Let's take a quick look back at summer before moving on to the wet forecast. The average temperature of the last three months was 75.5 degrees. That's warmer than normal but more than two degrees behind the record warm summer of 2010. The first eight months of the year averaged 59.4 degrees, which is slightly warmer than the same period for second-place 1991, which is tied with 1990 and 1998 as the warmest years recorded at Central Park. Precipitation last month was more than an inch below normal and the third straight drier-than-normal month.
The precipitation deficit might turn around over the next few days as we contend with what's left of hurricane Isaac. This afternoon we've got a high pressure system pushing down from New England. That should be enough to hold off the rain but it looks like a mostly cloudy and muggy afternoon with a high near 80.
Isaac's remnants, in the form of an upper level disturbance, move out of the Ohio Valley and toward the East Coast tonight. The slow-moving undead storm promises rain, possibly heavy rain, from late tonight through Wednesday noon. Cloud cover and humidity will hold the temperature to the low 70s at night and near 80 during the day. The next chance for a mostly sunny day is Thursday.
