AUSTIN (KXAN) — We’re heading into August on the back of yet another wetter than normal July. Typically wet soils can help mitigate the heat, but that can be offset by higher humidity levels as the soil moisture evaporates.
August is the final month of meteorological summer that lasts from June-August, but it’s sure looking like it will be our hottest month of summer.
August temperature and rainfall outlooks
The Climate Prediction Center released updated outlooks on temperature and rainfall for the month of August. The temperature outlook is keeping Central Texas leaning warmer-than-normal in a month that’s usually hot to begin with.
The rainfall outlook points toward a drier than normal month ahead after a wetter July.
What is a normal August?
August is considered the hottest month of the year in Central Texas with highs averaging in the high 90s and lows in the mid 70s. On average, there are around 13 triple-digit days in the month of August, with rainfall totals staying under 3 inches.
Behind the triple digit pace
Through the end of July, Austin’s Camp Mabry has only had 4 triple digit days with a final one on the way for Friday.
Normally we’d have had 13 triple digit days by now if you add up the typical June and July number of 100º highs for Austin.
In recent years, the number of triple digit days has ranged from 6-51 days from January through July. Right now we’re behind the pace of 2025 for triple digits to date. 2025 ended up with 22 triple digit days for the year in total, below the normal 29.
InDepth: Rain and heat correlation
While the weather pattern and the placement of the “heat dome” play a big role in the extent of our heat in the summer, rain can make a big difference too. The wetter we are leading into the summer months or even the rain during summer will wet the soil and can reduce the heat during the day. Wetter soil means some of the sun’s energy is spent drying the soil rather than heating the ground. This can mean the difference between a lot of triple digit days becoming a lot of upper 90s instead…