TR 94-02, A Climatological Summary of the 1994 World Cup Soccer 

Tournament 

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1994 World Cup Soccer Tournament - A 

Climatological Summary 

by Neal Lott, Physical Scientist

and Tom Ross, Meteorologist

May 1994

• Introduction

• Climatic Tables

 Introduction

The U.S. is the host country for 1994 World Cup Soccer (WC 94) tournament held between 

June 17 and July 17, 1994. The games will be played at nine different sites across the country. 

One of the main concerns of tournament officials, athletes, fans and other participants is the 

expected weather during this period. The summer season is in full swing by the time mid-June 

rolls around - - hot and humid conditions are the norm for most of these sites, and weather can 

have a great impact. A few games will be played in indoor or partially domed stadiums, but the 

majority of the games will be outside. This report details the climatology for these host cities 

during June and July. Additional information on weather and climate are available from the 

National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), Climate Services Branch, Federal Building, 

Asheville, NC 28801-2696. You can also contact NCDC by telephone at 704-271-4800, FAX 

704- 271-4876, or e-mail at orders@ncdc.noaa.gov. Information about WC94, teams, players 

and schedule is available using mosaic via the World Wide Web (WWW)-- to access, open a 

URL to http://www.cedar.buffalo.edu/~khoub-s/WC94.html 

1994 World Cup Soccer Sites 

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Boston, Massachusetts 

Chicago, Illinois 

Dallas, Texas 

Detroit, Michigan 

East Rutherford, New Jersey 

Orlando, Florida 

Palo Alto, California 

Pasadena, California 

Washington, DC 

 Climatic Tables

The tables shown below were developed using information from NCDC's International Station 

Meteorological Climate Summary (ISMCS) CDROM and "Local Climatological Data" 

publication. The data are based on a period of record from the late 1940's through the early 

1990's. All temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit, and rainfall amounts are in inches and 

hundredths. The tables show: 

Weather conditions by hour - The average percent occurrence of rain, thunderstorms, and fog 

for 5 different times during the day; e.g., Detroit shows fog to occur 20.8 percent of the June 

mornings at 7 AM. The average relative humidity is shown for the same hours. 

Averages and Extremes - Climatic averages for maximum temperature, minimum temperature, 

monthly rainfall, and wind speed. Also, the extremes (lowest/highest reported) are shown for 

maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and monthly rainfall, along with the greatest 

24-hour rainfall amount reported. 

Average Number of Days With - Climatic averages for number of days with at least .01 

rainfall, .50 rainfall, thunderstorms (with or without rainfall), fog, and temperatures of at least 

90 degrees. 

Boston, MA

Three important influences are responsible for the main features of the Boston climate. First, 

the latitude places the city in the zone of prevailing west to east atmospheric flow, so both 

polar and tropical air masses influence the region. Secondly, Boston is situated on or near 

several tracks frequently followed by low pressure storm systems. The weather fluctuates 

regularly from fair to cloudy to stormy conditions and assures an adequate amount of 

precipitation. The third factor is the moderating influence of the Atlantic ocean on temperature 

extremes. Hot summer afternoons are frequently cooled by the local sea breeze. This 

refreshing east wind is more common along and within a few miles of the coast than in the 

Foxboro area which is about 25 miles southwest of downtown Boston. Much of the rainfall 

from June to September comes from scattered afternoon and evening showers and 

thunderstorms. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

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7 AM 11.0 8.6 .4 .2 17.0 16.5 73% 74% 

10 AM 10.1 6.2 .2 .1 10.5 8.3 63% 61% 

1 PM 9.7 7.1 .6 .5 8.0 5.5 58% 57% 

4 PM 10.4 8.1 1.2 1.2 8.3 6.0 60% 58% 

7 PM 10.3 6.9 1.2 1.4 9.5 7.9 66% 66% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES:

 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 77 59 100 45 3.1 13.2 .5 3.0 11 

JUL 82 65 102 50 2.9 8.1 .5 2.4 10 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 10 2 4 12 3 

