By Chuck Otte

In late winter, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) of the National Weather Service forecast that the summer season in Kansas would be cooler and wetter than normal. June was just slightly cooler than normal. July had below average rainfall. But August was cooler and much wetter than normal. So when you put the June, July and August totals together, the CPC nailed the forecast!

Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte said the average daily high during August was 83.2, 5.7 degrees below normal. Once again though the average overnight low was 66.8, 1.2 degrees above normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature of 75 degrees, 2.3 degrees below normal. The highest temperature for the month was 96 degrees on the 20th. In fact, there were only three days during August with temperatures of 90 or above. On average, August will have 13 days with temperatures of 90 or higher. The lowest temperature for August was the morning low of 56 on the 27th. There was one temperature record set during August. The high of 72 on the 7th broke the record low high temperature for that date. The previous record was 73 set in 2016. The hottest August on record was in 2000 when we had a monthly mean temperature of 85 degrees. The coldest August on record was in 1981 when we had a chilly monthly mean of 71.5 (followed by a record early frost on September 17, 1981 with an official temperature of 31 degrees!)

Average rainfall for August is 3.96 inches. Milford Lake recorded 8.66 inches during the month and Junction City received 7.42 inches. Year to date Junction City has received 33.25 inches, Milford Lake 34.95 inches. Average annual rainfall is 33.15 inches. Keeping that average annual rainfall number in mind, from September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2019, Milford Lake recorded 51.76 inches of rain. The 12 month period prior to that (September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018) Milford Lake received 20.95 inches of rain.

September brings the official start of autumn, noticeably cooler temperatures, on average, and declining rainfall as we move out of the wet summer season. Average daily highs start the month at 87 and by the end of the month are down to 75. Overnight lows on September 1 are 63 degrees but by the 30th are down to a jacket worthy 49 degrees. While not normally expected until later in October, there is always a chance for frost in the waning days of the month. Average September rainfall is 3.28 inches.