Grand Rapids (WZZM) -

Temperatures in August averaged 71.8°F, 1.0°F above average but 3.1°F cooler than last year (74.9°F).  Seventeen days were warmer than usual, twelve were cooler, and two were average.  The highest temperature occurred on August 1 with 90°F while the lowest temperature occurred on August 22 with 53°F.  The summer season (June, July and August) averaged 72.7°F, 2.1°F above average, making it the tenth warmest summer on record, but 0.6°F cooler than last summer (73.2°F).

Precipitation was above average last month with 4.42”, 0.83” more than usual and 2.68” more than last year (1.74”).  There were eleven days with measurable precipitation, which is two days more than usual (9).  Summer precipitation was well above average with 14.63”, 3.49” more than usual and 0.19” more than last summer (14.44”).

It certainly feels like it’s been a hot summer so far in West Michigan and here’s what I’ve come up with: 

85° Days

On Tuesday, July 26 the temperature again reached 85°F, the 34th day this summer we’ve reached that mark, three days more than the average number of days (31) during an ENTIRE summer.

It also marked the eleventh consecutive 85°F day, the longest stretch since 2005 (July 31-August 10).

Last year:  47 days - 2010

Most:  68 days – 1921

Least:  8 days – 1915

90° Days

So far we’ve reached 90°F ten times this summer, one day more than the average (9) for an entire summer.

We made 90°F or higher on five consecutive days from July 18-21, the longest stretch since 2007 (July 30-August 3).

Last year:  10 days - 2010

Most:  37 days – 1988

Least