...AUGUST 2016 MID-SOUTH CLIMATE SUMMARY...
August was both warmer and wetter than normal around the Mid-South. Also the end of meteorological summer, the month ranged from 1.0 to nearly 3.0 degrees warmer than the climatological normal values at the four official sites. Likewise, Summer 2016 was over 2.0 degrees warmer than normal at the sites with a mixture of wet and dry locations around the region.
Memphis led the charge in temperatures for August, finishing the month with an average temperature of 84.6 degrees, 2.6 degrees above normal! This was enough to make August 2016 the 10th warmest August on record at Memphis. For 2016 to date Memphis remains 2.0 degrees above normal, with January through August 2016 being the 4th warmest such period on record for the site. Jackson was 2.0 degrees warmer than normal for the month of August with its monthly average of 80.6 degrees, the coolest of the four sites. However, that should in no way imply Jackson has been cool, with the site currently 1.5 degrees warmer than normal for the year to date. Jonesboro was 1.1 degrees warmer than normal for August, with an average monthly temperature of 80.9 degrees. For 2016, Jonesboro is currently 1.7 degrees warmer than normal. Finally, Tupelo finished August with an average monthly temperature of 83.3 degrees, which was 2.5 degrees warmer than normal. Like Jonesboro, Tupelo is currently at 1.7 degrees above normal for the year through the end of August. As usual, Memphis recorded the warmest temperature of all four sites with 99.0 degrees. Jonesboro recorded the coolest temperature of the four sites with a pleasant 61.0 degrees.
While the summer as a whole struggled with precipitation totals, with many areas of the Mid-South classified in drought conditions by the US Drought Monitor product, all four sites were abnormally wet during August. Jonesboro led with a monthly total 2.66” above normal, with Memphis close behind at 2.65” up on its normal monthly total. Tupelo received 1.90” of rain above its monthly normal, while Jackson was just 0.79” wetter than normal. For 2016 to date Memphis has received 14.43” of precipitation above normal, or 141% of normal. Jonesboro has also had more precipitation than normal so far this year, currently at 9.91” above normal, which is 132% of its normal. Tupelo is currently below normal for the year to date, albeit only by 0.62”. Meanwhile, Jackson is currently 2.00” drier than normal for the year to date, having received just 94% of normal.
The climate data for August 2016 are as follows:
TEMPERATURE DATA:
Memphis Jackson Jonesboro Tupelo
Average Temperature (MONTH) : 84.6 80.6 80.9 83.3
Normal Avg. Temp (MONTH) : 82.0 78.6 79.8 80.8
Departure from Normal (MONTH): 2.6 2.0 1.1 2.5
Average Temperature (YEAR) : 67.0 63.3 63.8 66.0
Normal Avg. Temp (YEAR) : 65.0 61.8 62.1 64.3
Departure from Normal (YEAR) : 2.0 1.5 1.7 1.7
Maximum Temperature : 99.0 96.0 97.0 98.0
Minimum Temperature : 70.0 62.0 61.0 69.0
PRECIPITATION DATA:
Memphis Jackson Jonesboro Tupelo
Total Precipitation (MONTH) : 5.53 3.79 5.20 5.35
Normal Precipitation (MONTH) : 2.88 3.00 2.54 3.45
Departure from Normal (MONTH): 2.65 0.79 2.66 1.90
Total Precipitation (YEAR) : 49.81 33.87 41.02 35.85
Normal Precipitation (YEAR) : 35.38 35.87 31.11 36.47
Departure from Normal (YEAR) : 14.43 -2.00 9.91 -0.62
Percent of Normal : 141% 94% 132% 98%
August Notables:
Memphis- #10 Warmest August on Record at 84.6 degrees
Summer 2016 Summary:
While September can still be warm around the region, the good news is the warmest days of the year are behind us. And warm it has been. All four climate sites were between 2.0 and 3.0 degrees ABOVE normal this summer, with all sites except Jonesboro having a Top 10 Warmest Summer on Record. Memphis was 2.9 degrees warmer than normal this summer with its average temperature of 84.3 degrees. Jackson recorded an average summer temperature of 80.5 degrees, which was 2.4 degrees above normal. While Jonesboro may have missed out on a Top 10 Warmest Summer ranking, it was still warm, with the site 2.1 degrees warmer than normal with a summer average temperature of 81.6 degrees. Tupelo was 2.4 degrees warmer than normal for the summer with an average temperature of 82.5 degrees. An additional notable for Memphis is the record streak of consecutive days the site experienced without dropping below 70.0 degrees. At the end of the day on August 31st the number of days was 82, a new record. This means Memphis was at or above 70.0 degrees for most of the summer, continuously. In addition, Memphis recorded a heat index value of 119 degrees back in June, which was the warmest heat index value experienced in at least 10 years.
Memphis was the wettest site for the summer, receiving 14.72” of rain, or 3.62” above the summer normal. Likewise, Tupelo was also above normal with its summer total of 13.75”, 1.88” wetter than normal. Jonesboro and Jackson were both drier than normal this summer by 1.24” and 3.70”, respectively.
The climate data for Summer 2016 are as follows:
TEMPERATURE DATA:
Memphis Jackson Jonesboro Tupelo
Average Temperature (Summer16) : 84.3 80.5 81.6 82.5
Normal Avg. Temp (Summer) : 81.4 78.1 79.5 80.1
Departure from Normal (Summer16): 2.9 2.4 2.1 2.4
PRECIPITATION DATA:
Memphis Jackson Jonesboro Tupelo
Total Precipitation (Summer16) : 14.72 8.63 8.59 13.75
Normal Precipitation (Summer) : 11.10 12.33 9.83 11.87
Departure from Normal (Summer16): 3.62 -3.70 -1.24 1.88
Summer 2016 Notables:
Memphis- #4 Warmest Summer on Record at 84.3 degrees
Tupelo- #5 Warmest Summer on Record at 82.5 degrees
Jackson- #7 Warmest Summer on Record at 80.5 degrees
Climate Outlook:
While meteorological fall may have begun with the start of September, the latest Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlooks indicate the region could be in store for further warmer than normal temperatures. The one month temperature outlook for the month of September highlights the region in an area of enhanced odds of warmer than normal temperatures. Meanwhile, the one month precipitation outlook for September suggests enhanced odds of below normal precipitation totals. Similar to the one month outlooks, the three month outlook covering the months of September, October, and November collectively suggests enhanced odds of above normal temperatures for the Mid-South, with the three month precipitation outlook suggesting enhanced odds for drier than normal conditions.
MAYE
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