The only thing I remember about August 2011 was it being historically wet and getting that big earthquake. Before Irene we had training thunderstorms that dropped 10 inches of rain here on a Saturday, then we had that 5.8 earthquake and then Irene.
August was much cooler than July, and it wasn't anywhere near as hot as 2010 was, which was our hottest summer on record, setting records for 90, 95 and 100 degree days here (thats how I judge heat, not by averages or mins.)