JUL 9 2 4 11 5 

Chicago, IL 

Chicago is located along the southwest shore of Lake Michigan with an average elevation of 

about 100 feet. Topography does not significantly affect air flow in or near the city although 

winds are frequently stronger along the lakeshore. Chicago is in a region of frequently 

changeable weather; in summer, air masses reaching the city from the north or east are cooler 

because of movement over the cooler Great Lakes. During the warm season, when the lake is 

cold relative to land, there is frequently a lake breeze that reduces daytime temperature near 

the shore, sometimes by 10 degrees F. or more below temperatures farther inland. The highest 

summer temperatures occur with a south or southwest flow which is not influenced by the 

lakes. Summer precipitation comes from scattered thunderstorms which are often locally heavy 

and variable -- parts of the city may receive substantial rainfall and other parts may receive 

none. Channeling of winds between tall buildings often causes locally stronger gusts in the 

central business area. However, the nickname windy city is a misnomer as the average wind 

speed is no higher than many other cities in the U.S. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

6 AM 6.6 7.1 .5 1.2 14.0 16.2 78% 82% 

9 AM 7.4 5.9 .4 .8 6.7 4.4 63% 66% 

12 PM 6.0 5.1 .3 .2 2.2 2.1 55% 57% 

3 PM 6.7 4.2 1.9 .6 1.9 2.0 52% 54% 

6 PM 7.0 4.7 2.2 1.0 2.1 1.6 55% 58% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES:

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 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 79 57 104 36 3.7 7.9 1.0 3.1 9 

JUL 84 63 102 40 3.7 8.3 1.2 2.8 8 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 10 3 6 8 4 

JUL 10 2 6 8 7 

Dallas, TX 

Dallas is located in north central Texas, approximately 250 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. 

It is near the headwaters of the Trinity River, which lies in the upper margins of the Coastal 

Plain. The rolling hills in the area range from 500 to 800 feet in elevation. The Dallas-Fort 

Worth climate is humid subtropical with hot summers. Highest temperatures of summer are 

associated with fair skies, westerly winds and low humidities. Characteristically, hot spells in 

summer are broken into three-to-five day periods by thunderstorm activity. There are only a 

few nights each summer with low temperature above 80 degrees F. Summer daytime 

temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees F. Usually, periods of rainy weather last for only a 

day or two, and are followed by several days with fair skies. A large part of the annual 

precipitation results from thunderstorm activity, with occasionally heavy rainfall over brief 

periods of time. Thunderstorms occur throughout the year, but are most frequent in the spring. 

Hail falls on about two or three days a year, ordinarily with only slight and scattered damage. 

Windstorms occurring during thunderstorm activity are sometimes destructive. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

6 AM 5.8 3.1 3.0 1.1 7.7 4.6 85% 80% 

9 AM 4.1 3.3 1.2 .4 2.4 1.1 68% 63% 

12 PM 3.6 2.5 1.4 .7 .5 .3 54% 48% 

3 PM 2.6 2.0 2.4 1.4 .4 .0 47% 42% 

6 PM 2.9 2.3 2.2 1.4 .4 .1 50% 44% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES:

 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 92 71 113 51 2.8 8.8 .0 3.1 11 

JUL 96 75 110 59 2.1 11.1 .1 3.0 9 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

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 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 6 2 6 3 21 

JUL 5 1 5 2 28 

Detroit, MI 

Detroit and the immediate suburbs, including nearby urban areas in Canada, occupy an area 

approximately 25 miles in radius. Northwest winds in the summer frequently help to weaken 

showers moving from the northwest and these sometimes dissipate as they approach Detroit. 

The climate of the metro area is influenced by its location with respect to major storm tracks 

and the influence of the Great Lakes. In summer, most storms pass to the north allowing for 

intervals of warm, humid, sunny skies with occasional thunderstorms, followed by days of 

mild, dry, and fair weather. Temperatures of 90 degrees F. or higher are reached occasionally 

during each summer. Local climatic variations are due largely to the immediate effect of Lake 

St. Clair and the urban heat island. On warm days in late spring or early summer, lake breezes 

often lower temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees F. in the eastern part of the city and the 

northeastern suburbs. The urban heat island effect shows up mainly at night where minimum 

temperatures at the Metropolitan Airport average 4 degrees lower than downtown Detroit. Air 

pollution comes primarily from heavy industry spread along both shores of the waterway from 

