NATIONAL STORM SUMMARY

AUGUST 2019

 

1-10: Heavy showers were confined to a few areas, mainly on the eastern Plains, across Florida’s peninsula, and along the central Gulf Coast.  In parts of eastern Kansas and environs, multiple rounds of heavy rain sparked local flooding.  Elsewhere, spotty showers occurred across the eastern half of the country, as well as the Four Corners States and parts of the northern Intermountain West.  However, the rain was generally not heavy enough across drier sections of the central and eastern Midwest to offset the effects of short-term dryness.

 

11-17: The week began in the midst of a heavy rain event across the nation’s midsection.  On August 11, daily-record rainfall totals included 3.19 inches in Omaha, NE, and 2.84 inches in Goodland, KS.  Rain extended across the northern Plains, where Pierre, SD, received 1.66 inches—a record for August 11—and into the Midwest.  In the latter region, Columbia, MO, collected 2.40 inches, also a record for the 11th.  The rainfall persisted into August 12, when record setting totals reached 2.68 inches in St. Louis, MO, and 1.78 inches in Concordia, KS.  Throughout the week, localized downpours affected the lower Southeast.  Jacksonville, FL, reported a daily record sum (3.18 inches) on August 11, with 2.68 inches falling in a 30-minute period.  Elsewhere in Florida, daily-record amounts included 2.59 inches (on August 14) in Tampa and 3.29 inches (on August 16) in Sarasota-Bradenton.  Farther north near the Atlantic Seaboard, daily-record totals reached 3.04 inches (on August 16) in Wilmington, NC, and 2.18 inches (on August 15) at Virginia’s Dulles Airport.  Parts of the lower Midwest also noted heavy showers, with daily-record totals occurring on August 13 in New Philadelphia, OH (2.74 inches), and Evansville, IN (2.10 inches).  Elsewhere, severe thunderstorms produced large hail on several occasions, especially on the central High Plains.  On August 13, north of Bethune, CO, a hailstone measured more than 4.8 inches in diameter, weighed 8.5 ounces, and had a circumference of nearly 13 inches.

 Searing heat across the south-central U.S. peaked early in the week and again at week’s end.

 

18-24: Showery weather stretched from the central Plains into much of the eastern U.S., including all but northern corn belt areas.  Rainfall amounts were highly variable, but totals ranged from 2 to 4 inches or more in several locations.  Showery weather stretched from the central Plains into much of the eastern U.S., including all but northern corn and soybean production areas.  Rainfall amounts were highly variable, but totals ranged from 2 to 4 inches or more in several locations. 

Multiple rounds of heavy rain struck the mid-South and environs.  In Arkansas, Fort Smith’s month-to-date rainfall climbed to 10.42 inches (518 percent of normal), aided by three consecutive daily-record amounts (3.74, 1.29, and 4.04 inches) from August 22-24.  Heavy rain also fell on the central Plains, where Hastings, NE, netted consecutive daily-record totals (2.06 and 1.46 inches, respectively) on August 23-24.  Grand Island, NE, set an August record with 10.03 inches of rain (401 percent of normal) through the 24th.  Previously, Grand Island received 8.73 inches in August 1977.  Elsewhere, daily-record totals topped the 3-inch mark in several locations, including Lake Charles, LA (4.90 inches on August 20); Baton Rouge, LA (3.56 inches on August 21); Augusta, GA (3.20 inches on August 23); Broken Bow, NE (3.18 inches on August 21); and Pine Bluff, AR (3.13 inches on August 23).  In the Midwest, daily-record totals topped 2 inches in locations such as Des Moines, IA (2.77 inches on August 20), and St. Joseph, MO (2.10 inches on August 21).  Western showers were generally lighter and much more isolated, although daily records were established in Clayton, NM (1.34 inches on August 23), and Billings, MT (0.97 inch on August 22).

 

25-31: Mostly dry weather in the West and the Mid-Atlantic States contrasted with locally heavy showers from the eastern Plains into the Southeast. Some of the heaviest rain, locally 4 inches or more, fell in Missouri and portions of neighboring states. On the southern High Plains, however, heat continued to aggravate the effects of short-term dryness.

 

More heavy rain falling across the nation’s mid-section, the wettest August on record came to a close in locations such as Grand Island, NE (11.94 inches, or 383 percent of normal); Fort Smith, AR (11.70 inches, or 452 percent); and Goodland, KS (9.47 inches, or 351 percent). In Grand Island, the only wetter month was June 1967, when 13.96 inches fell. Across this region, heavy showers occurred mostly during the second half of the week. For example, daily-record totals included 1.87 inches (on August 29) in Hill City, KS, and 1.64 inches (on August 30) in Columbia, MO. From August 25-31, Columbia’s rainfall totaled exactly 4 inches. Several other areas received locally heavy showers, with dailyrecord totals topping the 2-inch mark in Montgomery, AL (2.51 inches on August 25); Bismarck, ND (2.33 inches on August 25); and Bowling Green, KY (2.14 inches on August 27). In contrast, Flagstaff, AZ, remained on track to experience its driest monsoon season on record. From June 15 – August 31, Flagstaff’s rainfall totaled just 1.13 inches (19 percent of normal). Mostly dry weather accompanied near- or above-normal temperatures in Alaska

 

Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com