August rain a near record

The 2 inches of rain on Aug. 23-24 was the most precipitation during an 11-day period that totaled 2.6 inches, the month's entire rainfall. Only 2016's 2.9 inches and the 6.3 inches in 2004 were higher for August this century. The rain was 113% above, 1.4 inches over, the century's average of 1.2 inches.

There has been an inch or more of rain 10 years since 2000 but only three Augusts since 2015. Of the eight years with less than half an inch of rain, four have been since 2017, including 0.5 inches in 2023.

The 21.4 inches of rain this year is 3.1 inches above the century average of 18.3 inches for ­January-August, 17% above the year's century average. Rainfall this year is over twice 2023's amount to date.

Since May, rainfall has been 2.9 inches over the century average; almost half of that is August's precipitation.

Temperatures were below normal for the month. While the day's high topped 80 degrees three times, with the month's high of 82 degrees on the 9th, after Aug. 19 temperatures did not rise above 77.2 degrees (on Aug. 31). The 72.7 degrees average daily high was 1.3 degrees below the century average, Last year saw six days above 80 degrees.

Morning lows were below 49.6 degrees Aug 27-31, with the month's low of 42.6 Aug. 28. The average daily low temperature of 50.4 degrees is 1.8 degrees below the century average. There were nine lows below 50 degrees.

The average daily average of 62.1 degrees is 0.5 degrees below that norm.

No air temperature or precipitation records were set last month.

Rain Report: Aug. 2024

Rain last week, Aug. 25-31: 0.3

Rainfall for month: 2.6

Number of rain days: 6

Average rainfall 2000-2024: 1.2

Least rain: 0.01, 2012

Most rain: 6.29, 2004

Rainfall last month, July: 1

All totals in inches. Data from WSU Mount Vernon, Memorial Highway weather station..