Rainfall Levels Back To Normal After Dry June And July

A dry start to the summer season has turned into higher than average rainfall.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Krissy Hurley said conditions in June were what meteorologists call a “flash drought,” with rainfall two inches below normal. She said a high-pressure ridge covering the entire southeast created hot and dry conditions.

“But I’m kind of happy to see this August the pattern has broken down, the ridge has broken down, and we’ve gotten more into the afternoon, evening shower and thunderstorm type of weather,” Hurley said. “In fact we’re heading into below-normal temperatures this upcoming week.”

Hurley said the temperatures for the upcoming week are what she considers “fake fall,” a period of cooler temperatures before typical summer weather returns at the end of August. As for September and October, patterns indicate a drier-than-usual season.

Hurley said because those months are traditionally the driest of the year, it’s not concerning. The current outlook for fall includes above normal temperatures with equal chances to below normal precipitation.

“We only get two to three inches in the months of September and October as far as rainfall so being below normal isn’t that bad,” Hurley said. “Whereas being below normal in the months where we expect almost six inches of rainfall that can be a bigger difference.”