August Provides Brief Break from Heat, Meteorologist Says Much of U.S. Should Brace for Mild Fall

July weather proved to be a scorcher, as 21 U.S. cities in the West set records for their all-time hottest month. The weather story flipped as crops were greeted with cooler conditions in August. Much of the eastern half of the country has been enjoying cooler and dryer air during the first few days of the month. 

"As we head into August here, we're going to see some really cool air for the Great Lakes and in the Northeast," says Mike Hoffman, U.S. Farm Report meteorologist. "It's very comfortable air, obviously, and some of that stretches all the way down into the southeastern portions of the country. But the ridge remains right through the Rockies. Our model is trying to show a trough out West trying to come into the Pacific Northwest. We'll see if it makes it or not."

Hoffman says whether the trough continues spanning into the Pacific Northwest or not, the cooler air on the map looked similar to polar vortex in the northern portions of Canada. 

"Obviously it's August, so we don't have to worry about that. But that's got some cool air with it. And that may be ascending some more as we head into the middle of the month, and in fact it's trying to as we head toward next weekend."

However, that break from the heat looks to be brief. Hoffman says by the weekend, the heat will return for much of the country, and the longer-term forecast indicates average August temperatures will hit above normal for most of the Plains, West and Northeast. 

Mild Fall 

Hoffman says the longer-term forecasts point to an extremely mild October this year, with above normal temperatures forecast for most of the country. 

"Look at October, looks like a pretty warm for October, except near normal in the Southeast," says Hoffman.  

Dry Out West

The precipitation story isn't promising for the West as the U.S. enters fall. Hoffman says the forecast shows below normal for much of the West, with California expected to see "normal" precipitation. Hoffman says the Gulf Coast and all along the East Coast could experience above normal precipitation through October.