NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
National Overview
The release of the September 2024 U.S. Climate Reports was delayed approximately two weeks, until October 25, due to significant infrastructure damage from Hurricane Helene that affected operations at NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) headquarters in Asheville, NC.
September Highlights
September Temperature
The contiguous U.S. average temperature during September was 68.6°F, 3.8°F above average, ranking second warmest in the 130-year record.
Generally, temperatures were above average across much of the contiguous U.S., with near average temperatures observed from portions of central Texas, into the mid-Mississippi Valley, and to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coast.
For the month of September, Arizona, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota each ranked warmest on record.
The contiguous U.S. average maximum (daytime) temperature during September was 81.8°F, 4.1°F above the 20th century average, ranking second warmest September for daytime temperatures in the historical record. Maximum temperatures were above average across much of the western half of the contiguous U.S. as well as from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast and across portions of Florida. Temperatures were below average across parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast. Wyoming, South Dakota, and Minnesota each ranked warmest on record, while North Dakota, Arizona, and Wisconsin each had their second warmest September for daytime temperatures.
The contiguous U.S. average minimum (nighttime) temperature during September was 55.4°F, 3.5°F above the 20th century average, ranking fourth warmest September for overnight temperatures. Minimum temperatures were above average across much of the contiguous U.S. with near average temperatures concentrated across portions of the central U.S. Washington, North Dakota, and South Dakota ranked warmest on record while Florida ranked second warmest.
The Alaska statewide September temperature was 42.1°F, 1.5°F above average, ranking in the warmest third of the 100-year period of record for the state. Temperatures were above average across much of the North Slope, Cook Inlet, Southeast Interior, and Northeast Gulf regions as well as portions of the Panhandle, Aleutians, and adjacent regions. Near-average temperatures were observed for much of the remaining portion of the state.
Based on NOAA's Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index (REDTI), the contiguous U.S. temperature-related energy demand during September was 131 percent of average and the 30th-highest value in the 130-year period of record.
September Precipitation
The September precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. was 2.23 inches, 0.26 inch below average, ranking in the driest third of the 130-year record.
Precipitation was below average in the coastal Pacific Northwest, from the Southwest to the Great Lakes, and into the Northeast. Above-average precipitation occurred across much of the Southeast and in portions of the South and West.
Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota each had their driest September on record. Conversely, Tennessee ranked fourth wettest on record for the month.
Across the state of Alaska, the average monthly precipitation was 4.15 inches, ranking in the middle third of the historical record. Conditions were wetter-than-average across the Northeast and Southeast Interior regions and drier-than-average across the Aleutians, West Coast, Central Interior, and Northeast Gulf regions.
According to the October 1 U.S. Drought Monitor, about 31.5% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up about 1.6% from the beginning of September. Drought conditions expanded or intensified across portions of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Plains, and West. Drought contracted or was reduced in intensity across portions of the Southeast. Since the beginning of June, abnormal dryness and drought across the contiguous U.S. increased from about 26% to nearly 80% in mid-October, illustrating the rapid expansion of dryness across the country during the summer and early fall.
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters
Three new hurricanes (Debby, Helene, and Milton) and one tornado outbreak were added to the billion-dollar weather and climate disaster total. The year-to-date total now stands at 24 events — the second-highest event total for this period.
The U.S. has sustained 400 separate weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2024). The total cost of these 400 events exceeds $2.785 trillion, but does not include cost estimates for Hurricanes Helene and Milton since data are still being gathered for these events.
Year-to-Date Highlights
January-September Temperature
For the January-September period, the average contiguous U.S. temperature was 58.2°F, 3.1°F above average, ranking second warmest on record for this period.
Temperatures were above average across the entire contiguous U.S. with pockets of record warm conditions across portions of the Southwest, Ohio Valley, and Northeast.
Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire each ranked warmest on record while Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine each ranked second warmest for the January–September period.
The contiguous U.S. average maximum (daytime) temperature during January-September was 70.2°F, 2.9°F above the 20th century average, ranking third warmest in the historical record. Above-average temperatures were observed across much of the contiguous U.S. with pockets of near-normal temperatures observed across portions of the South. West Virginia ranked warmest on record, while Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Maine each ranked second warmest for daytime temperatures during the January-September period.
The contiguous U.S. average minimum (nighttime) temperature during this nine-month period was 46.2°F, 3.4°F above the 20th century average, ranking warmest on record. Above-average nighttime temperatures were observed across much of the contiguous U.S. with areas of record warmth located across portions of the West, South, and Upper Midwest and from the Great Lakes to most of the Northeast. New Mexico, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island each ranked warmest on record.
The Alaska January-September temperature was 32.4°F, 2.3°F above the long-term average, ranking in the warmest third of the historical record for the state. Much of the state had temperatures that were above normal for the nine-month period while temperatures were near average across portions of the Panhandle, Aleutians, and south-central and eastern interior regions.
Based on REDTI, the contiguous U.S. temperature-related energy demand during January-September was 46 percent of average and was the 11th-lowest value on record.
January-September Precipitation
The January-September precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. was 25.16 inches, 1.98 inch above average, ranking 15th wettest in the 130-year record.
Precipitation was above average across portions of the West, Upper Midwest, South, and from the Southeast to the Northeast. Pockets of below-average precipitation were scattered across the Northwest, northern Rockies, Southwest, central Plains, and central Appalachians. Rhode Island had its second wettest January-September period on record.
The January-September precipitation ranked in the wettest in third of the 100-year record for Alaska, with record-wet precipitation across the West Coast, above-average precipitation across the North Slope and interior regions. Precipitation was below average across portions of the Aleutians and Panhandle regions.
Extremes
The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) for the year-to-date period was 90 percent above average, ranking third highest in the 115-year period of record. Extremes in warm maximum and minimum temperatures were the primary contributors to this elevated CEI value. The USCEI is an index that tracks extremes (occurring in the upper or lower 10 percent of the record) in temperature, precipitation and drought across the contiguous United States.
