Monday, June 5, 2017

Early Summer 2017 In The Appalachians


June 3, 2017
Valley Floor Elevation 3187 feet
Early Summer In Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

A gorgeous start to summer in the high country was enjoyed during June 3, with morning temperatures dipping to around 40 degrees in high mountain valleys of the High Knob Massif.


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June 3, 2017
Upper Elevations of High Knob Massif
Early Summer In Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

The June 1-4 period featured an average nightly minimum of 42.8 degrees within colder sections 
of the Big Cherry Wetland Valley.

Early June nights have been cooler than the 
second half of May, which skewed the final month of spring to boost average minimum temperatures upward into the middle 40s.

Big Cherry Wetland Valley 4
May 2017 Temperatures
Elevation 3187 Feet Above Sea Level

Average Daily MAX: 67.5 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 46.0 degrees
MEAN: 56.8 degrees
Highest Temperature: 80 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 29 degrees

A few trees continue to leaf out, but most are now approaching summer green following some 10.00" of rainfall during May ( 26.00" in Spring 2017 ).

June 3, 2017
Lush Ferns & Vegetation
Early Summer In Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Spring 2017 featured 84 degrees of spread between the lowest and highest temperatures recorded in the wetland valleys, from a minimum of 0 degrees on the morning of March 16 to a maximum of 
84 degrees during the afternoon of April 29.

June 3, 2017
Early Summer In Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Big Cherry Wetland Valley 4
Spring 2017 Temperatures
( March 2017 Through May 2017 )

Average Daily MAX: 61.0 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 37.3 degrees
MEAN: 49.2 degrees
Highest Temperature: 84 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 0 degrees

June 3, 2017
Upper Elevations of High Knob Massif
Early Summer In Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

June 3, 2017
Early Summer In Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

June 3, 2017
Early Summer In Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Maximum temperatures during June in the high valleys generally varied from 75 to 80 degrees, versus average daily highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s.

June 3, 2017
Early Summer In High Knob Lake Basin
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

The first summer month of June featured many chilly nights amid the high valleys, with an average nightly low temperature of 47.6 degrees ( F ) being observed during June 1-29 within colder portions of the Big Cherry Lake Wetland Valley.

June 28, 2017
Big Cherry Wetland Valley of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

The coldest morning featured 
upper 30s on June 28.

June 28, 2017
Big Cherry Wetland Valley of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

June rainfall was generally below average with 3.50" to 4.00", including 3.65" measured at the City of Norton Water Plant ( 32.22" during 2017 ).  There were a few exceptions within the High Knob Massif-Black Mountain corridor, with 6.12" being reported at the mesonet site on Black Mountain.

*Typically large variations, over short distances, 
amid a hit-miss pattern of June convection.

June 28, 2017
Big Cherry Wetland Valley of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

June 30, 2017
Lower Elevations of Cumberland Mountains
Butterfly Milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa )
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

June 30, 2017
Cultivated Red Milkweed
John & America Mae Mullins Gardens
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

June 30, 2017
Multi-colored Gladiolus
John & America Mae Mullins Gardens
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

June 30, 2017
Petunia Basket
John & America Mae Mullins Gardens
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved