Provided by the State Climate Office of Ohio, a collaboration of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Geography Department, and OSU Extension with support from Energent Solutions.
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Temperature
August marked a shift toward colder-than-normal conditions across much of Ohio following a period of above-average warmth that occurred in July. Average temperatures ranged from 65–75 °F, with the warmest values located in the south (Fig. 1a). Departures from normal were generally 0 to 3 °F below normal, with the largest negative anomalies observed in the northeast. Additional pockets of 2 to 3 °F below normal were scattered across the state. Most of southern Ohio observed near normal temperatures, with a small area recording departures of 1 to 2 °F above normal (Fig. 1b).
At the county level, most areas ranked near normal, though 23 counties fell within the coldest third of their 131-year records. In contrast, Lawrence County ranked within the warmest third. Statewide, August 2025 ranked as the 50th coldest on record (Fig. 2).
Precipitation
August marked a notable shift in precipitation patterns across Ohio, transitioning from wetter-than-normal to drier-than-normal conditions. In the northwest and southeast, total precipitation ranged from 0.25 to 1.5 inches. A narrow corridor of slightly higher precipitation was logged extending just west of the I-71 corridor from Cincinnati, OH, to Erie, PA, where totals reached 1.5 to 4 inches. In contrast, southern Ohio experienced a dry pocket with only 0 to 0.5 inches of precipitation (Fig. 3a). Departures from normal reflected these patterns, with deficits of 2.5 to 3.5 inches in the northwest and southeast, while areas along the I-71 corridor recorded departures of 0 to 2 inches below normal (Fig. 3b).
At the county level, every county ranked within at least the driest third of its 131-year record. In total, 29 counties experienced their driest August on record, with most of these located in southern and eastern Ohio. An additional 52 counties ranked within the driest tenth of their historical record. Statewide, August 2025 was the driest on record for Ohio (Fig. 4).
Soil & Energy
At the end of August, soil moisture had declined noticeably across the state. At the 0–40 cm depth, dry conditions were observed in the northwest, northeast, and southwest, with the rest of the state also beginning to show signs of dryness (Fig. 5a). The 0–200 cm map indicates less overall dryness; however, soils in the northwest remain exceptionally dry, with additional dry areas in the north and southwest (Fig. 5b). The recent lack of precipitation is the cause, and if these conditions continue, broader dryness is expected to appear in the 0–200 cm profile as this map tends to be impacted less by short events.
Product Note: Both NASA SPoRT LIS soil moisture products contain small pockets of inaccurate data indicating extremely wet or dry conditions. These small-scale errors can emerge in remote sensing products covering large areas or grid-spacings. For more information, please contact Geddy Davis (davis.5694@osu.edu).
August was notable for degree days, with above-normal departures in Heating Degree Days (HDDs) and mixed positive and negative departures in Cooling Degree Days (CDDs) (Fig. 6). Overall, the combination of higher-than-normal HDDs and CDDs likely increased energy demand, as many locations fluctuated between heating and cooling needs. Looking ahead, HDDs are expected to increase as the region transitions into fall.
Notable Events
August surprised many Ohioans with cooler, fall-like weather that lingered into early September. Beginning around August 20th, a series of cold fronts pushed statewide temperatures 5–7°F below normal. The most notable anomaly appeared just north of Dayton, where departures reached 9–10°F below average (Fig. 7). According to NWS Wilmington, on August 26th, this same region made history by tying the 1963 record low of 48°F.
Drought
Following an extremely dry August, rapid-onset drought conditions have begun to reemerge across Ohio. Currently, 48.97% of the state is classified as abnormally dry (D0), 45.68% as moderate drought (D1), and 2.16% as severe drought (D2), while the remaining 3.19% is free of drought (Fig. 8). Conditions are expected to worsen in the coming weeks due to a lack of precipitation in the near-term forecast combined with rising temperatures. Early impacts on the agricultural sector are already being reported. These drought conditions resemble a similar pattern to the drought experienced in Ohio a year ago, however, with much lower severity so far.
Looking Ahead
The CPC seasonal outlook calls for warmer-than-normal temperatures and equal chances of above- or below-normal precipitation across Ohio. The three-month temperature outlook shows above-normal temperatures with moderate confidence for the entire state (Fig. 9a), while the precipitation outlook indicates equal chances for above or below normal precipitation (Fig. 9b).
It is important to note that these outlooks reflect three-month averages; in reality, August was much drier than normal, and near-term forecasts suggest this trend may continue. Prolonged dryness could pose challenges for Ohio’s agricultural sector if conditions persist. Additionally, while late August into early September brought a brief period of below-normal temperatures, a return to warmer conditions is expected in the coming weeks, consistent with the CPC’s prediction of above-normal temperatures through the fall.
Note: these outlooks do not provide the quantity of above or below normal conditions, just the likelihood of occurrence (i.e., the probability).
Authors
Aiden Ridgway: Undergraduate Student, Student Assistant: Climate Services, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, ridgway.72@osu.edu
Alexis Jahnke: Undergraduate Student, Student Assistant: Climate Services, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, jahnke.30@osu.edu
Geddy R. Davis: Meteorologist/Atmospheric Scientist, Program Coordinator: Climate Services - Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, davis.5694@osu.edu
Aaron B. Wilson: State Climate Office of Ohio, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center & OSU Extension, The Ohio State University, wilson.1010@osu.edu