On the regional scale, the Northeast ranked highest on record, the Upper Midwest and Southeast each ranked fourth highest, and the Northwest had its ninth-highest January-September CEI value on record. Primary drivers for these elevated regional CEI values were warm maximum and minimum temperatures, extremes in 1-day precipitation, wet PDSI in the Northeast, and extremes in the number of days with precipitation across the Northeast and Northwest.
Regional Highlights
These regional summaries were provided by the six Regional Climate Centers and reflect conditions in their respective regions. These six regions differ spatially from the nine climatic regions of the National Centers for Environmental Information.
Data and information contained in these regional reports were compiled and submitted during the first week of October and were not updated with the issuance of the national report.
Northeast (Information provided by the Northeast Regional Climate Center)
September was warm and dry overall for the Northeast. Areas of the region saw at least abnormally dry conditions introduced, with exceptional drought in West Virginia. Precipitation from Hurricane Helene made its way to West Virginia, where totals of five to eight inches allowed for 2-class improvements.
Temperature
This September was the 13th warmest for the region since 1895. The Northeast’s average temperature for the month was 63.4 degrees F, 1.8 degrees F warmer than normal. Average temperature departures for September for the 12 Northeast states ranged from 0.4 degrees F cooler than normal in Rhode Island to 2.9 degrees F warmer than normal in Maine, with nine of the states on the warm side of normal. The month was the sixth warmest for Maine, the 10th warmest for Vermont, and the 11th warmest for New Hampshire and New York.
Precipitation
The Northeast had its 23rd driest September since 1895, receiving 62 percent of normal precipitation with 2.48 inches. September precipitation for the 12 Northeast states ranged from 26 percent of normal in Delaware to 127 percent of normal in West Virginia due to rainfall from Hurricane Helene. West Virginia was the only state with more than 100 percent of normal precipitation. This September was among the 19 driest for five states: Connecticut, fifth driest; New Jersey, sixth driest; Delaware, ninth driest; Maine, 11th driest; Massachusetts, 19th driest. Islip, New York, and Wilmington, Delaware, had their driest September on record with 0.24 inches of rain and 0.33 inches of rain, respectively.
Drought
The U.S. Drought Monitor from September 3 showed 16 percent of the Northeast in drought and 7 percent of the region as abnormally dry. Exceptional drought was present in West Virginia, while extreme drought was found in that state plus a sliver of western Maryland. This was surrounded by severe and moderate drought in those states that also extended into southwestern Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, abnormal dryness was present in the Mid-Atlantic states and parts of coastal New England. Dry weather during September, along with other factors like above-normal temperatures, reduced soil moisture, and declining streamflow and groundwater levels, led to intensification and expansion of drought and abnormal dryness across the region. Exceptional drought expanded to cover 17 percent of West Virginia, with another 59 percent of the state in extreme drought, making it West Virginia’s highest such coverage since the U.S. Drought Monitor began in 2000. Severe and moderate drought covered the rest of West Virginia, making it the first time since September 2002 the entire state was in drought. Extreme drought pushed farther into western Maryland, while severe drought persisted in that state, as well as southwestern Pennsylvania. Moderate drought expanded or was introduced in parts of the Mid-Atlantic, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. The footprint of abnormal dryness expanded to include parts of all 12 Northeast states. The U.S. Drought Monitor from September 24 showed 20 percent of the Northeast in drought and 39 percent of the region as abnormally dry. During September, streamflow and/or groundwater levels were much below normal or record low in parts of the Mid-Atlantic including West Virginia, southern Maryland, southern New Jersey. In West Virginia, some communities experienced water shortages and private wells dried up. For instance, Richwood enacted mandatory water restrictions as both their main and backup water sources ran low. Enhanced water restrictions were put into place in several Massachusetts locations like Westford and Peabody. Ponds, streams, and other waterways that are typically used for cattle dried up in parts of West Virginia, causing farmers to haul water for livestock. USDA crop reports from September 24 showed all of West Virginia had topsoil moisture in the very short-short categories for the week ending September 22, the fifth week in a row. The condition of apples, corn, hay, pastures, and soybeans in that state remained in the very poor, poor, and fair categories, with none of these crops in the good or excellent categories – similar to the past few weeks. Multiple West Virginia farmers fed their winter supply of hay to livestock as pastures were dried and brown. With reduced hay yields and diminishing supplies of winter feed, farmers had to purchase hay from other areas, and many sold off livestock earlier than usual. Many farms had increased operational costs. Growers in New Jersey irrigated apples and reported browning pastures due to dry conditions. The drought conditions in West Virginia enhanced the risk of wildfires, particularly approaching the state’s fall fire season, prompting several counties including Fayette, Jackson, and Kanawha to issue or formally request burn bans. Fire restrictions were enacted in other places in West Virginia, as well, including part of the Monongahela National Forest and the city of Richwood. Dried up waterways also affected firefighting operations in that state. Additionally, other states like Delaware and Massachusetts also noted an increased risk of fires. Some drought-stressed trees in West Virginia dropped leaves early, while leaves changed colors earlier than usual in parts of Maryland, prompting concerns that fall foliage tourism would be affected.
