August 2010: the Hottest August Ever

HOUSTON - August in Houston is usually hot, but August 2010 will go down in the record books.

This year will record the hottest August ever for the 4 major recording sites around the FOX26 viewing area.

And if you ever thought, ’This is the hottest month EVER,’ you were right.

Recently release information from the National Weather Service confirms your sweaty suspicions.

Houston has never seen a month, any month, as hot. Galveston also hit their second hottest month ever.

Below is the 5 warmest average monthly temperatures for the four primary climate sites of our area.

Houston

87.1 AUG 1951
87.4 JUL 2009
87.5 JUL 1980
87.5 AUG 1962
87.7 AUG 2010

College Station

89.1 AUG 2010
89.1 JUL 2009
88.6 JUL 1998
88.5 AUG 1951
87.9 JUL 1996

Galveston

87.4 JUL 1875
87.3 AUG 2010
86.6 AUG 2005
86.6 JUL 1996
86.5 AUG 2009

Houston (Hobby Airport)

86.9 AUG 2010
86.7 JUL 2009
86.6 JUL 1998
86.4 AUG 1999
86.2 AUG 2009

’A strong upper level ridge of high pressure did not want to go away,’ FOX26 Meteorologist John Dawson explained. ’The skies stayed clear for maximum daytime heating.’

The humidity levels for Southeast Texas were also higher than normal during August. Many in Houston will remember the repeated Heat Advisory from the National Weather.

The heat and humidity combined for dangerous conditions.

’Humid air is uncomfortable in the afternoon but it also does not cool very well during the evenings, Dawson said. ’The overnight low temps had a tough time falling below 80. Those afternoons were hot, but I think the consistent above average evening lows is really what made us set the record for hottest month ever.’

’Our lawns also noticed the lack of rain during August 2010,’ Dawson said. ’We almost set some records for being a dry August too.’

August 2010 was headed towards the list of top five driest Augusts on record until the last 2 days.

Showers and thunderstorms brought some much needed rain and kept it from the precipitation record books.