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Northeast Regional Climate Center |
For the first time since September of 2002 the Northeast recorded a month with above average temperature. The streak of colder than normal months ends at ten, the longest such streak since an 11 month run from June 1904 to April 1905 (using today's climate values). This August was a significantly warm month with a substantial summer temperature departure of 2.3 degrees and all 12 states reporting above normal temperatures. In fact, each state was a degree or more above normal. Vermont and New Hampshire had departures of 2.8 and 3.0 degrees, respectively, but also had the second and third coolest overall temperatures. For six states, including New Hampshire and Vermont, this August was one of the ten warmest on record. In Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, 2003 is the third year running that August has been in the top ten warmest for each state's individual records. Overall for the Northeast this was the third August in a row that was warmer than normal.
Rain was plentiful across most of the Northeast this August with all 12 states above normal and six states more than an inch above normal. The region measured 1.05 inches of rain more than the average total which makes this the wettest August since 1994, and the first time since 1997 August has been above normal in precipitation. High totals in the region were mainly due to a rainy pattern that persisted for the first half of the month producing daily storms over most of the region. A few stations saw 15 or more straight days with measurable rainfall. These storms, which covered almost the entire region at one point or another, generally stayed to the south and west of Maine. Maine was closest to normal with a departure of only 0.04 inches, and also the only state that recorded less than 4 inches of rain. While it has been very close to normal this summer in terms of rainfall, Maine hasn't enjoyed the soaking rains that have fallen just about everywhere else. The state had been below normal since March, and hasn't been more than 15% above normal since April 2002. For the region as a whole, this was the fourth straight month with above normal rainfall.
Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