Notable Weather
In early September, Maine saw hazy skies due to smoke from wildfires burning in the western U.S. and Canada. Between September 6 and 9, four tornadoes touched down in New York, three more than the state’s September average tornado count of one (based on data from 1999-2023). The tornadoes mostly downed trees, some of which damaged houses when they fell. Coastal locations saw a multi-day flood event from around September 17 to 24 as a stalled storm offshore coincided with King Tides (exceptionally high tides, in this case, caused by a full moon at its closest point of approach to Earth). For instance, the tidal gauge along the Chesapeake Bay at Bishops Head, Maryland, reached its fifth-highest water level in its 20-year period of record. The high water levels, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic, eroded the shoreline and flooded roads and yards, resulting in school closures in Somerset County, Maryland. Rough surf and rip currents were a concern along the entire Northeast coast. A stalled frontal boundary on the western edge of the region provided a focal point for rain and severe storms in West Virginia on September 25, producing Pocahontas County’s first tornado since records began in 1950. This pushed the state’s year-to-date tornado count to 20, making it the greatest number of tornadoes the state has seen in any year on record. The stalled system also wrapped in moisture from approaching Hurricane Helene, eventually merging with the storm on September 27. Most of West Virginia picked up some rain, with over 2 inches falling across the southern half of the state. The rainfall was much needed given the state’s drought status. The greatest rainfall totals for the September 24 to 28 period exceeded 6 inches in several West Virginia counties close to the Virginia border, resulting in localized flooding that led to road closures. Additionally, West Virginia saw wind gusts of 30 to 55 mph, with a gust of 70 mph at the Huntington Airport. Hundreds of trees were downed, some of which damaged homes and vehicles and blocked roads. Thousands of customers lost power, particularly in southern parts of the state where outages lasted for days. In fact, a utility company noted that over 50 percent of the households they served in Wyoming County had lost power. The power outages also affected rail service. After spending a few days meandering around the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys, the combined storm eventually crossed the Mid-Atlantic region before exiting off the East Coast on October 1. This brought additional opportunities for rain to southern parts of the region. In addition, with waterways already running higher in some locations due to heavy rainfall, floodwaters from upstream in western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia arrived in parts of West Virginia. For instance, Bluestone Lake, a reservoir created by a flood control dam along the New River in southeastern West Virginia, rose more than 80 feet between September 26 and 29, reaching near record high levels, with storm debris butting up against the dam. During September, persistent, and sometimes widespread, algal blooms plagued multiple waterways in New York due to a combination of factors like periodic heavy rainfall and hot temperatures.
For more information, please visit the Northeast Regional Climate Center Home Page.
Midwest Region (Information provided by the Midwest Regional Climate Center)
Temperature
The preliminary average September temperature for the Midwest was 66.9 degrees F (19.4 degrees C), which was 3.3 degrees F (1.9 degrees C) above the 1991-2020 normal. Temperatures were above normal regionwide, with the warmest anomalies across the upper Midwest and temperatures just slightly above normal in the far southern Midwest. Preliminary statewide average temperatures ranged from 1.4 degrees F (0.8 degrees C) above normal in Missouri to 6.6 degrees F (3.7 degrees C) above normal in Minnesota. Preliminary rankings indicate that Minnesota had its warmest September on record. Numerous long-running observation sites across Minnesota also reported their warmest September on record, with records broken in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Duluth. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, had its warmest September, dating back 137 years. The first week of September was marked with temperatures 1-7 degrees F (0.5-3.8 degrees C) below normal regionwide. La Crosse, Wisconsin, had its earliest 40-degree F (4.4 degrees C) reading in September since 1986. Temperatures quickly rebounded by mid-month, with persistent warmth lasting through late September. Vast swaths of Wisconsin and Michigan had a record consecutive streak of daily high temperatures at or above 80 degrees F (26.7 degrees C) for September.
Precipitation
Preliminary September precipitation totaled 2.34 inches (59 mm) for the Midwest, which was 1.08 inches (27 mm) below normal, or 68 percent of normal. There was a decisive north-south gradient in rainfall, with extreme dryness to the north and extreme wetness to the south. Preliminary statewide precipitation totals ranged from 2.73 inches (69 mm) below normal in Iowa to 3.4 inches (86 mm) above normal in Kentucky. Preliminary rankings indicate Kentucky had its 3rd wettest September on record. The remnants of Hurricane Helene largely drove Kentucky’s anomalous wetness. Helene brought 4-6 inches (101.6-152.4 mm) of widespread rain from September 27-29. Before Helene, accumulated monthly rainfall was just 25-75 percent of normal across central and eastern Kentucky. Conversely, preliminary rankings indicate that Iowa and Michigan had their 2nd driest September on record, and Minnesota had its 3rd driest. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, had their driest September on record. Numerous other long-running stations across Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan had a top five driest month.
Drought
The month ended with about 78 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought, according to the U.S. Drought (USDM) map, which was about a 34 percent expansion compared to the start of September. Exceptional (D4) drought remained widespread across southeast Ohio, while moderate to severe drought was introduced across the far upper Midwest. Abnormally dry conditions blanketed most of the region. The only areas to see significant improvement in dryness were southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and Kentucky.
For further details on the weather and climate events in the Midwest, see the weekly and monthly reports at the Midwest Climate Watch page.
Southeast (Information provided by the Southeast Regional Climate Center)
Temperature
Mean temperatures were near average across much of the Southeast in September. The exceptions were along the northern Gulf Coast, the Florida Peninsula, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where temperatures were 2 to 3 degrees F (1.1 to 1.6 degrees C) above average, with some locations over 4 degrees F (2.2 degrees C) above average for the month. Punta Gorda, FL (1914-2024), West Palm Beach, FL (1888-2024), and Key West, FL (1871-2024) recorded their warmest September on record. Tampa, FL (1890-2024), Fort Myers, FL (1902-2024), and Fort Lauderdale, FL (1912-2024) recorded their second warmest September on record. Daytona Beach, FL (1923-2024) and Miami, FL (1895-2024) recorded their third warmest September on record, while Orlando, FL (1892-2024) and Sarasota, FL (1911-2024) recorded their fourth warmest September on record. San Juan, PR (1898-2024) tied its warmest month on record (which was set back in June) with a mean temperature of 86.1 degrees F (30.1 degrees C). San Juan also tied its all-time highest daily mean temperature of 89 degrees F (31.7 degrees C) on the 15th. Dos Bocas, PR (1937-2024) and Aibonito, PR (1906-2024) recorded their warmest September on record. For the month, the National Weather Service in San Juan issued 12 excessive heat warnings. Several other stations in the Caribbean recorded one of their warmest Septembers on record, including Saint Croix (1951-2024), which tied its fifth warmest September on record. The warmest weather occurred around the beginning of the month, as temperatures reached 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C) across the Florida Panhandle and southern portions of Alabama. The coolest weather occurred on the 10th and 11th as high pressure over the Northeast U.S. moved across the northern tier of the region, with temperatures running over 10 degrees F (5.6 degrees C) below average across western portions of Virginia and North Carolina.
