 June's heat is for the record books
By MIKE BRASSFIELD
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 1, 1998
 t's not your imagination. It really is hotter than ever.
This June was the hottest ever recorded in the Tampa Bay area.
The average daily temperature of 85.6 at Tampa International Airport
surpassed the old record by nearly 2 degrees.
Until now, the hottest Junes had been a tie between 1985 and 1977.
Reliable records go back to 1890.
The days were sweltering, no question, but the real difference
was nights that averaged 5.5 degrees hotter than normal.
A massive high-pressure system hovered overhead most of the month,
drawing in warm gulf winds and driving away clouds. The rainy
season started late. The region got less than half the June rain
it usually does.
The withering heat has strained power companies and contributed
to nearly a quarter-million acres of wildfires statewide.
The National Weather Service is expected to analyze June temperatures
today to determine whether this June was one of the hottest summer
months on record.
Temperatures have actually cooled a few degrees since mid-June
but are still a bit hotter than normal. As July opens, forecasters
are looking at more of the same.
High temperatures are expected to hit the low to mid-90s every
afternoon through at least Sunday.
The average high temperature in July is 90.2 degrees, said weather
service meteorologist Waylon Collins. The average low is 74.5,
and July's average daily temperature is 82.1 degrees.
After that, there's only August to get through.
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