Key Points:

• The West was warmer than average in August, contrasting with cooler-than-average conditions across much of the central and eastern U.S.
• Most states recorded above-average temperatures for meteorological summer (June–August).
• Hawai’i recorded its lowest August rainfall in the 35-year record.

Other Highlights:

Temperature

The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) in August was 73.4°F, 1.3°F above the 20th-century average, ranking in the warmest third of the 131-year record. August was above average throughout much of the West, with Arizona recording its second-warmest August on record at 4.6°F above average, behind only August 2020. Portions of the Gulf Coast and the Florida Peninsula were also above average for the month. In contrast, below-average temperatures were observed in parts of the central Plains, Southeast and mid-Atlantic. Virginia and the Carolinas were much below average, with South Carolina recording its coolest August daytime maximum temperatures on record—more than 4°F below the 20th-century average.

For meteorological summer (June–August), the average temperature for the CONUS was 73.3°F, 2.0°F above the 20th-century average, ranking as the 12th-warmest summer on record. Above-average temperatures were observed across much of the nation with portions of the Plains experiencing near-average conditions.

The average temperature for Alaska in August was 51.2°F, 1.7°F above average, ranking in the warmest third of the 101-year record. For June–August, Alaska’s average was 52.4°F, 1.9°F above average, also in the warmest third of the record.

Hawai’i averaged 70.0°F in August, 0.6°F above average, ranking in the warmest third of the 35-year record. For summer, Hawai’i reported 69.2°F, 0.6°F above average, also in the warmest third of the record.

Precipitation 

The average precipitation for the contiguous U.S. in August was 2.30 inches, 0.32 inch below average, placing the month in the driest third of the 131-year record. Much of the western half of the CONUS received near-average precipitation in August, with parts of the Southwest below average, and some portions of the Plains seeing above-average rainfall for the month. Major rainfall deficits occurred from the middle Mississippi Valley through the Tennessee and Ohio valleys, the Great Lakes region and the Northeast. A dozen states had among their 10 lowest August total rainfalls, including Kentucky, Ohio and Vermont, each of which saw their driest Augusts on record. Further south, South Carolina and Georgia received above-average August rainfall.

For meteorological summer (June–August), the CONUS averaged 8.69 inches, 0.37 inch above average, placing the season in the middle third of the 131-year record. Below-average summer rainfall was observed across much of the West, while above-average rainfall occurred across a broad area of the Plains and upper Mississippi Valley from Texas to Wisconsin, with Iowa recording its sixth-wettest June–August on record. Parts of the Northeast saw much-below-average June–August rainfall, with Vermont recording its driest summer since 1913 and New Hampshire its driest on record.

The average precipitation for Alaska in August was 4.38 inches, which is about average for the month. Above-average precipitation occurred across the North Slope, West Coast and much of the Interior, with drier-than-average conditions in southern parts of the state. For June–August, Alaska averaged 9.50 inches, 0.50 inch below average, placing the season in the driest third of the 101-year record.

Hawai’i averaged 1.97 inches in August, 3.20 inches below average, marking the driest August in the 35-year record. Drier-than-average conditions were observed across most of the islands, with Honolulu and Maui counties each recording their lowest August rainfall in the record. For June–August, Hawai’i averaged 8.39 inches, 5.02 inches below average, making it the fourth-driest June–August on record.

Drought

According to the September 2 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 34.7% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, an increase of approximately 3.7% since the end of July. While severe drought persisted across much of the western U.S., conditions improved in the northern Plains and parts of the central Plains. In contrast, drought developed and intensified throughout parts of the East region, particularly in the lower Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys, as well as the Northeast.

Monthly Outlook

Above-average temperatures are favored in September across the Rocky Mountains and northern Plains, along with western Alaska, while precipitation is favored to be higher than average across parts of the central Plains and the Southeast. Drought is likely to persist across much of the West, though some improvement or removal is likely for parts of the Rio Grande Valley. Meanwhile, drought is expected to expand and intensify across parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley, while continuing to persist in parts of the far Northeast and Hawai’i. Visit the Climate Prediction Center’s Official 30-Day Forecasts and U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook website for more details.

Significant wildland fire potential for September is above normal across parts of the Pacific West and Hawai’i, along with the far Northeast. For additional information on wildland fire potential, visit the National Interagency Fire Center’s One-Month Wildland Fire Outlook.

For more detailed climate information, check out our comprehensive August 2025 U.S. Climate Report scheduled for release on September 12, 2025. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit the Climate at a Glance and National Maps webpages.