Precipitation
Precipitation was above average across most of the Southeast, owing to multiple tropical cyclones, a tropical disturbance, and a stalled frontal boundary along the southern tier of the region that contributed to heavy rain across parts of Florida. Tampa recorded over 9 inches (229 mm) of precipitation in just the first five days of the month. Of this, 3.39 inches (86 mm) fell in one hour on the 3rd, which is the highest hourly total on record (since 1940). For the month, Tampa recorded 13.35 inches (339 mm), making it the fifth wettest September on record (since 1890). Heavy rain was also observed across the Florida Panhandle on the 12th and 13th. Jacksonville, FL recorded its third highest hourly total on record (since 1947) with 3.09 inches (78 mm) on the 12th, while Apalachicola, FL recorded 11.90 inches (302 mm) over the two days.
Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana on the 11th of the month, bringing heavy precipitation to parts of Alabama and Georgia. Muscle Shoals, AL recorded 9.02 inches (229 mm) from the 12th to the 14th, which is the third highest 3-day total on record (since 1893). For the month, Muscle Shoals recorded 10.63 inches (270 mm), making it the wettest September on record. Many other locations recorded 5 to 10 inches (127 to 254 mm), with some locally heavier amounts, from the 11th to the 15th as the remnants of Francine moved northward.
Not long after Francine made landfall, an area of low pressure developed off the Southeast coast and slowly tracked northward towards the Carolinas. This disturbance was eventually classified as Potential Tropical Cyclone (PTC) 8 and dropped extraordinary amounts of precipitation across southeastern portions of North Carolina on the 16th of the month. The greatest amounts were found in Brunswick County, where precipitation totals exceeded 20 inches (508 mm) in places, including Carolina Beach and Bald Head Island. Remarkably, most of this precipitation fell within a 12-hour period, which exceeded the 1,000 year recurrence interval in places. Heavy precipitation was also found along parts of the Outer Banks, where up to 10 inches (254 mm) was observed in Dare County. Central and western portions of North Carolina also received between 2 and 4 inches (51 and 102 mm) from PTC-8, with some locally heavier amounts.
Hurricane Helene brought historic amounts of rainfall to parts of the Southeast. Most of the rain fell between the 25th and 28th, with more than 10 inches (254 mm) recorded from the Big Bend region of Florida through central portions of Georgia and western portions of the Carolinas and Virginia. The greatest amounts were recorded in the mountains of North Carolina, including parts of Rutherford, Buncombe, McDowell, Yancey, Avery, Watauga, and Allegheny counties, where more than 15 inches (381 mm) of precipitation was recorded. The greatest precipitation amount was from a RAWS station at Busick, NC, located in Yancey County, which recorded 31.33 inches (796 mm) from the 25th to the 27th. An ECONet station nearby on Mount Mitchell recorded 24.41 inches (620 mm), while another ECONet station at Bearwallow Mountain recorded 19.99 inches (508 mm). These amounts are several inches above the 1,000 year recurrence interval. A few CoCoRaHS gauges recorded over 20 inches (508 mm) from Helene, including 24.12 inches (613 mm) from a gauge in Spruce Pine, NC.
Several other stations recorded their all-time greatest 3-day precipitation total on record, including Boone, NC (16.67 inches or 423 mm), Sparta, NC (17.29 inches or 439 mm), Celo, NC (19.98 inches or 507 mm), and Asheville, NC (13.98 inches or 355 mm), which broke its previous record (set in 1918) by over 5 inches (127 mm). The station at Sparta recorded 10.23 inches (260 mm) on the 27th, making it the greatest daily precipitation amount on record (since 1942), while the station at Asheville, NC recorded 5.78 inches (147 mm) on the 26th, which is the second greatest daily precipitation amount on record (since 1869). For the month, Asheville recorded 17.90 inches (455 mm), making it the wettest month on record (the previous record was 14.68 inches, or 373 mm, set in May 2018). Jocassee, SC, located in the northwest corner of the state, recorded 19.69 inches (500 mm) from Helene. According to the South Carolina State Climatology Office, this is the third greatest precipitation total from a tropical cyclone in the state since 1956. Jocassee also recorded its wettest day on record (since 1948) with 10.59 inches (269 mm) on the 27th. Atlanta, GA recorded 11.12 inches (282 mm) from the 25th to the 27th, making it the second greatest 3-day total on record (since 1878) and first ever stretch of three consecutive days with at least 3 inches (76 mm) of precipitation. For the month, Atlanta recorded 12.29 inches (312 mm), which is the second wettest September on record.
Several other long-term stations recorded one of their wettest Septembers on record, including Charlotte, NC (fifth wettest with 9.49 inches or 241 mm), Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (fourth wettest with 10.94 inches or 278 mm), Albany, GA (second wettest with 12.24 inches or 311 mm), and Columbus, GA (wettest on record with 11.48 inches or 292 mm). Raleigh-Durham, NC recorded its fourth wettest month on record (since 1887) with 13.02 inches (331 mm), while Charlottesville, VA recorded its fifth wettest month on record (since 1893) with 14.10 inches (358 mm).
On the other hand, the places that missed out on the precipitation from these storms and fronts observed mostly below average precipitation for the month. These locations were found across parts of South Florida, coastal South Carolina, and eastern and northern portions of Virginia, where monthly totals ranged from 1 to 3 inches (25 to 76 mm) below average. It was also dry across much of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where many locations only recorded about half of their expected monthly total.
