The High Plains baked in summer heat for August, but it wasn’t all sunshine and heat. The month also brought some much-needed precipitation to parts of the Plains.
Areas that didn’t pick up moisture saw a twofold blow with the heat and lack of moisture continuing to stress some pastures and crops.
Texas had another month with several spots hitting new daily record highs. Some examples of this were Abilene, Del Rio, San Angelo, Borger and Amarillo. On Aug. 21, Abilene hit 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The next day the temperature at Del Rio also soared to 113 degrees with record highs of 112 degrees in San Angelo, 109 degrees in Borger and 108 degrees in Amarillo.
Texas wasn’t alone in the Plains for record heat in August as Gage and Lawton, Oklahoma, marked record highs Aug. 18 of 111 degrees. The next day the temperature climbed even more in Lawton to 112 degrees. In Kansas, Medicine Lodge experienced a high of 115 degrees on Aug. 24. This was not only a daily record but is likely the warmest that location has recorded this century. Dodge City also had daily record highs Aug. 24 (and Aug. 18) with highs of 106 degrees both days.
While some areas picked up good rain, some storms were severe at times with large hail and damaging winds leaving their marks.
ENSO-neutral conditions remain and are forecast to do so for a while longer. A transition to La Niña is forecast during the fall months. Once that takes place, La Niña conditions will likely continue into the winter.
As we head into September, temperatures are forecast to be above seasonal for all of the southern and central Plains.
Precipitation will likely be below seasonal norms for western Texas along with all of Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Southeast Texas is expected to see the opposite with above normal precipitation during the month.
Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and western and central Texas will likely see that trend continue the next few months as long-term models are showing below normal precipitation through November.
Warmer than average temperatures are also expected to remain for the next three months for the central United States.
I’m always keeping an eye to the sky (and the weather patterns), so watch for next month’s update.
Editor’s note: Regina Bird grew up on a farm near Belleville, Kansas. The views from the farm helped spur her interest in weather. Following high school, she went on to get a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from the University of Kansas. She worked as a television meteorologist for nine years in Nebraska. Follow her on Twitter: @ReginaBirdWX.
