith White, a meteorologist with NWS. “Early June is usually the wettest time of year for South Central Texas, which usually also means it’s cloudy here, but we had a lot of very dry sunny days with high pressure in control, and as a result of that we were certainly well above normal for temperatures both in June and back in May.”
Looking ahead, July is slated to be another scorcher. White explains that the Climate Prediction Center projects July in our region to clock temperatures 50 to 60% above average throughout the month.
As Hurricane season progresses, there is a chance tropical systems could bring rainfall into our area, cutting some of that heat. But tropical storm pathways, and whether they reach San Antonio and Austin, are unpredictable at this time.
Heat contributes to the highest number of weather related deaths, says White. There is a concern. NWS advises those in the area to avoid strenuous outdoor activity, wear light, loose-fitting clothing, and to be aware of signs of heat-related illness as summer rages on.
