Beyond the Barometer: September 2024 was one of Wisconsin's driest and hottest on record

MADISON, Wis. - With an average temperature of 63.8 degrees, Wisconsin recorded its 3rd warmest September in recorded history, adding to the number of months in 2024 that have been warmer than average for the state.

Climatological data was delayed due to Hurricane Helene impacting the National Centers for Environmental Information's building in Asheville, North Carolina. Now that data has become available, it shows that not only was September one of Wisconsin's warmest Septembers on record it was also one of the top 10 driest on record too.

The average temperature for the state of Wisconsin during September 2024 was 63.8°F, 5.8°F warmer than the average September temperature of 58.0°F. September 1931 was Wisconsin's second warmest September on record with an average temperature of 64.4°F while September 2015 remains as Wisconsin's warmest September on record with an average temperature of 64.7°F.

Let's break down how September 2024 ranked for the counties across the News 3 Now coverage area. Below is a list of all of the counties covered by News 3 Now, their average temperature, their 2024 temperature anomaly (departure from normal) and how September 2024 ranked:

• Dane County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.5°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +4.6°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 10th warmest on record

• Adams County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 64.2°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +5.2°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 8th warmest

• Juneau County:
  
  • September 2024 average temperature: 63.9°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +5.0°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 8th warmest

• Marquette County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.2°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +5.4°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 4th warmest

• Green Lake County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.5°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +5.6°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 3rd warmest

• Columbia County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.6°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +5.4°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 4th warmest

• Dodge County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.0°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +4.6°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 6th warmest

• Jefferson County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.5°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +4.1°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 12th warmest

• Walworth County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.3°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +3.5°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 19th warmest

• Rock County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 66.4°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +4.4°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 9th warmest

• Green County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.3°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +3.8°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 16th warmest

• Lafayette County:
  
  • September 2024 average temperature: 64.3°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +3.2°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 22nd warmest

• Iowa County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 64.3°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +3.6°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 17th warmest

• Grant County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.5°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +3.7°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 17th warmest

• Crawford County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 65.3°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +3.9°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 16th warmest

• Richland County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 64.4°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +3.8°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 16th warmest

• Sauk County:
  • September 2024 average temperature: 64.2°F
  • September 2024 average temperature anomaly: +4.1°F
  • September 2024 ranking: 13th warmest

When looking at counties beyond the News 3 Now coverage area, Kenosha County had the warmest average temperature of 66.7°F however, Douglas County had the warmest average temperature anomaly of 8.0°F.

September 2024 ranks as Wisconsin's 6th driest September on record with a statewide total accumulated precipitation value of 1.35". That's 2.40" below the state-wide September average accumulated precipitation value of 3.75".

Below is a more detailed look how much rain each county covered by News 3 Now accumulated, the precipitation anomaly and how September 2024 ranks for total accumulated precipitation:

• Dane County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 2.64"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.11"
  • September 2024 ranking: 50th driest on record

• Adams County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 2.06"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.84"
  • September 2024 ranking: 30th driest

• Juneau County:
  
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 2.00"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.89"
  • September 2024 ranking: 29th driest

• Marquette County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 1.65"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -2.13"
  • September 2024 ranking: 23rd driest

• Green Lake County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 1.49"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -2.19"
  • September 2024 ranking: 16th driest

• Columbia County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 2.51"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.33"
  • September 2024 ranking: 49th driest

• Dodge County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 2.27"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.14"
  • September 2024 ranking: 44th driest

• Jefferson County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 2.43"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.21"
  • September 2024 ranking: 49th driest

• Walworth County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 2.26"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.42"
  • September 2024 ranking: 45th driest

• Rock County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 1.81"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.95"
  • September 2024 ranking: 30th driest

• Green County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 1.51"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -2.30"
  • September 2024 ranking: 23rd driest

• Lafayette County:
  
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 0.83"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -2.94"
  • September 2024 ranking: 7th driest

• Iowa County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 1.76"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -2.05"
  • September 2024 ranking: 27th driest

• Grant County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 1.77"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -2.04"
  • September 2024 ranking: 23rd driest

• Crawford County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 1.85"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -2.03"
  • September 2024 ranking: 20th driest

• Richland County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 1.98"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.99"
  • September 2024 ranking: 28th driest

• Sauk County:
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation: 2.20"
  • September 2024 total accumulated precipitation anomaly: -1.74"
  • September 2024 ranking: 42nd driest

Dane County accumulated the most rain throughout Wisconsin while Pierce County accumulated the least amount with a total of 0.24". Pierce County had the second largest anomaly while Onieda County had the greatest anomaly at -3.36".

When you factor in the data from September to the rest of the year, 2024, from January through September, ranks as Wisconsin's 14th wettest January through September on record. The state-wide total precipitation is 30.50" which is 4.86" above normal. Dane County has accumulated the most precipitation during this timeframe with a total of 39.03". Dane County also has the greatest total precipitation anomaly at +12.63".

January through September is Wisconsin's 2nd warmest January through September on record with an average temperature of 50.7°F, trailing 2012, which is first place, by 0.9°F. Wisconsin's January through September 2024 average temperature is 5.0°F above the 45.8°F average.

The warmest county is Kenosha County with a January through September average temperature of 54.7°F. However, Brown County has recorded the greatest average temperature anomaly with a January through September average temperature anomaly of +5.9°F.

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