June 2026 Climate Summary

Overview and Graphics

June 2026 Climate Review:

Temperatures averaged slightly below normal by 0.5 to 1 degrees. The month started off slightly below normal with highs in the low 80s and lows dropping into the 50s several nights over the first 4 days. A warmer period followed from the 5th through 12th. The warmest days during that period were from the 9th through 11th when many locations hit 90 and several record warm lows were set with readings only falling into the mid to upper 70s. A prolonged period of below normal temperatures was experienced from the 13th through 26th with highs ranging from the upper 70s to mid 80s. Our first heatwave of the season moved into the area to end the month with many areas reaching 90 on the 28th and continuing through the 30th. Heat index values exceeded 100 across the region on the 28th and were mostly above 105 on the 29th and 30th. Paducah had only registered 2 days hitting 90 through June 28th which was tied for the fewest on record for this late in the season (most years we have at least 6 to 10 by the end of June).

Precipitation was wetter than normal across much of the region, with many areas observing 4 to 10” along with swaths of higher amounts. Evansville and Cape Girardeau observed their 2nd wettest June on record and Paducah had their 10th wettest June. We had at least one observation site in 12 of our 58 counties report at least 10” which is quite impressive! The highest observed amount was 16.09" at our COOP station in Pike County, Indiana (Holland 6.3 NW). This is the highest rainfall amount in the month of June in any of our 58 counties since 1945 (The wettest June on record appears to be 1928 when we had several reports of 16-22”). While a large part of the area received above normal rainfall, there were some areas that missed out and only received 2-3” and even a few locations that didn’t even receive 2”. This was primarily focused across the central portion of southern Illinois closest to Route 13 and also down along the KY/TN border in Christian and Todd Counties. The highest amounts were focused across southwest Indiana and adjacent areas of far northwest Kentucky and far southeast Illinois and also from Cape Girardeau east towards Paducah and then even further into Lyon County, KY. The period from June 25-28 experienced significant flash flooding including much of southwest Indiana and the communities of Evansville, Owensboro, Paducah, and Cape Girardeau. Pike County Indiana observed historic rainfall amounts during this time, with the COOP station (Holland 6.3 NW) receiving 10.85” over a 3 day period, which breaks the previous 3 day rainfall for the county which was 10.12” set back in June of 1979. A 24 hour rainfall record was established in Daviess County Kentucky when 6.20” fell on June 27th which broke the previous 1 day rainfall record for the county of 5.50” set on March 31, 1993.

There were several days of severe thunderstorms across our region, with the most noteworthy being the June 21st tornado outbreak. This event produced 15 tornadoes across our area including an EF-3 in Jefferson County (which was our strongest June tornado since 1990). Several more tornadoes occurred on June 26-27, which brought the monthly total up to 20. This breaks the previous June record of 13 set back in 2019, which also happened to be the summer (June-August) record as well.

Monthly Summary

Monthly Climate Report: Paducah  |  Evansville  |  Cape Girardeau  |  Poplar Bluff  |  Carbondale

Records

Record Event Reports: Paducah  |  Evansville  |  Cape Girardeau  |  Poplar Bluff  |  Carbondale

# of Warnings Issued - June 2026 (Click on images to enlarge)

The graphics below show all of the severe thunderstorm, tornado, and flash flood warnings issued across our 58 county forecast area in June 2026. Our office issued 146 combined warnings (Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado, and Flash Flood) which is the 3rd most on record for the month of June (record is 175 in June 1998). We issued 46 Flash Flood Warnings which is the most on record in June and tied for 2nd most for any month (only behind the 50 warnings issued in April 2011). Gibson County Indiana led the way with 29 combined warnings issued for portions of the county.

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings - County Based	Severe Thunderstorm Warnings - Polygon Based
Tornado Warnings - County Based	Tornado Warnings - Polygon Based
Flash Flood Warnings - County Based	Flash Flood Warnings - Polygon Based

Extreme Rainfall in June 2026