Albany, NY – A sweltering start to summer gave way to an unusually dry and cool finish in Albany, where August ended as the sixth driest on record with just 0.88 inches of rain logged.
According to the National Weather Service in Albany, the meteorological summer — defined as June through August — averaged 71.6°F, only 0.6°F above normal. But the three-month span told two stories: June brought near-record heat and heavy rainfall, while August trended cooler and far drier than average.
June 23 marked the hottest day of the season at a scorching 96°F, with 4.58 inches of rain falling during the wettest period early that month. July brought balance, but by August 20, temperatures had dropped to a daytime high of just 64°F — setting a new record low max. That same day also posted the largest temperature deficit, running 11°F below normal.
Winds also made a mark this summer, with the highest gust of 41 mph clocked on June 28 and the strongest sustained wind (29 mph) on July 1.
Albany residents can expect more seasonal transition over the coming weeks. Cooler weather and increased rainfall may return by mid-September, but no active weather alerts are currently in effect.
