As August comes to a close, lets look back at the month that was cooler and wetter than average:
After a seasonably hot July that produced nine 100 degree days, August was 1.7° below normal with no 100 degree days. That 1.7 may not sound like much, but it’s a big deal. The hottest day of the month was on the fourth when the temperature reached 99 degrees. The coolest mornings were the 30th and 31st when the temperature bottomed out at 61 degrees.
The best part about August was the rain. OKC’s Will Rogers World Airport recorded a total of 5.74 inches of rain which is 3.37 inches above normal. Some of that rain fell as a result of severe thunderstorms that seemed more normal for May than August. Believe me when I say I had more late nights in August covering severe weather than I did in May, but my lawn never looked better.
So what’s in store for September? Here’s a look at a few things:
The average high temperature will gradually drop from 89 at the beginning of the month, to a more comfortable 79 at the end. September can still produce some heat, and 100 degree days are not out of the question. In fact the latest 100 degree day in OKC was September 30, 1977. One of the reasons why hot weather in September is harder to come by is that daylight continues to decrease. On August first sunrise is at 7:03 am and sunset is at 7:57 pm. By September 30th, sunrise is 7:24 am, and sunset is 7:15 pm.
September can be a wet month, averaging out wetter than July or August with around 4 inches in a normal year. Increased rain means more storms. There is even a secondary severe weather season that can fire up during the months of September and October.
Rick
