This past summer was the 7th coolest on record in the state of Wisconsin, but now we are making up for it with a pro-longed period of mild and dry days. We have been spoiled lately in Northeast Wisconsin as a stagnant air mass has continued to deliver dry days. One after another, each day this month has almost seemed like a carbon copy of the prior day.

The dry period started on August 30th and has continued through today, meaning our stretch of days without precipitation is at 13. That streak rivals one of our driest periods. In April, Green Bay didn’t receive and precipitation for the first 18 days of the month. Oddly enough, the area received more than 2.5 inches of rain in the last half of the April, putting the total rainfall above average for the month.

A similar story in September certainly wouldn’t hurt. We need the rain. Most of the area is under abnormally dry conditions with a moderate drought north of Green Bay and a severe drought over Marinette County. For more on the drought conditions, see the map below, or check out the La Crosse National Weather Service Drought Page.

Severe drought in Marinette County

With not a drop of rain falling this month, we are currently running more than an inch below average when it comes to precipitation. It makes this September one of the driest on record. In 1967, the first day of rain all month came on September 15th. We will make a push for that record as the next chance of rain comes on the 15th, with only a few isolated showers possible.

Creeping up on a record

Until Next Time,
Meteorologist Andrew Thut