Summer in the Northern Hemisphere officially began on Friday, June 21, 2019, at 11:54 a.m. EDT, the date of the Summer Solstice.
For many, it’s the most anticipated season of the year—school’s out and it’s time for family vacations, cookouts, swimming, boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities. But if the weather doesn’t cooperate, these events could turn out to be a bust. So what’s the summer forecast? Will it be a repeat of last summer’s hot and steamy conditions? See what the Farmers Almanac is predicting for the U.S. and Canada.
Will summer 2019’s weather be a repeat of 2018’s hot, steamy sizzler?
How Hot Will Summer Be?—According to our time-tested, 202-year-old weather formula, summer 2019 overall should see near-normal, summer temperatures across much of the nation—but there will be exceptions. The central and southwestern states are on tap for a very hot summer, especially in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona (Zone 7) in June and July.
Dangerous Thunderstorms?—What’s summer without thunderstorms? In late June, the central states (Zones 4 and 5) should expect a bout of dangerous weather with the potential to spawn thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging straight-line winds, and even a devastating tornado threat. Meanwhile, oppressively high humidity paired with frequent thunderstorms will be the rule for the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida (Zone 3) during July.
A Case of the Muggies for the Northeast—Above-normal summertime precipitation is expected east of the Mississippi. Much of our summer forecast predicts lots of rain, thunderstorms, and wetness during July and August in the Northeast and New England areas (Zone 1).
The increased clouds and showers will likely keep temperatures below the dozen or so 90-degree days that might otherwise occur. However, you should count on days with temps well up into the ’80s. Add to that the above-normal precipitation, and you’ve got oppressively humid and uncomfortable conditions. So if you’re not a fan of muggy weather, you might want to be sure the A/C is tuned up and ready to go—it’s going to get quite a workout!
For the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley & Midwest (Zone 2), we’re predicting heat and humidity to build in June and July to be a stormy, warm month. And while we’re calling for near-to-below normal precipitation west of the Mississippi, a stormy summer is on tap for this region overall. Some bouts of severe weather may rumble through in late July. Some of the storms, especially for parts of Michigan, are capable of large hail.
Where Will Summer Be Dry?—It looks like the Pacific Northwest (Zone 6) can expect a drier-than-usual summer, despite the fact that the first days of the new season start off with some showery weather. As far as temperatures are concerned, this zone can expect pleasant and fair conditions all the way through to August.
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