Huntsville, Ala. – August closed with cooler-than-normal temperatures and drier conditions across north Alabama, with Huntsville recording its 12th driest August on record and Muscle Shoals not far behind. Huntsville measured only 1.04 inches of rain, more than 2.5 inches below normal, while Muscle Shoals logged 2.10 inches, nearly 1.7 inches short.
According to the National Weather Service in Huntsville, the cooler nights stood out nearly as much as the rainfall deficit. Huntsville dipped to 54 degrees on August 27, while Muscle Shoals hit 56 the same morning. Both cities saw four days in the last week of August with morning lows in the 50s, the most since 2004.
Daytime highs still pushed into the triple digits, with Huntsville reaching 100 degrees on August 18 and Muscle Shoals peaking at 99 on August 19. Even so, average highs in both cities finished just below normal, ranking Huntsville’s month as the 50th coolest August on record.
The drier-than-average pattern has raised concerns for agriculture and outdoor burning, particularly in rural counties west of Huntsville. Residents are urged to conserve water and use caution with open flames until steadier rainfall returns.
Climate records show September often brings more consistent rain, but forecasters caution that lingering dryness could persist into early fall.
