September in Latvia was the wettest in eight years

Data compiled by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre show that this September was both cooler and notably wetter than in recent years. The average air temperature for the month reached +13.9 degrees Celsius, which is 1.6 degrees above the long-term norm, yet the lowest such monthly average since 2022.

The coldest night of the month was recorded on September 28 in Zosēni, where the thermometer dropped to +1.8 degrees, while the warmest day came on September 9 in Bauska, with +27.4 degrees. Temperatures stayed above the norm on most days of the month, though new heat records were only set on September 9.

Record-breaking rainfall

September brought an average of 100.6 millimeters of precipitation nationwide, equal to 165% of the norm — far more than in the previous six years, when September tended to be drier than usual. The last time rainfall was similarly high was in 2017, when the national average reached 129.4 millimeters.

The heaviest rainfall was recorded in Priekuļi, at 178.5 millimeters — more than three times the local norm. The least precipitation fell at the Jelgava observation station, with 43.9 millimeters, or 73% of the norm.

In Kolka and Priekuļi, last month became the wettest September on record at those stations. Four more locations — Mērsrags, Saldus, Dagda and Zosēni — ranked among their five wettest Septembers in recorded history.

Across much of the country, dryness and moisture indicators stayed within normal range, but Latgale, along with parts of Vidzeme and Kurzeme, saw moderately to very wet conditions, while Priekuļi and Kolka were classified as extremely wet.

The average relative humidity nationwide was 86%, ranging from 82% in Liepāja and Ventspils to 90% in Madona. The month's strongest wind gust, 20.7 meters per second, was recorded on September 20 in Ventspils.