Weather: More records in sight after hottest June day ever

Summer is off to a hot start across the Inland Northwest. Average temperatures for June at the Spokane International Airport were more than 9 degrees above normal, with more hot temperatures in store.

Sunday was the hottest June day ever observed, with an official reading of 105 degrees in Spokane. It was 102 degrees Saturday. The Coeur d’Alene Airport hit 104 on Sunday with some stations going as high as 107 near Coeur d’Alene’s downtown area. The heat certainly made things challenging for athletes and spectators at Ironman and Hoopfest.

On Sunday in Walla Walla, the mercury hit a record 113 degrees. Ephrata and Omak each hit 110 degrees. Even parts of Oregon and Western Montana had highs over 100 on Sunday. Ninety-degree temperatures were reported along the coast and into southern Canada. Some stations were about 30 degrees above normal last Sunday.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Spokane was 108 degrees, on Aug. 4, 1961. That day, the Wenatchee airport hit 109 degrees; Ephrata and Lewiston reached 115. Pullman: 110, Colville: 107, Ritzville: 112 and Sandpoint: 100. The Coeur d’Alene airport was 109 degrees.

The warmest average temperature for June, July and August occurred in 1922 with a reading of 71.3 degrees. As of Tuesday, the average June temperature was 71.1. It’s possible this summer could be one of the hottest ever observed.

The hottest month in Spokane occurred in July 1960 with an average high of 91.5 degrees. Despite the recent triples digits, the average high for June, as of early Tuesday, was 84.5 degrees.