Climate Monitoring / Climate of 2006 / September / U.S. Climate / Help
U.S. National Overview
September 2006
National Climatic Data Center
Asheville, North Carolina
Updated 6 October 2006
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Global Analysis / Global Hazards /
United States / U.S. Drought /
Extremes
Maps and Graphics:
PLEASE NOTE: All temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the Climate Monitoring Products page.
For graphics covering periods other than those mentioned above or for tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for September, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.
National Overview:
September
- 31st coolest September on record (1895-2006). (Most recent below average monthly U.S. temperature: August 2004 - 5th coolest on record)
- 7th coldest September for the Southwest Region
- Only 5 states above normal temperatures in September: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Vermont
- 37th wettest September for U.S.
- Wettest September on record for Kentucky
- South Dakota ranked 6th wettest September
- Regionally, wet in Southwest, West North Central, Central and Northeast
For information on local temperature and precipitation records during the month, please visit NCDC's Extremes page.
- Drought conditions persisted in the South and northern Plains, with exceptional drought continuing in parts of northeast Texas. For more information on drought during September, please visit the U.S. Drought page.
- Four hurricanes (Florence, Gordon, Helene and Isaac) developed in the Atlantic Basin in September. Florence impacted the island of Bermuda as a Category 1 storm.
- In the East North Pacific Basin, Hurricane Lane made landfall in Mexico as a Category 3 storm.
- El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions began a transition to a warm phase (El Niño) in the tropical Pacific basin by the end of August. During the first half of September, El Niño conditions developed as the SSTs and oceanic heat content increased rapidly since the beginning of the month. For more information on ENSO conditions, please visit the NCDC ENSO Monitoring page and the latest NOAA ENSO Advisory.
For additional details, see the Monthly and Seasonal Highlights section below and visit the September Climate Summary page.
For details and graphics on weather events across the U.S. and the globe please visit NCDC's Global Hazards page.
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Monthly and Seasonal Highlights:
National:
For additional national, regional, and statewide data and graphics from 1895-present, for September, the last 3 months or other periods, please visit the Climate At A Glance page.
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- September 2006 was the 31st coolest September in the 1895-2006 record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 64.7°F (18.2°C).
- September had above-average precipitation nationally, ranking as the 37th wettest September in the 1895-2006 record. An average of 2.68 inches (68 mm) fell over the contiguous U.S. in September, 0.2 inches (5 mm) above the 20th century mean for the month.
- The 3-month period (July-September) was the 12th warmest in the 1895-to-present record. The preliminary nationally averaged July-September temperature was 72.1°F (22.3°C). The warmest July-September period on record occurred in 1998 (73.5°F or 23.1°C). A total of 8.23 inches (208 mm) of precipitation fell during this 3-month period, which corresponds to a ranking of 32nd wettest.
- The 6-month (April-September) national average temperature was the warmest such period on record. The nationally-averaged temperature was 67.9°F (20°C). At 15.56 inches (393 mm), April - September precipitation was below-normal and ranked as the 40th driest such period in the 1895-2006 record.
- January to September has been the warmest such year-to-date period on record. The nationally averaged year-to-date temperature was 58.3°F (14.6°C). The previous record of 58.2°F (14.6°C) was set in 2000. The year-to-date period was the 29th driest January-September in the 112-year record, receiving a national average of 21.72 inches (548 mm) of precipitation during the period, or 1.0 inches (24 mm) below the 20th Century average.
- October 2005 - September 2006 was the 2nd warmest such period in the 1895-2006 record. The preliminary nationally-averaged 12-month temperature was 55.1°F (12.8°C). Precipitation was below-average for the October 2005 - September 2006 period, ranking it as the 37th driest October-September in the 111-year record. The nationally-averaged 12-month precipitation accumulation was 28.40 inches (717 mm).
Regional and Statewide:
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PLEASE NOTE: All of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the Climate Monitoring Products page.
For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:
Climate Services Division NOAA/National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 fax: 828-271-4876 phone: 828-271-4800 email: ncdc.info@noaa.gov
For further information on the historical climate perspective presented in this report, contact:
Jay Lawrimore NOAA/National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 fax: 828-271-4328 email: Jay.Lawrimore@noaa.gov
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Climate Monitoring / September / U.S. Climate / Help
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