September Ends Up Cool and Dry; Look For a Warm Start to October
Most spots in North Georgia ended up with cooler than normal temperatures in September, primarily due to lower than normal temperatures in the overnight hours, rather than cool temperatures during the day. Atlanta’s mean temperature was 72 degrees, 1.3 degrees below normal. In Athens, the mean was 71.4, lower than the normal of 72.5. And, here in Lawrenceville, the mean was 69.3 degrees.
Cool evenings (we had 11 days with the temperature dropping below 60 degrees) are typically caused by high pressure systems and low humidity, which allows heat to escape into the atmosphere during the overnight hours. Average lows during the beginning of September are around 68 degrees, while the average low for the first of October is 60.
We also received less rain than normal, with 3.31 inches reported in Atlanta, 3.16 in Lawrenceville, and only 2.22 inches of rain in Athens. Normal rainfall averages between 3.53 inches in Athens to 4.09 inches in Atlanta.
Long range forecasts for October call for warmer than normal temperatures, and normal rainfall. The warmth will certainly come through this week, when highs could reach the upper 80s. The weather through the middle of the month is predicted to be warm as well. About normal rainfall is predicted for the month, although no rain is on the horizon in the short to mid term.
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