Drought
September began with drought and abnormal dryness covering much of the interior of the region. Moderate (D1) drought extended from the northern Gulf Coast through much of Alabama, northern portions of Georgia and South Carolina, and western portions of North Carolina and Virginia. Areas of severe (D2) drought were found across the western Panhandle of Florida, southern and northern portions of Alabama, and western portions of Virginia. The rain from Hurricane Francine led to some improvements across the northern Gulf Coast and parts of Alabama and Georgia. On the other hand, drought conditions worsened in places that missed out on the rain from Francine and PTC-8. Moderate (D1) drought expanded across central portions of Georgia and South Carolina, while severe (D2) drought expanded across northern portions of Alabama and Georgia, extreme southwestern North Carolina, and the Upstate of South Carolina. A small area of extreme (D3) drought emerged across far northeast Alabama and northwest Georgia. Pockets of abnormal dryness (D0) also emerged across eastern Virginia and North Carolina. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands continued to remain free of any drought or abnormal dryness, marking one of the longest such stretches in the region in over six years.
Agriculture
Dry conditions across the interior of the region put significant stress on dryland crops, reducing hay production and delaying the planting of winter grains like rye, wheat, and winter forage. Many fields were unsalvageable due to prolonged drought and depleted irrigation systems, and in some areas, even recent rains failed to make a noticeable difference. Corn yields, particularly for early-planted varieties, were below average, while soybeans and peanuts suffered from the combined effects of heat and dryness. Some peanut fields urgently needed rain for harvesting, while many soybean producers worried that drought would prevent their late-planted crops from reaching full maturity. Hay producers struggled with dry conditions and armyworm infestations, leading to concerns about completing a third cutting. Pastures in dry parts of the region continued to deteriorate, forcing livestock producers to supplement with hay, and some were worried about the condition of their cattle and the availability of winter feed. The dry, warm weather was suitable for field operations across the interior of the region, such as harvesting corn, peanuts, and soybeans, and defoliating cotton fields. Cotton progressed well, though some fields had not recovered from Hurricane Debby. Hurricane Francine brought beneficial rain to parts of Alabama and Georgia, while PTC-8 helped replenish moisture across parts of North Carolina and Virginia, but some areas faced flooding, high winds, and increased disease pressures from saturated soils and high humidity, particularly for peanuts and cotton. Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to many crops, particularly those that were maturing towards harvest. In Georgia, over 100 poultry farms were damaged or destroyed. Agricultural losses in the state are expected to exceed those from Hurricane Michael in 2018, while insurance payouts across the region could reach $7 billion.
Notable Weather
There were 164 reports of severe weather across the Southeast in September, which is above the median frequency of 100 reports over the period 2000-2023 (164 percent of normal). There were 38 confirmed tornadoes (1 EF-U, 21 EF-0s, 14 EF-1s, 1 EF-2, 1 EF-3), which is more than 2.5 times the median frequency of 15 (253 percent of normal). Two EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed in eastern North Carolina in association with PTC-8 on the 15th and 16th. The remaining tornadoes were associated with Hurricane Helene from the 25th through the 27th and were found across eastern Georgia, central and eastern portions of the Carolinas, and western portions of North Carolina and Virginia. An EF-1 tornado touched down near the town of Blowing Rock, NC in Watauga County on the evening of the 25th. According to the North Carolina State Climate Office, this is the first confirmed tornado in the county since 1997. The strongest tornado was an EF-3 that caused significant damage in the town of Rocky Mount, NC in Wilson County on the afternoon of the 27th. Several buildings were destroyed and at least a dozen vehicles were tossed around. Fifteen injuries have been confirmed from this tornado. This is the second EF-3 tornado to touch down in Wilson County in the last two months (the other occurred with Hurricane Debby on August 8th). Around the same time, an EF-2 tornado touched down in Pittsylvania County in south-central Virginia. Over two dozen structures were damaged and one mobile home was destroyed. One injury has been confirmed from this tornado.
The precipitation from PTC-8 led to catastrophic flash flooding and river flooding across southeastern North Carolina on the 16th of the month, affecting many of the same areas that were impacted by Hurricane Debby just six weeks earlier. Water levels rose above 3 feet (0.9 m) at Carolina Beach, forcing the evacuation of a local elementary school. Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet (0.3 to 0.9 m) was observed along the Carolina coastline from the mouth of the Santee River in South Carolina to the Outer Banks and coastal sounds of North Carolina. Parts of Highway 12 on Ocracoke were closed due to overwash and many roads in places like Emerald Isle, Morehead City, and Beaufort, were impassable due to flood waters.
There were 121 wind reports in September, which is above the median frequency of 77 reports (157 percent of normal). Straight-line winds of 50 to 60 mph (22 to 27 m/s) uprooted and snapped numerous trees and power lines, and caused some structural damage in Blount County in northern Alabama on the 13th. Wind gusts over 50 mph (22 m/s) were recorded across eastern portions of the Carolinas in association with PTC-8, with some places, such as the famous Johnnie Mercers fishing pier on Wrightsville Beach, NC, recording gusts over 70 mph (31 m/s). There were seven hail reports in September, which is above the median frequency of nine reports (129 percent of normal). The largest hailstones were 1.75 inches (44 mm), or golf ball-sized, and were reported in Augusta and Amherst counties in Virginia on the 21st and in Giles County, Virginia on the 24th. A 16 year old boy was struck and killed by lightning while riding his bike in Pembroke Pines, FL on the 18th. This is the fifth lightning fatality in Florida this year. In addition, there were two rip current fatalities in Puerto Rico.
