August 2014 Summary – Sixth Sunniest on Record

Blue Hill Observatory
August 2014 Summary:

The month was notable for being cooler, drier and much sunnier than average.  The 24-hour mean temperature for the month of 68.6F was 0.5 degree warmer the 120-year average for August, though this was about one degree cooler than the 1981-2010 30-year average.  The maximum temperature for the month was 89F on the 26th and 27th, and the coldest temperature was 54F on the 19th and 29th.  This was the second consecutive August to not have a single 90-degree day. There were no daily temperature records during the month.  The total precipitation for August of 1.55 inches was about two and a half inches drier than both the 120-year average and the 1981-2010 mean. Most of the monthly total, 1.09 inches, fell during tropical downpours in less than 24 hours on the 13th. There were nine days with measurable precipitation during August, and this was one below the average. Thunderstorms were observed on two days during the month, which is two fewer than average, and the annual total of 17 thunderstorm days is two fewer than average through August. The mean wind speed for August was 10.1 mph, which ties for the sixth lowest on record, and the prevailing wind direction for the month was S. The annual mean wind speed is tied for the second lowest through August. The peak wind gust during the month was only 35 mph from the ESE during the rains on the 13th, which was the lowest peak gust in August since 28 mph in 1996.  August was exceptionally sunny with bright sunshine totaling 287.3 hours or 70 percent of possible. This was 12 percent more than the 120-year average for the month, and August was the sixth sunniest on record and the sunniest since 1995, which had 72 percent.

Summer 2014 Summary:

The 2014 summer season (June – August) was warmer, drier and much sunnier than average. The 24-hour mean temperature for summer of 69.1F was 1.8 degrees warmer the 120-year average for summer and 0.6 degree warmer than the 1981-2010 30-year average. Summer precipitation totaled 8.84 inches, which was about two and a half inches less than the long-term mean and about three and a half inches drier than the 30-year average. This was the driest summer since 6.83 inches was measured in 2007. The year-to-date precipitation through August is also now slightly below average. Bright sunshine during the summer was 66 percent of possible, which is 9 percent more than the 120-year average. This was the fourth sunniest summer on record and the sunniest since 1971, which had 71 percent of the possible bright sunshine.