Well, it was one for the record books. Meteorological Summer ended on August 31st (it runs June 1st through August 31st). At Camp Mabry, it was the hottest summer ever recorded. Here are the final numbers:

HOTTEST SUMMER EVER RECORDED IN AUSTIN (Camp Mabry)

1) 2009 Average Temp 89.1 degrees
2) 2008 Average Temp 86.7 degrees
3) 1980 Average Temp 86.2 degrees
4) 1923 Average Temp 86.1 degrees
5) 2006 Average Temp 85.8 degrees

In the world of weather, it's a really big deal to beat the old record by 2.4 degrees!! Also, August 2009 will go down in the books as one of the hottest months ever recorded. Here's that list:

HOTTEST MONTHS EVER RECORDED IN AUSTIN (Camp Mabry)

1) July 2009 Average Temp 89.5 degrees
2) August 2009 Average Temp 89.1 degrees
(tie) July 1860 Average Temp 89.1 degrees
4) August 2006 Average Temp 88.5 degrees
5) August 1999 Average Temp 88.3 degrees
(tie) July 1879 Average Temp 88.3 degrees
(tie) July 1884 Average Temp 88.3 degrees

As of August 31st, we stand at 67 triple-digit days at Camp Mabry for the year. That's just behind 1925 when we hit 100 degrees or better 69 times. Yet, 1925 doesn't make the list of hottest summers. Why is that? Looking back at the records for that year, the overnight lows were cooler back in 1925 than what we saw this summer. That may have to do with an increasing urban heat island, or the fact that the planet is warmer overall than it was more than 80 years ago. Also, there must have been a very strong front that hit on August 1st, 1925. The high was only 79 degrees on the 1st and 73 on the 2nd!! Those factors knocked 1925 out of the running for the hottest summer ever.

-Mark Murray

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