We knew it was hot this summer. But now we know just how hot.

The National Weather Service reported Saturday that Milwaukee's summer was the warmest on record.

The average temperature was 74.1 degrees for the meteorological summer, which was June 1 through Friday.

The previous average temperature high in Milwaukee was 73.8 degrees. That happened in both 1988 and 1995.

The third hottest summer was 73.3 degrees in 2010.

Madison, by comparison, had its third hottest summer on record. The average temperature was 73.9 degrees.

Also, both Milwaukee and Madison are experiencing their warmest years on record.

The average temperature from Jan. 1 to Friday was 55 degrees in both cities.

The last time that the first eight months of the year was nearly this warm in Milwaukee was 1921, when the average temperature was 53.4 degrees.

The third highest year-to-date temperature was 52.7 degrees in 2010.

Milwaukee had three days when temperatures hit 100 or higher this summer. That ranks third for the city, according to the weather service.

The hottest day in Milwaukee in 2012 was 103 on July 5.

Milwaukee had six days at 100 or higher in 1988 and four days in 1936.

Also, there were 20 days at 90 or above this summer. That's fourth highest.

In 1988 we had 36 days above 90; in 1955 we had 29 days; and in 1991 we had 21 days.

Yes, it was also a drought summer - but it wasn't as dry as it was hot.

The weather service said that this was the 31st driest summer in Milwaukee.

We received 7.21 inches of rain, which is 4.33 inches below normal.