Reno ties record for warmest June on record

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Western Nevada has completed its 14th straight month of above normal temperatures, the state climatologist says.

John James said Reno tied the 1918 record for its warmest June on record with temperatures 5.9 degrees above the normal 65.1.

Las Vegas had its fourth warmest June on record with temperatures 3.8 degrees above the normal 84.9.

''Western Nevada has been the Banana Belt with all 14 months since April 1999 above normal,'' James said.

Reno's record-tying temperatures in June ''were impressive considering they're based on 113 years of records,'' he added.

Elsewhere, temperatures weren't as warm last month. In northeast Nevada, temperatures were near or a little below normal.

Elko's 26 degrees on June 1 set a new record low for the month in more than 114 years of record keeping.

But Nevada's low spot in June was Charleston north of Elko, which checked in with 15 degrees.

July has been a surprise so far by bringing below normal temperatures to the state.

''July is a big turnaround so far and it shows you how uncertain predicting the weather can be,'' James said. ''Temperatures are way below normal in some locations.''

Except for thunderstorms that dropped up to 2 inches of rain in the Reno area, it was dry across Nevada in June.

Precipitation in most locations is below normal for the water year.

Precipitation along the Sierra's east slopes ranges from 65 percent of normal in the Walker River watershed to 85 percent of normal in the Tahoe-Truckee region.