June outlook - watching the Gulf

We are into June and already summer weather is kicking into high gear. It definitely feels like we skipped right over severe weather season and went straight for July. Hot weather in early June scares most of us into thinking ... oh no, this will be a long, hot scorching summer. I still remember the summer of 2011 and 2012 and those were some very tough stretches. This summer doesn't look anything like that.

Here's what we are expecting for June.
Temperatures: Looks like when all is said and done, this month will be warmer than normal (although the hottest weather of the month is likely what we are feeling now)

Rainfall: Near to below normal.

Temperatures in the 2nd week of June

 

I do see our temperatures cooling down in mid June (mostly highs in the 80s) and we will have some better chances for rain.

Remember that by late June, normal highs go back to upper 80s and low 90s, and I see us being close to normal late in the month.

Watching the tropics and the Gulf of Mexico:

 
What is about to emerge over the Gulf should become Cristobal (will likely become a hurricane, but unsure exactly when) This system will probably be slow to move, but should track to the north and could move back westward. I would say there is at least a 30% possibility the system could impact Kansas weather during the middle of next week. It is a little unusual to have a potential tropical system coming our way so early in the season. But anytime a system gets to the western Gulf, its a potential player for the Plains.

This is the start of hurricane season and it's already very busy. Hurricane season runs through the end of November, so this will be one to watch.