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This summer's weather

Year-to-date weather

Particularly hot days this year

Top 3 warmest summer

Milwaukee and Madison had a top 5 warmest winter, the warmest spring on record, a top ten warmest June, and a top 2 warmest July. Then, to continue the warm streak, the monthly average temperature for August was 1.6 degrees above normal in Milwaukee and 1.5 degrees above normal in Madison. The combination of above normal temperatures for the last three months has allowed the meteorological summer (June-August) of 2012 to be one of the top 3 warmest on record!

Milwaukee Rank Avg. Temp. Year 1 74.1 2012 2 73.8 1995, 1988 3 73.3 2010 5 72.9 1991

Madison Rank Avg. Temp. Year 1 74.6 1995 2 74.0 1901 3 73.9 2012 4 73.4 1921 5 73.2 1955, 1874

In regard to total precipitation (or lack of it), Milwaukee is ranked 31st driest for this period with 7.21", which is 4.33" below normal. Meanwhile, Madison is ranked 9th driest this period with a total of 5.89", which is 7.10" below normal. For more information on the dry conditions see our drought story here.

Milwaukee Rank Rain Year 1 3.27" 1918 2 4.39" 1930 3 4.44" 1958 4 4.46" 1973 5 4.49" 2003 ... ... ... 31 7.21" 2012

Madison Rank Rain Year 1 3.88" 1895 2 4.60" 1927 3 4.83" 1976 4 4.84" 1889 5 5.27" 1901 ... ... ... 9 5.89" 2012

The map below shows the percent of normal precipitation that occurred this summer. Other maps similar to this one can be found at the Midwest Regional Climate website.

Click here for the August Climate Summary for Milwaukee and Madison.

Click here for the Summer Climate Summary for Milwaukee and Madison.

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January 1st through August 31st

Additionally, we are experiencing the warmest year-to-date.  In fact, 2012 is the warmest year-to-date by a large margin, 1.6 degrees in Milwaukee and 2.0 degrees in Madison. The year-to-date average temperature rankings through August 31st are shown below:

Milwaukee Rank Avg. Temp. Year 1 55.0 2012 2 53.4 1921 3 52.7 2010 T4 52.6 1991, 1987

Madison Rank Avg. Temp. Year 1 55.0 2012 T2 53.0 1880, 1878 4 52.8 1921 5 52.0 1987

Also, Milwaukee ranks the 46th driest year through August 31st with 19.85" of precipitation, which is 4.33" below normal. Meanwhile, Madison is tied for 24th driest with 16.97" of precipitation, which is 7.85" below normal.

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Particularly hot days this year

In south central and southeast Wisconsin, there were anywhere from 3 to 6 days with a maximum temperature of 100 degrees or higher in July, 2012. Most of the days with 100 degree temperatures occurred during a heat wave that took place during the first week of July, for more information on that heat wave, click here.

For 2012, the number of days with max temperature 100 or higher:

Milwaukee - 3 (max of 103), Madison - 4 (max of 104), WFO Milwaukee (3SE Sullivan) - 6 (max of 106).

The rankings for the number of days with a high temperature greater than or equal to 100 degrees, from January 1st through August 31st, are shown below.

Milwaukee Rank # of days >=100 Year 1 6 1988 2 4 1936 3 3 2012 T4 2 1995, 1955, 1940, 1934, 1931 9 1 1994, 1987, 1948, 1933, 1930, 1918, 1916, 1901, 1887

Madison Rank # of days >=100 Year 1 8 1936 2 6 1988 T3 5 1955, 1934 5 4 2012 6 3 1947 7 2 1901 T8 1 1995, 1977, 1976, 1953, 1916, 1886

For 2012, the number of days with max temperature 90 or higher:

Milwaukee - 20, Madison - 37, WFO Milwaukee (3SE Sullivan) - 42.

The rankings for the number of days with a high temperature greater than or equal to 90 degrees, from January 1st through August 31st, are shown below.

Milwaukee Rank # of days >=90 Year 1 36 1988 2 29 1955 3 21 1991 4 20 2012 5 19 2002 T6 18 1964, 1931 T8 16 1970, 1944, 1941, 1936, 1930, 1921, 1911, 1900, 1874

Madison Rank # of days >=90 Year 1 37 2012 2 36 1955 3 35 1988 T4 28 1976, 1934 T5 27 1995, 1901 T6 25 1947, 1931 T7 24 1964, 1948, 1936 10 22 1975

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ET/JJW/MEB/AFK/SD

National Weather Service - Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

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