September 2020 Climate Summary and Highlights

September 2020 Climate Summary and Highlights

Overall, September 2020 was cooler and drier than normal across the region. Below are some monthly climate highlights for Wichita, Salina and Chanute.

WICHITA
The average monthly temperature was 68.7 degrees, which was 2.3 degrees cooler than normal. It tied for the 32nd coolest September since records began in 1888, and it was the coolest September since 2009. September 2020 was a whopping 10 degrees cooler than its 2019 counterpart, which ranked as the 2nd warmest September on record. Precipitation-wise, only 1.58 inches was measured at Eisenhower national airport, which was 1.56 inches drier than normal. It was the 40th driest September on record, and the driest since 2019. Furthermore, since August 1st, only 2.63 inches had fallen, which was 4.22 inches drier than normal. It was the 15th driest August through September period on record, and the driest since 2000.

SALINA
The average monthly temperature was 67.7 degrees, which was 2.5 degrees cooler than normal. It tied for the 26th coolest September since records began in 1900, and it was the coolest September since 2011. September 2020 was a whopping 9.1 degrees cooler than its 2019 counterpart, which ranked as the 5th warmest September on record. Precipitation-wise, 1.81 inches was measured at the airport during the month, which was 0.89 inches drier than normal. It was the 49th driest September on record, and the driest since 2019. Furthermore, since August 1st, only 2.49 inches had fallen, which was 4.16 inches drier than normal. It was the 11th driest August through September period on record, and the driest since 2000.

CHANUTE
The average monthly temperature was 69.8 degrees, which was 0.1 degrees cooler than normal. It tied for the 37th coolest September since records began in 1897, and it was the coolest September since 2011. September 2020 was a whopping 9.1 degrees cooler than its 2019 counterpart, which ranked as the 2nd warmest September on record. Precipitation-wise, only 2.18 inches was measured at the airport during the month, which was 1.49 inches drier than normal. It was the 33rd driest September on record, and the driest since 2015. Furthermore, since June 1st, a measly 6.85 inches had fallen, which was 10.91 inches drier than normal. It was the 4th driest June through September period on record, and the driest since 2011.

Temperatures
Precipitation
Miscellaneous

September Temperatures

Monthly Average Temperature	Monthly Departure from Normal

September 2020 average temperatures across Kansas (the average of each daily high and low temperature).	September 2020 average temperature departure from normal across Kansas. It was a cooler than normal month statewide.

Kansas September Temperature Rankings

Kansas September 2020 temperature rankings by division. One denotes the warmest September on record (since 1893), 128 denotes the coolest. Much of the state was much cooler than normal.

September Precipitation

Monthly Precipitation	Monthly Departure from Normal

September 2020 precipitation across Kansas. This map constitutes a mix of observations and radar estimates.	September 2020 precipitation departure from normal across Kansas. With the exception of a few small pockets across the southeast, much of the state was drier than normal for the month, especially the east.

Kansas Precipitation Departure from Normal

June-September

Kansas Precipitation Departure from Normal

August-September

Portions of southeast Kansas are around 10 inches drier than normal since June 1st.

Much of the state is much drier than normal since August 1st, especially the northeast half.

Kansas September Precipitation Rankings

Kansas September 2020 precipitation rankings by division. One denotes the wettest September on record (since 1893), 128 denotes the driest. The entire state saw a drier than normal month.

Miscellaneous Climate Information

Mean Jet Stream Location	Moisture Anomaly

During the month of September, the jet stream continued to mainly be focused across the northern U.S. However, towards the end of the month, it started to dip south into the eastern U.S., which helped bring some cooler air to the Central Plains.	The amount of moisture in the atmosphere was well below normal during the month of September, which continues the dry trend from August.

September Red Flag Warnings	September Severe Thunderstorm Warnings

Due to the recent dry weather, fire weather concerns increased some across parts of the state, especially northwest Kansas. The map above shows the number of Red Flag Warnings issued during the month of September.	The above map shows the number of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued for each county in Kansas during the month of September. Overall, it was a very quiet month across the state for severe weather.

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