August was a month that did not produce a lot of 90° temperatures compared to normal or previous years. However, hot air moved into the area on the final day of the month, and it will last for the majority of September’s first week.
Highs temperatures will range from the lower to upper 90s into next weekend. Due to the muggy conditions, heat index values will be near or above 100° in many places each afternoon.
A weak cold front will move through on Wednesday, but temperatures behind the front will only be a couple of degrees lower. A stronger front will pass through next weekend and finally provide a more significant drop in temperatures. Highs next Sunday will be in the mid to upper 80s, and next Monday may not get out of the the low to mid 80s. The normal high for this period is in the mid 80s.
If we string together more than five days of 90s in a row, that will be the longest stretch of 90s since last July, when eight consecutive days occurred. It is quite possible that we may tie that streak from August 31 through September 6.
A change in the upper air pattern will allow for relatively cooler and less humid air to break the heat wave at the beginning of next week.
August is ending on a dry note. Even though some areas saw locally heavy downpours in previous weeks, there was not significant widespread rainfall. Rainfall deficits continue to get worse.
