The ABCs of September

September precipitation ranged from less than 50% of normal to over 200% of normal.

A - Above-normal precipitation amounts for September were found in multiple areas, particularly West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and an area from New Jersey to Massachusetts. The wettest locations saw over 200% of normal precipitation for the month. Twenty-six of the Northeast's 35 major sites saw above-normal precipitation this September. In fact, Islip, NY, experienced its wettest September on record with 243% of normal precipitation. An additional 10 major sites had one of their 20 wettest Septembers. The wet weather helped drought and abnormal dryness improve in parts of the Mid-Atlantic, southeastern New York, and southern New England.

B - Below normal precipitation was found in a large swath of northern New England, northern and western New York, and a few spots in the Mid-Atlantic. Northern Maine was especially dry, seeing less than 50% of normal and with Caribou having its fifth-driest September on record with 38% of normal precipitation. The lack of precipitation in portions of northern New England and upstate New York led to the expansion of drought and abnormal dryness.

This September was record wet for Islip, NY, and among the 20 wettest for another 10 major sites but ranked as the fifth driest for Caribou, ME.

September temperatures ranged from 2°F cooler than normal to 6°F warmer than normal.

C - Cooler-than-normal temperatures were primarily found in New England and parts of New York, with some locations being as much as 2°F below normal. Of the Northeast's 35 major sites, Caribou, ME, was the coolest, with a departure of 1.6°F below normal.

D - Departures were above normal in the Mid-Atlantic and much of New York, with average temperatures in portions of West Virginia and western Pennsylvania up to 6°F above normal. Twenty-two of the major sites were warmer than normal, with Huntington, WV, being the warmest at 5.8°F above normal. This September ranked among the 20 warmest on record for 11 major sites.

This September ranked among the 20 warmest on record for 11 major sites.

E - Equal chances of below-, near-, and above-normal precipitation and temperatures were predicted for the entire Northeast for October by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. This means there were no clear signals to sway the forecast one way or the other.