August 2019 Saint Cloud Weather Summary

Near Average Rainfall Keeps 2019 Among 10 Wettest So Far

Saint Cloud Weather Summary for August 2019 and Summer 2019

Issued: Friday, September 6, 2019 6:51 AM

Near Seasonable St. Cloud Rainfall, But Much More a Bit North and South

The generally wet conditions of 2019 continued in St. Cloud during the month of August. The actual rainfall at the St. Cloud Regional Airport was 3.65 inches, just 0.14 inch below average. However, the thunderstorm-dominated precipitation was as much as 2 inches higher across northern Stearns County, most of Pope County, and in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area (see NWS Minnesota August Rainfall map).

In St. Cloud, there were another 10 days with measurable rainfall with 2 days having at least half an inch of rain. This ran the 2019 total of half inch days to 23 days, tied with 1916 for the 10th most half-inch days.

7th Wettest January-August So Far

The three-month total rainfall (June 1-August 31) in St. Cloud was 13.59 inches, 1.87 inches above average. However, the total rainfall for the first 8 months of the year was 27.34 inches, 7.76 inches above average. This is the 7th highest rainfall total for the first 8 months of the year and nearly equals the average St. Cloud rainfall for the entire year (27.73 inches).

Cool Highs, But Still Near Average Temperatures for August and Summer

Despite frequent clouds and rain, temperatures remained quite moderate in August. The average St. Cloud temperature was 66.9°F, 0.9°F below average. The main reason, as has been the case during much of the summer, was having cooler highs than lows. The average high temperature was 77.3 degrees, 2.3 degrees below average. While the high temperatures remained between 70 and 86 degrees each day of the month, there were no highs of 80 degrees or warmer after August 20. The high never exceeded 72 degrees during the last week of the month. Because of the cool highs, there were only 4 days during the summer (June 1-August 31) with a high of at least 90 degrees. The average number of 90 degree days during a warm season is 11.4 days.

The cool highs were mitigated a bit by having relatively mild highs. The average low temperature was 56.6 degrees, 0.6 degrees above average.

While there weren't a lot of really hot days during the summer months (June, July, and August), the average summer temperature in St. Cloud was 68.1 degrees, 0.2 degrees above average. The frequently wet and humid conditions led to average lows being 1.3 degrees above average.

The combination of the persistently wet conditions and a late end to the snow and frost season means that crop development will depend on a later-than average frost. According to the September 3 Minnesota Crop Progress and Condition report, the development of the corn crop is running about 2 weeks later than average. Spring wheat is running 9 days late. This is going to require that the first frost delay until well into October. The average date of the first frost in St. Cloud is September 26 with most years having a frost between September 19 and October 8. Thus far, the frost has held off in Minnesota.

There were two main severe weather outbreaks in August. Another swath of large hail fell primarily in the northern and western suburbs of the Twin Cities on August 5. This was a more widespread outbreak than the hailstorms that hit central Minnesota, including parts of the St. Cloud area, on July 26. A second event, producing a few tornadoes in Mille Lacs and Aitkin Counties.

    August 2019 Statistics

Summer (June 1-August 31) 2019 Statistics