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September hotter than average

But lots of wind, rain made it feel cooler

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Kathryn Thomas and her granddaughter Hadleigh Suszek stop during their walk to look at some Halloween decorations on display in front of a home in Alpena. Weather Wednesday was fall like as temperatures were in the low sixties. Last month the average temperature was about three degrees warmer than the historic average.

ALPENA — The month of September was nearly 3 degrees warmer, on average, than normal for the month.

But it may not have felt that way to some, as rain and gusty winds made it feel a touch cooler than what the actual temperature was.

For the month, the National Weather Service says the average temperature in Alpena was 60.2 degrees, handily beating the historical average of 57.7 degrees handily. The average high temperature for the month was 70.7 degrees, which eclipsed the historical high temperature average of 68.9 degrees.

The warmest temperature recorded at Alpena County Regional Airport was 87 degrees on Sept.21.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the coolest measurement came in at 36 degrees overnight on Sept. 9. The average low temperature for the month was still warmer than the historical average, coming in at 49.7 degrees, compared to the typical average low of 46.5 degrees.

National Weather Service Meteoroligist Andy Sullivan said the month was full of ups and downs, temperature-wise, and it may have felt a little cooler outdoors despite what the thermometer said.

He said the precipitation and winds that often came from the east made it feel cooler, especially on the lakeshore.

“It was kind of an uneven month,” Sullivan said. “We didn’t have any heat waves or long cold spells. The wind definitely made it feel cooler at times, especially when it was coupled with the rain.”

For the month there was 3.49 inches of rain, which eclipsed the long term average of 2.92. a brunt of that was received on Sept. 3 when 1.09 inches fell.

October started with temperatures climbing into the mid-70s Tuesday, but quickly dipped early that afternoon, when rain and a cold front moved in. Sullivan said cool temperatures are expected to remain in the area for the next week or so, but there are indications a warm-up could arrive next week.

“It will be chilly, but turn more moderate,” he said. “Then we have a chance of it getting a bit warmer by the middle or end of next week.”

Asked if the days of 70- and even 80-degrees days are gone, Sullivan said the current forecast doesn’t show any, but that could change in the coming days and weeks.

“It is early, and the forecast is always changing,” Sullivan said. “I would expect it to heat up for a day or two before the month is over, but they will move out very quickly and the cool weather will move back in. I don’t want to say we won’t reach those temperatures, because, if I do, then two days from now the forecast will change and it will.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.

September weather

How the month performed, weather-wise

2019 Historical average

Average high 70.7 degrees 68.9 degrees

Average low 49.7 degrees 46.5 degrees

Average daily 60.2 degrees 57.7 degrees

Precipitation 3.49 inches 2.92 inches

Source: National Weather Service

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