It was both warmer and wetter than normal in New York City this September. We received 9.39 inches of rain in Central Park. That is over twice our average amount of precipitation for the month. We also measured in at 2 degrees Fahrenheit above average.
The first few days of October have continued the wet weather pattern. As the month progresses, however, we should look forward to crisper air and changing leaves.
This summer was not the hottest on record for New York City, that honor goes to the summer of 2010 with 32 days of temperatures at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer of 2011, however, was still pretty hot here with 20 days of temperatures at or above 90 degrees. We hit 104 degrees on July 22, the hottest day of the season.
I have to admit that in the early part of the summer, I was concerned about the lack of rain and the possibility of a drought. We received less than average amounts of rain in both June and July. Then came August. We had 18.95 inches of rain in the month of August. That is 14.52 inches more than normal. Most of it came down during Hurricane Irene.
Summer 2011 will be remembered as the wettest summer on record in NYC with 25.23 inches of rain in a three month period. It shattered the old record of 20.40 inches of rain from 1975. And the rain keeps coming.
Autumn arrived a bit soggy this year with 2.61 inches of rainfall on its first day. To add to the drama of the new season’s arrival, the New York metro area was put under a flood watch. We have already seen more than our monthly average of rain for September on top of the record rainfall in August. The ground is saturated.
Based on NWS 30 year averages, we expect about 4.28 inches of rain in September, but as of today we have already received 8.16 inches for the month. With more showers in the forecast this week, keep your rain gear handy!