August heat, dry days bring drought conditions

Known as a dry month, August dished out a sizable group of triple digit temperatures to make it both the driest and hottest this year.

In all, the 100 degree temps showed up on 22 days with the high of 105 degrees coming on the 21st and the 27th.

Highs averaged 100.6 degrees (normal is 96.3), while lows were 77.1 degrees (normal is 72.7).

Records for the month included a high of 110 degrees in 2014, and 61 degrees on Aug. 31, 1915.

Rainfall totaled 0.87 of an inch, with normal being 2.95 inches. After all the rains during the previous months, below normal rainfall was expected, with this Aug. being the driest month of the year thus far. The month end ed with a 2.08 inch deficit.

Rainfall records include a high of 21.24 inches in 2017 (Hurricane Harvey), with no rain falling on nine different days dating back to 1899.

For the year rainfall has totaled 29.84 inches which is 2.02 inches above average.

Thunder was heard on six days with fog seen on 10 mornings.

September Forecast

The year’s ninth month will see a marked increase in rain fall thanks to a swing back to a bit of tropical weather, and high pressure leaving the state in the coming weeks.

- Larry Rothbauer, NWS Observed