Port Huron to Toledo. However, wind dispersion is usually sufficient to keep it from becoming 

a major hazard. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

7 AM 7.4 5.8 .7 .9 20.8 25.7 79% 82% 

10 AM 5.8 5.2 .3 .3 6.4 5.3 62% 63% 

1 PM 7.9 5.6 1.4 .9 2.8 2.1 54% 53% 

4 PM 7.5 5.7 2.0 1.9 2.6 1.4 52% 52% 

7 PM 7.3 5.5 1.9 1.4 3.9 2.1 57% 58% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES:

 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 79 56 104 36 3.6 7.0 1.0 2.2 9 

JUL 83 61 102 41 3.1 6.0 .6 3.2 8 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 10 2 6 11 3 

JUL 9 2 6 13 5 

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East Rutherford, NJ 

Terrain in the vicinity of the Meadowlands sports complex is flat and rather marshy. Ridges 

rise to an elevation of 200 to 600 feet to the west-northwest of the area. This low elevation 

along with the close proximity to water and urbanization mean warm and humid summer 

conditions. Prevailing westerly winds lead to a local downsloping effect. This downsloping 

effect can lead to warmer temperatures and inhibit precipitation. This drying effect of the 

downslope wind accounts for the relatively few local thunderstorms occurring in this area as 

compared to areas to the west. Easterly winds, particularly southeasterly, moderate the 

temperature because of the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Periods of very hot weather with 

temperatures in the 90's and high humidity occasionally occur during the summer. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

7 AM 8.8 7.9 .2 .4 16.3 12.4 71% 72% 

10 AM 8.1 6.1 .0 .4 7.3 5.0 57% 58% 

1 PM 7.6 7.0 .6 .8 4.8 3.3 51% 51% 

4 PM 8.0 6.8 1.1 1.9 3.9 2.7 52% 52% 

7 PM 9.1 8.0 1.2 1.8 5.9 3.8 59% 60% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES: 

 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 81 62 102 41 3.3 6.4 .1 3.0 9 

JUL 86 68 105 52 4.2 10.0 .9 3.3 9 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 10 2 9 10 5 

JUL 10 3 11 9 9 

Orlando, FL

Orlando is located in the central section of the Florida peninsula, surrounded by many lakes. 

Relative humidities remain high year-round, with summer values near 90 percent at night and 

55 to 65 percent in the afternoon. The rainy season extends from June through September, and 

sometimes through October when tropical storms are near. During June/July, scattered 

afternoon thunderstorms are an almost daily occurrence, and these bring a drop in temperature 

to make the climate bearable. Hail is occasionally reported during thunderstorms. Summer 

temperatures above 95 degrees are rather rare. There is usually a breeze which contributes to 

the general comfort. Hurricanes are usually not considered a great threat to Orlando, since to 

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reach this area, they must pass over a substantial stretch of land and, in so doing, lose much of 

their punch. Sustained hurricane winds of 75 mph or higher rarely occur. Orlando, being 

inland, is relatively safe from high water, although heavy rains sometimes briefly flood 

sections of the city. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

7 AM 2.6 .7 .4 .0 22.2 14.5 89% 90% 

10 AM 3.0 1.7 .5 .4 .4 .5 67% 68% 

1 PM 7.8 9.3 6.1 7.9 .3 .0 57% 59% 

4 PM 14.4 18.2 12.2 20.9 .3 .2 61% 65% 

7 PM 14.1 13.9 9.7 12.8 .7 .2 73% 76% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES:

 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 90 71 100 53 7.0 15.3 1.7 4.4 7 

JUL 91 73 99 64 7.2 11.9 2.3 3.8 6 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 14 5 14 11 17 

JUL 16 5 18 8 22 

Palo Alto, CA 

Palo Alto is located a few miles from the west shore of San Francisco Bay. The close 

proximity to the Bay and the Pacific give the area a dry, mild summer climate. Daily June/July 

high temperatures average about 75-80 degrees F. with lows dropping to 50-55 degrees F. at 

night. The dry season is in full swing in the June/July period with the area generally getting 

between .05 and .10 inches of rain each month. The summer weather is dominated by a cool 

sea breeze. A sea fog, arriving over the station during the late evening or night as low stratus 

clouds, is another persistent feature of the summer weather. These conditions occasionally 

produce drizzle or mist during the early morning which burns off before noon. Despite the 

morning overcast, summer days are sunny. On the average a total of only 14 days during the 

two months of June/July are classified as cloudy. However, an occasional hot spell, lasting a 

few days, is experienced without the usual morning clouds and sea breeze. Daily high 

temperatures can exceed 100 degrees F. during these conditions, but these heat waves are brief 

and last only a few days. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

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 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

