NOTE – Rainfall and temperature information is based on data kept at Milford Lake by the Corps of Engineers.  For more information contact Chuck Otte, 238-4161.

Hopefully it won´t come as a surprise to anyone that August had above normal rainfall. But local residents may be surprised to know it wasn´t a record and equally surprised to hear when the record occurred!
Temperatures reflected the rainy weather and clouds with an average
temperature below normal.

The average daily high during August was 84.1, 4.8 degrees below normal.
However, the average overnight low was 69.4 degrees, 3.8 degrees above
normal. Extensive cloudy weather will keep daytime highs down, but also
won´t allow heat to escape at night so overnight lows stay higher. The
monthly mean temperature during August was 76.8, ½ degree below normal.
The hottest day during August was 94 on the 3rd, 4th, and 11th. The coolest
temperature during the month was the morning low of 56 on the 20th. There
were three temperature records set during August. The high of 73 on the 7th
set a new record for a low high temperature. The old record was 76 in 1990.
The low of 79 on the 3rd set a new record high low for the date. The old
record was 78 set in 1964. Likewise, the low of 78 on the 10th set a new
record high low for that date. The old record was 75, also set in 1964. The
hottest August on record was in 2000 when we had a scorching monthly
mean temperature of 85.0 degrees. The coldest August on record was in
1981 with a chilly mean temperature of 71.5.

August was wet with measurable precipitation on 14 days during the month.
Average August rainfall is 3.96 inches. Milford Lake received 7.07 inches
during the month and Junction City received 8.29 inches. While this was
nearly double average rainfall, it doesn´t even rank in the top five wettest
Augusts (it was #8). Most local citizens don´t seem to remember August
2013 when 10.33 inches fell during the month to make that the wettest
August on record. The driest August on record was in 1971 when no rainfall
was recorded for the month. Normal year to date rainfall (January through
August) is 24.68 inches. Year to date Milford Lake has received 29.88 inches
and Junction City has received 30.26 inches. Both locations are already over
90% of normal annual precipitation.

September is a month of changes. Days start to shorten significantly as we
approach the autumnal equinox and the start of autumn. Daily highs in
September start the month at 87 and by the end of the month have fallen to a
comfortable 75. Average overnight lows begin the month at 63 and by the
end of September have started to just dip below 50. Rainfall normally starts
to taper off with 3.28 inches expected during the month. While we don´t
expect our average first frost until well into October, frost can still happen in
September. The earliest frost on record was on September 17th in 1981.

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Chuck Otte
County Extension Agent, Ag & Natural Resources