Atlantic Hurricane Season
Six tropical cyclones formed in the Atlantic basin in September (Hurricane Francine, Tropical Storm Gordon, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Issac, Tropical Storm Joyce, and Hurricane Kirk). Francine was named on the 9th of the month, which was 28 days after the previous storm, Ernesto, was named on August 12th, marking the longest stretch between named storms in the Atlantic basin since 1968. The outer bands of Francine produced 30 to 40 mph (13 to 18 m/s) wind gusts across much of Alabama, with some gusts over 50 mph (22 m/s).
On the evening of the 26th, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, FL as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (63 m/s). It is the strongest and one of the largest landfalling hurricanes on record in the Big Bend region of Florida. Although the system weakened quickly, its rapid movement resulted in hurricane force wind gusts as far inland as northern Georgia and western North Carolina. As Helene was a very large hurricane, tropical storm force winds were recorded more than 300 miles (483 km) from the storm’s center. The impacts from Helene were catastrophic, from record-breaking storm surge (over 15 feet or 4.6 m in places) and coastal inundation along the West Coast of Florida to flooding of biblical proportions and numerous landslides across the western Carolinas. Helene will be remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in the region’s history.
In Florida, record storm surge was recorded at Cedar Key, East Bay, Old Port Tampa, and Port Manatee, which all broke their previous records from Hurricane Idalia in 2023 by over 2 feet (0.6 m). Clearwater and Saint Petersburg also broke their previous records by over 2 feet (0.6 m). Wind gusts across the Big Bend region were between 60 and 70 mph (27 and 31 m/s) on the 27th, with some gusts over 80 mph (36 m/s). A gust of 99 mph (44 m/s) was recorded in Perry, FL. Further inland, gusts of 90 and 100 mph (40 and 45 m/s) were recorded in Alma, GA, making them the two fastest gusts on record (since 1948). Savannah, GA recorded a gust of 76 mph (34 m/s), which is the second fastest gust on record (since 1947). In fact, five of the six fastest gusts on record in Savannah were recorded during Helene. Augusta, GA recorded an 82 mph (37 m/s) gust on the 27th, its second highest gust on record (since 1947). Significant damage was reported to the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament. Tropical storm-force winds were also reported across the Carolinas and parts of Virginia, with some hurricane-force winds in the mountains and along the Outer Banks. The ECONet station at Mount Mitchell recorded a gust of 106 mph (47 m/s) on the 27th, the strongest wind observed at that station since 2011. Another ECONet station at Fryingpan Mountain recorded a gust of 87 mph (39 m/s), the strongest wind observed there since 2004.
The rainfall from Helene led to some of the most severe flooding ever observed in the region. Several rivers in western North Carolina, including the Watauga, Catawba, Swannanoa, and French Broad rose well above flood stage. The French Broad River at Fletcher crested at more than 10 feet (3 m) above its previous record set after Hurricane Frances in 2004. Several other stream gauges recorded water levels that surpassed the Great Flood of 1916, which is considered the worst flood in recorded history in western North Carolina. In fact, according to the North Carolina State Climate Office, the Swannanoa River at Biltmore may have recorded its highest crest in state history (26.1 feet or 8 m), with a record dating back to 1791. The rising waters flooded numerous communities, including Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Chimney Rock, and Lake Lure, leaving behind massive piles of mud and debris. The downtown areas of Boone, Asheville, and Morgantown were also flooded under several feet of water. Multiple communities were ordered to evacuate due to concerns over possible dam failures. Countless homes, businesses, roads, and bridges were washed away by the flood waters. Hundreds of water rescues were performed as the flood waters reached the rooftops of buildings. Much of western North Carolina was inaccessible for several days after the storm, as mudslides and landslides covered numerous roads. A portion of I-40 near the Tennessee border in McDowell County was washed away and is projected to take several months to fix.
Duke Energy reported over 700,000 customers without power in North Carolina on the 27th. By the end of the month, there were about 500,000 customers without power, and thousands still without power a week following the storm. Widespread water outages were also reported, along with major disruptions to cell phone and internet services. Over 200 fatalities have been confirmed from Helene, making it the deadliest hurricane since Katrina in 2005. More than half of the fatalities were in North Carolina, where hundreds remain missing.
For more information, please visit the Southeast Regional Climate Center Home Page.
High Plains (Information provided by the High Plains Regional Climate Center)
September was a significant step in the wrong direction for the High Plains. Record-breaking heat and dryness plagued the region, with drought concerns amplified heading into the fall months. Conditions also became conducive to wildfires as the month progressed, with several small fires breaking out across the Dakotas.
The warmth early in the year and the recent heat have led to an early harvest across the High Plains. The corn and soybean harvests are ahead of schedule in nearly every state, with near-record corn yields projected in Nebraska. Despite lower rainfall in the previous months, record to near-record yields are expected in Nebraska. On the flip side, those planting winter wheat must make the choice of either planting in dry soils or wait and hope for moisture in the near future. Topsoil moisture conditions that were rated as short to very short in Kansas and South Dakota were above 55 percent, while subsoil moisture was equally poor.
Temperature
September was scorching hot across the region, with some areas 10 degrees F (5.6 degrees C) above normal. Monthly records were shattered by up to 3 degrees F (1.7 degrees C) in the Dakotas, while every state had a location rank in the top 5 warmest.
Every major location and 19 locations in total in North Dakota recorded their warmest September on record, with several remarkable records coming from the state. Grand Forks recorded an average temperature of 67 degrees F (19.4 degrees C) this month, beating the previous record by 2.8 degrees F (1.6 degrees C). Just to the south, Fargo narrowly missed the statewide average temperature record for September. The town of Hettinger in southwestern North Dakota set the statewide average maximum temperature, with an average high of 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) this month.
South Dakota broke numerous records this month as well, with 22 locations recording their warmest September. Mobridge broke its record this month by 3.3 degrees F (1.8 degrees C), with an average temperature of 70.8 degrees F (21.6 degrees C). Sisseton and Rapid City also broke their records, while Aberdeen, Huron, and Sioux Falls ranked in the top 5 warmest.
