United States September Outlook (Brief look back at Summer 2017)

Written by on August 23, 2017 in Summer 2017, United States of America with 0 Comments

We’re fast approaching the end of meteorological summer 2017 and below are some of the key talking points which will be remembered.

Certainly to the east of the Rockies, heat wasn’t a big story but more rain and through the second half of summer, the cool, especially for the central US. Like last year, the front end of summer was hottest with core of heat focused on the Southwest where we witnessed one record after another fall. June was hot not only in the Southwest but across the Northern Tier.

Thanks to a fluid, mobile overall pattern with mean ridge in the west and trough over the Tennessee Valley, hot spells were short lived for the Midwest, Northeast, Mid Atlantic and Southeast.

Into the second half of summer, the ridge core shifted up into the Great Basin allowing the monsoon season to get going and it’s been going ever since the ridge shift and easing of the heat over the deserts.

We also witnessed significant flooding events in the cities of Kansas City, New Orleans and Houston.

The average temperature declined as summer went on with June being hottest and August coolest. In fact August 2017 could wind up one of the coolest on record from the Front Range to Atlantic.

The tropics will take center stage as we depart summer and commence fall with Harvey expected to bring disastrous flooding to the Texas coast.

Here’s the temp anomaly charts for each month.

June

Credit: Michael Ventrice

July

Credit: Michael Ventrice

August so far

Credit: Michael Ventrice

As stated above, the tropics will be the talking point to end summer and could be the primary talking point of the entire summer depending upon how much impact Harvey has on Texas.

There is some real concern with this storm.

As well as stormy and wet for Texas, it’s going to be a very cool end to the month.

Credit: weather.com

Credit: weather.com

How’s September looking?

Looks like it at least starts off where August ended with a very cool overall temperature profile except the West Coast where it’s been a long, hot summer. I believe the tropics will be the focus of the month ahead.

Cfsv2 weeklies show the continuation of the NW ridge, Great Lakes trough and a cool overall September.

500mb height anomaly

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

temperature anomaly

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Precipitation anomaly

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

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