According to the state climatology office in St. Paul, September was 13th-wettest September since weather records began in 1895.

The preliminary average statewide precipitation total was 4.49 inches, or 1.31 inches above normal.

“September 2016 was essentially an extension of the wet summer 2016 for many locations in Minnesota,” notes Pete Boulay, climatologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Ecological and Water Resources. Boulay issues an electronic monthly newsletter called HydroClim Minnesota.

The following information was in his October report:

WET AND WARM: September 2016 set Minnesota records for its precipitation (13th) and its warm temperatures (15th). (Photo: David De Lossy/Photodisc/Thinkstock)

• Waseca had its wettest month ever, with 14.80 inches. Through Oct. 5, the annual total for 2016 at Waseca is 49.11 inches. This is only 4.41 inches short of the all-time annual Minnesota precipitation record of 53.52 inches in St. Francis in 1991.

• The heaviest rain fell across southern Minnesota, where monthly departures were in excess of 3 to 5 inches south of the Twin Cities. Many central and northern Minnesota locations were near to slightly above normal. The exception was the far northwest, which was about 1 to 3 inches above normal.

• The heavy rains of September 20-22 hit parts of the northern Twin Cities hard from Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park and Fridley, causing street flooding and damage to culverts. Heavy rains also affected a broad area of south-central and southeast Minnesota. Waseca was greatly affected, with 75% of the homes in the town affected by flooding. The University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center saw 10.16 inches for a two-day total.

• The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Oct. 6 shows the entire state free of any drought designation. The state has been completely free of any drought designation for five weeks in a row, beginning Sept. 6. This is the longest stretch since summer 2014.

• September also was a very warm month. The preliminary average statewide temperature was 60.8 degrees F, or about 3.1 degrees above normal. This was enough to make it the 15th- warmest September on record. The all-time record was set in 2015 with 63.7 degrees F.

• Seasonal precipitation totals (Apr. 1-Oct. 4) are above the historical median for most of Minnesota, with much of south-central, southeast, east-central and parts of northwest Minnesota in the 95th percentile for the wettest growing season. Some areas are in the 99th percentile, or nearly the wettest on record.

• The U.S. Geological Survey reports that stream discharge values are much above normal across large sections of western, central and southern Minnesota. There are normal flows in the north-central and northeast.

• Water levels on most Minnesota lakes vary, depending on lake and location in the state. Mille Lacs was above the median lake level for September. White Bear Lake was at 922.62 feet on Oct. 6, a rise of 1.26 feet from one year ago and a rise of 3.78 feet from the record low of 918.84 feet measured Jan. 10, 2013. Rainy and Lake of the Woods are in the median range for September. Lake Superior was at 602.72 feet on Sept. 30, 7 inches higher than the monthly average for September.

• The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Oct. 3 that topsoil moisture across Minnesota is 56% adequate and 42% surplus. Soil moisture levels at Lamberton and Waseca are well above the historical median.

Read more of Bouley’s report at dnr.state.mn.us/hydroclim/index.html.