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The first day of August 2009 began on a cool note, with afternoon high temperatures only reaching the upper 70s to the lower 80s. By the end of the first week of August, an upper level ridge of high pressure built east across the Central Plains and temperatures climbed into the middle and upper 90s. Despite a few warm days here and there, August afternoon temperatures saw more readings in the 70s and 80s versus the 90s. By the end of the month an upper level trough influenced the weather pattern and the last three days of the month had highs just in the lower 70s, while low temps were mainly in the 45 to 50 degree range, which were near record lows in some locations. Overall, when all was said and done, monthly temperatures were around two degrees below normal at Grand Island, and Hastings.
Precipitation at Grand Island totaled 2.4 inches for August, which was 0.68 inch below the normal amount of 3.08 inches. Hastings received 5.24 inches of rainfall during the month, with the majority of the rainfall occuring from a single heavy rain event on the 26th, when 4.09 inches accumulated. The 5.24 inches of rainfall in Hastings was 2.06 inches above the normal amount of 3.18 inches for August.
The following is a summary of noteworthy weather events across south central Nebraska and north central Kansas during August:
- August 4: Thunderstorms became severe during the pre-dawn hours on August 4th. The storms produced 50 to 70 mph winds, which downed trees and branches across much of south central Nebraska and north central Kansas. Click here for the storm and rainfall reports.
- August 5: Morning thunderstorms became severe and produce damaging winds to 70 mph, quarter size hail and locally heavy rainfall. Click here for the storm and rainfall reports.
- August 6-7: Overnight thunderstorms dumped a swath of heavy rainfall across portions of south central Nebraska, mainly north of Highway 92. Click here for the rainfall information.
- August 9: Thunderstorms became severe after 4 am the morning of August 9th. Large hail from quarter to golf ball size was reported with the storms. Locally heavy rainfall in excess of an inch also fell. Click here for information on the large hail and heavy rain.
- August 10: A few thunderstorms became severe across Valley County in south central Nebraska, and also in Rooks, Osborne and Mitchell counties in north central Kansas. Click here for the storm report information.
- August 14-16: Multiple rounds of thunderstorms produced a swath of heavy rainfall in excess of 2 inches generally northwest of a line from Cozad through Miller, St. Paul and Genoa Nebraska. Click here for the rainfall amounts.
- August 24: Severe thunderstorms in Valley County produced hail the size of ping pong balls, 60 mph winds and heavy rainfall. Click here for a summary of the storm reports.
- August 25-26: Record setting heavy rain of 3 to 5 inches fell from just of east of Minden to Hastings to near Geneva. The heavy rainfall resulted in areas of flooding. Click here for information on the rainfall.
- June-August 2009: Summer 2009 will go down as a cool one with no 100 degree days for the tri-cities. The 100 plus temperatures were limited to north central Kansas and far southern Nebraska. High temperatures at or greater than 90 degrees were off by more than 50 percent of normal. Click here for more data on the cool summer temperatures.
- June-August 2009: Summer of 2009 made the Top 10 for coolest summers on record for the tri-cities. Click here for details on the summer temperatures as well as precipitation information.