Elsewhere in the region, several other major locations observed record warmth. Denver, Colorado narrowly broke their record, with an average temperature of 70 degrees F (21.1 degrees C). To the north, the town of Sheridan in Wyoming surpassed their record. While in Nebraska, towns in the west such as Chadron, Scottsbluff, and Valentine experienced record warmth this month.
Precipitation
Large swathes of the High Plains received less than an inch (25.4 mm) of precipitation this month, with only a few places in the region reporting above-normal precipitation. The lack of rain led to at least one prominent location in every state to record their driest month.
Nebraska was the driest, with 21 stations recording their driest September. Norfolk only observed a mere 0.03 inches (0.76 mm) of precipitation this month, beating their previous record by 0.23 inches (5.84 mm). Nearby Omaha also ranked driest, with only 0.09 inches (2.29 mm) falling. Elsewhere in the state, Chadron, Grand Island, Hastings, Lincoln, and Valentine ranked in the top 5 driest. Outside of a few pockets, the state has not seen widespread rainfall in several months.
The Dakotas were also exceptionally dry this month, with only a few locations in both states observing meaningful rainfall. In South Dakota, Sioux Falls and Mobridge received less than 0.05 inches (1.27 mm) to rank driest. Sisseton and Huron also ranked in the top 5. Up in North Dakota, Fargo ranked driest with only 0.08 inches (2.03 mm).
Wyoming has been extraordinarily dry this year, with parts of the state below 5 inches (12.7 cm) of rain through the end of September. Big Piney in the western part of the state has only recorded 3.32 inches (8.43 cm), with most of it falling in the first half of the year. Combined with the warm temperatures this summer, drought has significantly intensified in Wyoming.
Drought
The heat and dryness this month led to the widespread introduction and intensification of drought in the High Plains. Wyoming was hit the hardest this month, while the western portions of the Dakotas were also taking a significant step backward. Overall, the region observed an increase of 13 percent in abnormally dry to exceptional drought conditions (D0 to D4).
Wyoming, and particularly the eastern part of the state, has experienced below-normal precipitation for nearly a year. Extreme drought (D3) rapidly expanded this month, with 12 percent of the state encompassed at the end of the month. At the beginning of October, nearly 97 percent of the state is in D0 to D4.
Nebraska missed nearly all the rain this month, and drought conditions expanded across the state as a result. Several different areas within Nebraska experienced a two-class degradation from the dryness. Moderate drought to exceptional drought (D1 to D4) increased by nearly 21 percent in September and covers close to 50 percent of the state.
For more information, please visit the High Plains Regional Climate Center Home Page.
South (Information provided by the Southern Regional Climate Center)
Tennessee deaths from Hurricane Helene rose to 12 over the weekend, with 15 people still unaccounted for, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
Temperature
Temperatures were mixed between above normal and below normal temperatures for the month of September. Temperature were above normal for South Texas, Far West Texas, the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma, northwestern Arkansas, and much of Tennessee, where temperatures averaged 2-4 F above normal. Across Central Texas, East Texas, Deep South Texas, Northern Louisiana and Mississippi, and Southern Arkansas typically saw temperatures one to two degrees below normal. With relatively high intrastate variability in temperatures, statewide rankings are somewhat middling: Tennessee (42nd warmest, out of 130 years), Texas (45th warmest), Oklahoma (53rd warmest), and Mississippi (53rd warmest). Louisiana and Arkansas were near their historical median values. The warmest recorded temperature in the Region was 109 degrees F, which occurred at Rio Grande Village, Texas on September 20th. The coolest recorded temperature in the Region during September was 30 degrees F at Mt. Leconte, Tennessee on September 8th. The coldest lowland temperature of 41 degrees F was recorded at Hillsboro, Texas on September 8th.
Precipitation
Precipitation was mixed across the Southern Region during September. Areas in Far West Texas, South Texas, northcentral Texas, much of Oklahoma, Western Arkansas, Western Louisiana, and Central Tennessee saw below average precipitation, with most stations reporting between five and 75 percent of normal. Portions of Central Texas, Depp South Texas, the Oklahoma Panhandle, northern Texas Panhandle, Eastern Arkansas, Eastern Louisiana, portions of Mississippi and Tennessee saw 150 to 400 percent of normal precipitation. Statewide rankings for precipitation in September were: Tennessee (4th wettest), Louisiana (9th wettest), Mississippi (14th wettest), Arkansas (50th wettest). Oklahoma saw its 21st driest September out of 130 years of data. Texas was near its historical median value for September. Three stations, two in Louisiana and one in Mississippi, saw more than 19 inches of precipitation during September: near St. Rose, Louisiana (19.44 inches), near Waveland, Mississippi (19.63 inches), and near Houma, Louisiana (21.16 inches). Three stations, all in Louisiana, saw one-day accumulation totals exceed 8.5 inches: near St. Rose (8.51 inches, September 12th), near Kenner (8.77 inches, September 12th), and near Covington (9.25 inches, September 12th).
Drought/Flooding
As of October 1st, 65.8 percent of the Southern Region remained free of drought, down from 66.4 percent on September 3rd according to the US Drought Monitor. Percentages of the Region falling within each drought category remained relatively stable from September 3rd to October 1st. As of October 1st, 20 percent of the Southern Region was in Moderate Drought, 8 percent in Severe Drought, 4 percent in Extreme Drought, and 1.7 percent in Exceptional Drought. Spatially, improvements in drought conditions were observed in Central Texas, Eastern Louisiana, Northern Mississippi, Eastern Arkansas, and Western Tennessee. Degradations were observed in Western Arkansas, Eastern Oklahoma, East Texas, and Far West Texas. Cotton crops in Texas and Oklahoma are still being affected by ongoing warm temperatures and drought conditions, though conditions are better than last season at this time with 24 percent of cotton in Oklahoma in Poor to Very Poor condition (39 percent less than last year) and 50 percent in Texas rated as Poor to Very Poor (15 percent less than last year). Reports of the need to haul water and provide supplemental feed are increasing across Texas and Oklahoma, however, reports are fewer than recent years at the same point in the season.
