|
Northeast Regional Climate Center |
August was the 3rd consecutive month with above normal temperatures in the Northeast. With an average temperature of 70.9 degrees, this was the warmest August since 1959. It was 3.5 degrees warmer than August 2004 and 2.9 degrees above the 1971-2000 average. Every one of the Northeast states posted above normal averages - departures ranged from 1.1 degrees above normal in Maine to 4.3 degrees above normal in New Jersey. It was the warmest August since 1895 in New Jersey and Rhode Island; the 2nd warmest in Connecticut and Delaware; the 3rd warmest in Massachusetts; and the 5th warmest in New York.
The Northeast averaged slightly below normal precipitation this month. The regional total of 3.81 inches was 0.12 inches less than the long-term average and 1.67 inches less than the amount received in 2004. Precipitation totals varied throughout the region - Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and West Virginia averaged above normal rainfall while the remaining 7 states averaged below normal precipitation. The range was 46% of normal in New Jersey to 120% of normal in Rhode Island.
Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
With the region posting above normal monthly temperatures for June, July and August, it's not surprising that the summer of 2005 was the 2nd warmest summer on record. The average of 70.4 degrees was 2.8 degrees above normal. It was the warmest summer since 1895 in Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island; the 2nd warmest in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont; the third warmest in Connecticut and New Hampshire; the 4th warmest in Pennsylvania; and the 6th warmest in West Virginia. With an average temperature of 65.0 degrees, Maine had the coolest summer in the region, however, their average temperature was still 1.3 degrees above the 1971-2000 average.
Rainfall averaged 94% of normal in the Northeast for the summer of 2005. Connecticut was the driest state, with 73% of normal precipitation, while New Hampshire was the wettest, with 113% of normal rainfall.
Summer Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