7 AM 1.0 1.0 .0 .0 4.3 14.6 74% 78% 

10 AM .9 .6 .0 .0 .7 1.3 60% 65% 

1 PM .3 .2 .0 .1 .0 .3 55% 58% 

4 PM .4 .1 .0 .0 .1 .1 55% 58% 

7 PM .5 .3 .0 .0 .0 .1 63% 67% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES:

 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 77 52 107 42 .1 .5 .0 .4 10 

JUL 78 54 105 42 T .5 .0 .4 10 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 1 0 0 2 2 

JUL 0 0 0 6 2 

Pasadena, CA 

Pasadena, known as the "city of Roses", is located just south of the foothills of the San Gabriel 

mountains. Elevation across the Pasadena area varies considerably, ranging from 1400 feet in 

the northern part of the city to about 600 feet in the south. The Pacific Ocean is about 22 miles 

west-south west of the area. Daily June/July high temperatures average 82-89 degrees F. with 

nighttime lows generally in the 57-61 degrees F. range. Afternoon temperatures reach 90 or 

better 5 times in June and about 13 times in July. Areas closer to the coast are usually cooler 

due to a local sea breeze effect. In a hot spell, temperatures can exceed 100 degree F. 

accompanied by gusty dry "Santa Ana" northeasterly wind and humidities as low as 5%. 

Rainfall during June/July is light with less than .10 in. expected each month. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

7 AM 2.3 1.0 .0 .1 11.0 10.0 78% 78% 

10 AM .8 .1 .0 .0 .7 .6 59% 54% 

1 PM .2 .5 .0 .1 .0 .0 56% 53% 

4 PM .1 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 56% 53% 

7 PM .2 .1 .0 .0 .5 .5 69% 69% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES:

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 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 82 57 106 43 .1 .4 .0 .4 5 

JUL 89 61 106 48 T .2 .0 .2 5 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 0 0 0 6 5 

JUL 0 0 0 6 13 

Washington, DC 

Washington lies at the western edge of the mid Atlantic Coastal Plain, about 50 miles east of 

the Blue Ridge Mountains and 35 miles west of Chesapeake Bay. Elevations range from a few 

feet above sea level to about 400 feet in parts of the northwest section of the city. RFK stadium 

is located in the urban heat island which results in somewhat warmer temperatures. Summers 

are hot and humid as daytime highs are near 90 degrees F., and the combination of heat and 

humidity can make it uncomfortable at times. Precipitation is rather uniformly distributed, 

usually occurring as thunderstorms. These storms are most often accompanied by downpours 

and gusty winds, but are not usually severe. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS BY HOUR:

 PERCENT OCCURRENCE OF: MEAN RELATIVE 

 RAIN T'STORM FOG HUMIDITY 

 JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL JUN JUL 

7 AM 7.1 5.5 .0 .1 13.3 15.3 76% 77% 

10 AM 5.2 5.4 .1 .1 4.7 3.4 61% 62% 

1 PM 6.2 5.9 .3 .7 2.7 1.3 53% 53% 

4 PM 7.1 7.1 1.9 2.8 1.9 1.5 52% 53% 

7 PM 7.6 8.9 2.5 3.3 2.4 1.9 60% 62% 

AVERAGES AND EXTREMES:

 TEMPERATURES RAINFALL WIND SPD 

 MEANS EXTREMES MONTHLY EXTREMES MEAN IN 

 MAX MIN MAX MIN MEAN MAX MIN 24-HOUR KNOTS 

JUN 84 65 101 47 3.4 11.5 .9 6.1 8 

JUL 88 70 104 54 4.1 12.9 .9 4.7 8 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH:

 AT LEAST AT LEAST TEMPERATURE AT 

 .01 RAIN .50 RAIN T'STORM FOG LEAST 90 DEG. 

JUN 10 2 6 9 7 

JUL 10 3 7 9 12 

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