Numbers for August So Far

Last night was pretty miserable.  The overnight minimum was only 78˚F.  If 78˚F were to survive through the calendar day, it would stand as the highest daily minimum ever recorded in August (the current record is 77˚F, observed several times).  The highest daily minimum on record is 81˚F on July 18, 2016.  

Really, August rates pretty high on the misery scale overall.  As illustrated by the graph below, the August 1-19 period has been remarkably warm with an average temperature of 83.9˚F, which is the 2nd highest all time behind only 2013 (84.1˚F).  

Source: NOAA Regional Climate Centers

During the month to date, every day has had a maximum above average and a minimum at or above average (range of average temperatures in graphic below indicated by green fill).  

Source: NWS

In addition, 7 of the 18 days have had a maximum of 100˚F or greater and all but three have had a maximum of 95˚F or greater.  

Was there any night relief?  Not really.  The lowest temperature observed so far is 64˚F on the 14th.  Nine days failed to dip below 70˚F.

I'm actually surprised that this wasn't August 1-18 on record.  I can't remember 2013.  Given the pandemic, it seems like 70 years ago instead of 7.  

I hopped in the Wasatch Weather Weenies time machine and found one post declaring that it was Easily the Hottest Ever and another claiming, unofficially of course, that it was The Most Boring Summer Ever.  

Although this August might have a shot at being the warmest on record, I'm not sure the summer can get there.  You might recall that we had the occasional and greatly appreciated cold surge in June and early July.  As such, the average temperature for the summer so far (i.e., June 1 - July 18) is "only" 77.5˚F, well behind 2013 (80.8) and only the 13th warmest on record.  

Source: NOAA Regional Climate Centers

I haven't run the numbers to see where we'd stand if we maintain this heat through the end of the month and I'm hoping not to find out.   

The NWS does have a 20% chance of an isolated thunderstorm this afternoon, which is about as exciting as it gets right now.