Why is it so hot in August?

Question

It seems that August is the hottest month of the year around where I live and I was just wondering why August is the most warmest or humid month of the year?

Answer 1

Because it is summer and it almost the end.

Answer 2

The percentage of humidity increases, and the heat of earth come out after rain. On the chart you will find the temp. less than june but you will feel more hot.

Answer 3

august is the hottest month because my birthday is in august lol lmao

Answer 4

Basically, it is a compound effect.

Well, I'll begin by stating the obvious part - the tilt of the earth's axis. As you know, the tilt of the earth's axis is causing the northern hemisphere to experience closer and direct rays from the sun (which basically means it's summer), while the southern hemisphere is experiencing winter.

Now, depending on where you are (my guess is that you are east of the Rocky Mtns in the US since you mentioned humidity) will determine what your weather conditions will be. In our (N. Hemisphere's) summer, a large, constant high pressure system (called the Subtropical High) fixes itself over the Atlantic Ocean. If you picture a high pressure system in your mind, picture invisible winds flowing in a clockwise rotation. If you are located on the western side of this high, you will be experiencing winds from the south. Winds from the south allow for warm, tropical air to advect into regions further north.

Now, with this happening all summer long, you ask, "Why is August worse?". Well, because the air has had so much time to modify across the northern hemisphere due to the more direct rays from the sun, the cold frontal systems just don't pack the punch they typically pack over winter/spring.

So, in August, out ahead of a cold front (picture a low pressure system as a counter-clockwise rotation, therefore the east side of a low is warm) we have increased southerly flow which ups our temperatures and dew points (high humidity), then coupled with weaker cold fronts (due to modified air masses), August feels dreadful.

Post cold front weather still provides SOME relief, though. The temperatures still drop some, and the humidities drop more substantially. To be honest, this summer (I am in Ohio) really has not been one of the hottest at all.

I sure hope this makes sense.