Wet and cool August ends a slightly mild and wet summer
The end of August not just brough the end to a month but also the end to meteorological summer. August this year ended a little wet compared to average as we wrapped up those summer months. August saw just over 4" of total rainfall compared to the monthly average of 3.65". It goes into the records as the 42nd wettest August on record. August last year saw more than double the average as we dealt with historic flooding.
August was also slightly cooler than average. It was the first August in nine years where we didn't reach 90 degrees for a high temperature. the average temperature of 71.7 degrees was just over a half degree below average, but still goes down as the 45th warmest on record. The hottest temp during the month was 87 degrees and we got there three times, including the last two days of the month. The coolest temp was on August 24th when we dropped to 55.
The month of September, typically sees temperatures cool fairly quickly. The average highs drop from the upper 70s on September 1st to the upper 60s by the end of the month. Average lows go from the low 60s to around 50. September averages less rain than August with 3.16". We have seen snowflakes by the end of the month with the earliest trace of snow in Milwaukee's history falling on September 23, 1942.
The meteorological summer months as a whole, as defined as the months of June, July and August, were also slightly wet compared to averages. The three months picks up almost a full foot of rain which is just slightly above average. Last summer was even wetter with all of the flooding.
Summer as a whole saw pretty close to normal temps for the whole three month period. The average temp of 71.3 was just two tenths of a degree above average. The hottest temp was right smack in the middle of the summer when we got to 99 on July 14th. The coldest temp was fittingly at the beginning of summer when we dropped to 46 on June 3rd.
When it came to rankings for the summer months it was tied for the 25th warmest summer on record in Milwaukee. On rainfall with the slightly above average precipitation it goes down as a top 50 wettest in spot 44.
Download the CSB 58 Weather app to see the forecast for September as we head into meteorological fall.