GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — It was a September to remember as it kept summer conditions going across Michigan and many locations across the U.S. except for the Southeast and Gulf Coast region.
Temperatures were one reason. The twelve consecutive 80-degree days put us in the record book for the longest streak of 80-degree days in September. Interestingly, it was also the longest 80-degree or warmer stretch of the entire year. We tallied up 15 for the month, tying for the most.
All this warmth led to an average temperature of 66.9 degrees, placing Sept. 9, 2024, as the warmest on record in Grand Rapids.
The other factor that made it feel like endless summer was the abundance of sunshine. Thirteen days received 90% or more sunshine and 14 of 80% or more. The net result was the sunniest month on the calendar this year at 70%.
It was also another dry month, with only five days recording measurable rain.
Grand Rapids ended the month with a deficit of over two inches and an August/September deficit of 3.39 inches. It ended up being the 20th driest September on record, following last September 2023 as the 17th driest.
The lone, big exception was in Muskegon On the 24th, they received their wettest day ever in September of 4.43 inches. This also turned out to be the second wettest calendar day on record!
Looking ahead to October there appears to be an overall shift of the warmest temperatures relative to average to the western U.S.
With that being said, I don’t see anything particularly cold within the first couple of weeks. Side note: The average high temperature in Grand Rapids cools a whopping four degrees during the next eight days!
The dry pattern appears it will likely persist through much of the country, especially from the Midwest and Mississippi westward.
Hopefully, the dryness won’t have a significant impact on the fall colors that are already running behind schedule. We’ll keep you updated at woodtv.com.
