Maps and Graphics:


September Most Recent 3 Months Most Recent 6 Months
Most Recent 12 Months Annual Summary for 2004 US Percent Area Very Wet/Dry/Warm/Cold

It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the National Temperature and Precipitation Maps page.


For graphics covering periods other than those mentioned above or for tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for September, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.

National Overview:

September:

  • September temperatures were much above average for the nation with much warmer-than-average conditions across a large portion of the eastern half of the country. For information on temperature records during the month, please go to NCDC's Extremes page.
  • Precipitation was much below average for the nation with conditions especially drier than average across parts of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic states. For more information on drought during September, please visit the U.S. Drought page.
For additional details, see the Monthly Highlights section. For details and graphics on weather events across the U.S. and the globe go to NCDC's Global Hazards page.

Monthly and Seasonal Highlights:


National:

For tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for September, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.
  • September 2005 ranked as the 4th warmest September in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 68.1°F (20.1°C), which was 2.6°F (1.4°C) above the long-term mean.
  • September 2005 had much below average precipitation, nationally, ranking 11th driest.
  • For the last 3 months temperature was much above average and ranked as the 4th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature for July-September was 72.6°F (22.6°C) which was 1.7°F (0.9°C) above the long-term mean.
  • July-September had near average precipitation, ranking 45th driest in the last 111 years.
  • The October 2004-September 2005 temperature was much above average and ranked as the 7th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 54.1°F (12.3°C) which was 1.3°F (0.7°C) above the long-term mean.
  • Precipitation was above average for October-September, ranking 20th wettest for the last 12 months based on a record of 110 such periods.

Regional and Statewide:
  • September 2005 temperatures ranked much above average for 28 states including Louisiana, which had a record warm September. No state was significantly cooler than average for September 2005.
  • Alaska temperatures were warmer than average for both September and the last 3 months, ranking 12th and 2nd respectively.
  • September was much drier than average for 8 states, including 3 states (GA, SC, MD), which had their driest September on record.
  • The 3 month period, July-September, was warmer than average for the entire nation, with no state near average and no state below its long term mean. Six states (NY, VT, MA, RI, NJ, FL) had a record warm July-September.
  • July-September 2005 was much wetter than average for 2 states (LA and AL), while 4 states were much drier than average (MT, ID, OR, DE). The precipitation signal was generally mixed across the nation.
  • October 2004-September 2005 was warmer than average for much of the nation. No state was significantly cooler than average over the last 12 months.
  • The last 12 months were wetter than average for much of the nation, with only parts of the Pacific Northwest and the mid-Atlantic drier than average.

    See NCDC's Monthly Extremes web-page for weather and climate records for the month of September.
It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the National Temperature and Precipitation Maps page.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly National Climate Report for September 2005, published online October 2005, retrieved on January 22, 2025 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/national/200509.