June-August heat forecast

CRAZY WEATHER the past few years has made it harder for those of us living in vehicles to escape high heat. Will things be better this summer? According to the Weather Channel and Atmospheric G2, probably not.

Standard practice for nomads seeking cooler summer temperatures is to migrate northward or to higher elevations—or both. That will be harder this year—and possibly for the future.

The Outlook for June through August

Hotter-than-average conditions will encompass much of the country this summer.

… Starting the summer in June, the core of the heat is anticipated to be in parts of the West, while the East will generally experience temperatures on either side of average.

Temperatures will be the farthest above average for areas from the northern Rockies into the Northern and Central Plains and upper Mississippi Valley for the June-through-August period. Warmer-than-average conditions will extend from parts of the Northwest southward into northern Texas and as far east as the eastern Great Lakes. 

As summer comes to a close in August, the heat is expected to extend eastward into the Northeast. […] Once again, the southern tier will trend near or on either side of average.

If that turns out to be the case, then the northern tier of states might be as hot as the southern tier.

So, Where Can You Go to Escape the Heat?

Rather than just following the northward/upward routine, it looks like this summer will require close monitoring of forecasts and temperature maps in order to locate pockets of relief.

Summer favorites like Flagstaff, at 7,000 feet, might not be high enough to get above the heat. Eight- or nine-thousand feet might be necessary. That suggests the mountains of Montana, Wyoming, or Colorado .

camping at Alta Lakes Telluride Colorado

Areas along the coast—and by “coast” I mean within view of the water—are usually cooler. That’s how I endured the triple-digit heat of 2017 and 2018. But it wasn’t easy or cheap. Coastal boondocking spots are rare and campgrounds are always crowded.

Seal Rocks Oregon tide pools

With the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, Great Lakes and, eventually, New England becoming hotter than average, “going north” might mean Canada and Alaska. (Or, if you have the resources, enjoy winter in the Southern Hemisphere. I hear June through August is lovely in Peru.)

Even if you’re geographically limited for various reasons (like the price of fuel these days) there are steps you can take to keep some of the heat at bay. Here’s a look back at the first of a multi-part video series of Bob’s tips for beating the heat.