Notable Weather
Tennessee deaths from Hurricane Helene rose to 12 over the weekend, with 15 people still unaccounted for, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. The inland toll of the devastating hurricane continues to come into focus more than a week after it first unleashed a barrage of wind and flooding across northeast Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Aside from Northeast Tennessee, the Southern Region was spared direct impacts from Hurricane Helene.
In much of the Southern Region, September was a relatively quiet month for severe weather across the Southern Region. There were five confirmed tornadoes: four EF0 and one EF1 affecting Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. No injuries or fatalities were reported. There were 15 hail reports across the Southern Region during August, the largest being 2.75 inches near The Village, Oklahoma on September 24th. There were 52 severe wind reports during September, with the fasted being 94 mph on September 17th near Texline, Texas.
For more information, please visit the Southern Regional Climate Center Home Page.
West (Information provided by the Western Region Climate Center)
September brought exceptional heat to the western region with most states seeing record breaking heat, especially in Montana, Arizona, and Washington. Extremely dry conditions remained in California and Nevada with Arizona and New Mexico joining the list from last month. Drought remained relatively the same extent over the West. Active large wildfires lessened significantly from the previous month to 28 with the most concentrated in Idaho (16) and Oregon (9).
Temperature
The month of September was highlighted by record breaking heat. Most regions in the West saw mean temperatures at least two degrees Fahrenheit above normal. The most significant heat records were shattered in eastern Montana: Glasgow (67.8 degrees Fahrenheit), 8 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, Sidney (72 degrees Fahrenheit), 11 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, Broadus (68.6 degrees Fahrenheit), 6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, and Circle (66.9 degrees Fahrenheit), 7 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. Ekalaka, MT also had the warmest September of its 115-year record at 67.7 degrees Fahrenheit, 8 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. Arizona similarly saw many towns breaking September heat records, including, Tucson (86.6 degrees Fahrenheit), 4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, Casa Grande (88.1 degrees Fahrenheit), 3 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, and Phoenix (94.6 degrees Fahrenheit), 5 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. More stations in Washington noted record September warmth like Wenatchee (70.1 degrees Fahrenheit), 6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, Yakima (66.7 degrees Fahrenheit), 5 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, and Kennewick (71 degrees Fahrenheit), 4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.
Precipitation
Almost all central to southern California and southern Nevada received zero inches of rain for the month of September. Areas in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah also saw below normal precipitation totals with northern Montana being the only region to see above normal precipitation totals. In Arizona, Happy Jack saw its driest September on record at 0.04 inches (2 percent of normal), Phoenix tied its driest at zero inches (0.57 inches below normal), and Yuma also tied its driest at zero inches (0.43 inches below normal). Some other cities of note were Deming, NM with its second driest at 0.01 inches (1 percent of normal), White Signal, NM with its third driest at 0.26 inches (16 percent of normal), La Sul, UT with a new dry record of 0.03 inches (2 percent of normal), and St. George, UT with a tied record driest at zero inches (0.67 inches below normal). On the other hand, northern Montana saw areas of above normal precipitation totals, including, Choteau with its third wettest at 3.66 inches (316 percent of normal), Lewistown with its record wettest at 6.07 inches (437 percent of normal), and Turner with its second wettest at 3.32 inches (284 percent of normal).
Drought
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) at the end of September, 37 percent of the West was in drought, only a one percent uptick from the end of August. Almost the entirety of the West is experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions (D0). Areas of extreme drought (D3) are present in southern New Mexico and western and eastern Montana. Exceptional drought (D4) can be found in western Montana. The greatest drought expansion occurred in eastern Montana where more area was upgraded to extreme drought (D3) and severe drought (D2). Areas of improvement by one drought code were seen in central Idaho and central Washington.
Alaska Summary
For the month of September, Alaska saw mostly normal temperatures across the state, except for above average temperatures in the Far North. Barrow saw the second warmest September in its 102-year record at 38.7 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal). Similarly, precipitation totals remained average across most of the state, except for the eastern Interior where they saw above normal totals. In the eastern Interior, Eagle recorded 2.25 inches (180 percent of normal), Big Delta recorded 1.87 inches (207 percent of normal), and Chicken which recorded 1.65 inches (150 percent of normal). One other area of note was Kenai which recorded its fourth driest September at 0.98 inches (27 percent of normal). According to the USDM, Alaska’s drought level improved in September with only 3 percent of the state being in abnormally dry conditions (D0) with all the spatial extent in the Southeast.
Hawaii Summary
Temperatures remained normal across Hawaii for the month of September with stations only seeing one degree increase or decrease from normal. Precipitation totals were well below normal on all islands besides the Big Island. The Molokai Airport recorded its driest September on record with zero inches (0.99 inches below normal) and Kahului tied its driest September at zero inches (0.45 inches below normal). Honolulu had its third driest at 0.06 inches (7 percent of normal) and Lihue saw its fifth driest at 0.64 inches (29 percent of normal). Drought once again decreased across Hawaii to 16 percent of the state in drought. The highest level of drought present in Hawaii is severe drought (D2) in southwest Maui, central Molokai, western Oahu, and southwest Kauai.
Notable Weather
Davis Fire burns 5,824 acres of land 20 miles south of Reno, NV: On September 7th the Davis Fire started in the afternoon at the Davis Creek Regional Park 20 miles south of Reno, NV where it rapidly grew burning down fourteen structures and 5,824 acres and caused lengthy evacuations and power outages. The wind driven fire burned fiercely over the next few days with poor weather conditions leading to extreme fire behavior. The fire was fully contained on September 25th after a long eighteen-day battle.
For more information, please go to the Western Regional Climate Center Home Page.