September 2011 Summary

Another hot month with average precipitation

With an average temperature that was 1.8 degrees above average, September was the third hotter than average month in a row.  But it certainly wasn't consistent warm as the month was a battle between the cold arctic air masses and hotter air from the south.  As a result we saw some drastic temperature changes such as a high of 30.5 C on the third and then a high of only 15.5 C two days later.


The precipitation for September was within the average range (95.3 mm compared to an average of 87.5 mm) even though there were 17 days with some measured precipitation, which is more than the average of 12.  There were a couple of days with over 20 mm (the 19th and 27th) while the rest of it was was spread over many days with a bit of precipitation here and there.

The total precipitation at the end of September is 799.3 mm, which is still above the average of 680.7 mm for the end of the month.

Summary for September 2011:
Maximum Temperature 30.5°C
Minimum Temperature 3.5°C
Average Daily High Temperature 20.8°C (Long term average 20.0°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 11.1°C (Long term average 8.3°C)
Total Precipitation 95.3 mm (Long term average 87.5 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1971-2000 data for the Waterloo Wellington Airport)

Summer 2011 Summary

A dry and hot Summer

The hottest July in over 50 years followed by a warm August and September resulted in a summer that was one and half degrees higher than average.  The 35.7°C on July 21st was the highest temperature we had seen in over 10 years.

Although the last half the summer was more or less average for precipitation it didn't make up for the very dry start to the summer that included the 7th driest July seen in the region.  The total precipitation was 208.9 mm compared to an average of 274.0 mm. 


This year's summer poll ended with 49% in the great catergory, 25% good, 14% OK, 5% bad, 4% total washout.  Although this summer was different than the last ones the results always seem to be same no matter what the weather.

Summary for Summer 2011:
Maximum Temperature 35.7°C
Minimum Temperature 3.5°C
Average Daily High Temperature 25.5°C (Long term average 24.2°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 14.1°C (Long term average 12.2°C)
Total Precipitation 208.9 mm (Long term average 274.0 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1971-2000 data for the Waterloo Wellington Airport)

Summer 2011 poll

Let's see what everybody thought of this year's warm and dry summer.

The poll is located at the top of the UW weather station blog.

August 2011 Summary

Another hot month with average precipitation

Another hot month coming in at 1.5 degrees warmer than average (the last time we had a colder than average one was back in March).  The warmth was pretty consistent with lots of days where the highs were over 24°C but it never got over 30°C. 

It was a pretty typical August in terms of precipitation, we got 79.7 mm which is within the average range for the month.  There were a couple of big days when we were hit by typical August convective storms like the 31.4 mm on the 9th or the 17.9 mm on the 14th.  After two dry months I think everyone's lawns and gardens will agree that this month made it a lot easier to survive.

The total precipitation for the year of 704.0 mm is still above the average for the end of August (596.0 mm).

Summary for August 2011:
Maximum Temperature 29.3°C
Minimum Temperature 11.3°C
Average Daily High Temperature 25.8°C (Long term average 24.7°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 14.6°C (Long term average 12.6°C)
Total Precipitation 79.7 mm (Long term average 87.5 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1971-2000 data for the Waterloo Wellington Airport)

Cold tonight

With a forecast low of 1, we might see the lowest temperature since early May overnight.

PS Hopefully the August summary will be available soon, it is being worked on.