logo
September Stats - Third wettest, Fourth Warmest on Record
news image
Special Stories
11 Oct 2018 8:28 AM
[Flooding from Hurricane Florence in Bladen County, NC on September 18. From Liz Roll/FEMA] [NOAA] Heat and lots of rainfall, thanks in part to Hurricane Florence, were the key factors in last month’s ranking as fourth hottest and third wettest September on record for the contiguous United States.

Let’s take a closer look at the highlights from NOAA’s latest U.S. climate report:

Climate by the numbers

September 2018

The average September temperature across the contiguous U.S. was 67.8 degrees F (2.9 degrees above average), making it the fourth hottest September in the 124-year record, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). States across the Southwest, and spanning the Mississippi River to the East Coast, saw above-average temperatures. Some areas of the Northwest and Great Plains had near- to below-average temperatures.

The average precipitation for September was 3.49 inches (1 inch above average), making it the third wettest September on record. Slow-moving Hurricane Florence dropped torrential rainfall that triggered record flooding in eastern parts of the Carolinas. Parts of the Southern Plains and Midwest also saw record-setting rainfall, while the West was mostly dry.

More stats of note

  • Florence's grim aftermath: The hurricane’s prolonged storm surge and historic flooding was responsible for at least 51 deaths. The single highest rain total from Florence of 35.93 inches was recorded in Elizabethtown, N.C.

  • Hurricane Olivia soaked Hawaii: Olivia – the first tropical cyclone to make landfall on the Hawaiian islands of either Maui or Lanai – brought more than 12 inches of rain and destructive flooding.

  • Drought improved: September ended with 29 percent of the contiguous U.S. in drought, down from 34.4 percent measured at the end of August.

For more information: Access NOAA’s climate reports and download images from the NCEI website.

Edited for WeatherNation by Meteorologist Mace Michaels

All Weather News
Storms Develop in Texas & Oklahoma Once Again Sunday
Storms Develop in Texas & Oklahoma Once Again Sunday
We are deep into the Spring severe weather se
2 Apr 2023 1:40 AM
Storm Damage Throughout the Northeast Saturday
Storm Damage Throughout the Northeast Saturday
The strong low pressure system and cold front
2 Apr 2023 1:30 AM
Looking Ahead: Yet Another Coast to Coast Storm First Week of April
Looking Ahead: Yet Another Coast to Coast Storm First Week of April
Another coast-to-coast storm is expected to m
2 Apr 2023 1:15 AM
High Fire Danger This Weekend
High Fire Danger This Weekend
Strong winds and dry air have combined once a
1 Apr 2023 11:10 PM
Numerous Violent Tornadoes Rip Across the Midwest and South
Numerous Violent Tornadoes Rip Across the Midwest and South
A rare "high risk" severe weather event unfol
1 Apr 2023 9:40 PM
Saturday Features a Few Storms in the Southeast
Saturday Features a Few Storms in the Southeast
The same front that brought widespread storms
1 Apr 2023 9:25 PM
Blizzard Conditions End As Snow Tapers in the Midwest
Blizzard Conditions End As Snow Tapers in the Midwest
The same system that produced severe weather
1 Apr 2023 4:05 PM