NATIONAL STORM SUMMARY

 

OCTOBER 2014

 

5-11: Late-week rainfall intensified in several parts of the nation, in part due to the interaction between a cold front and remnant tropical moisture associated with former eastern Pacific Hurricane Simon. Significant rainfall arrived in southeastern Arizona by October 8 and spread eastward during the remainder of the week. Totals in excess of 4 inches were common from the southeastern Plains to the central Appalachians. Showers were heavier in a few locations, including Jackson, KY, where 2.77 inches fell on October 6-7. By October 8, tropical showers arrived in southeastern Arizona, leading to a daily record total (0.67 inch) in Tucson. Three-day (October 7-9) totals in Arizona climbed to 1.36 inches in Douglas and 1.03 inches in Tucson. A day later, heavy rain spread to the nation’s mid-section. With an October 9 total of 2.83 inches, Colorado Springs, CO, experienced its wettest October day on record (previously, 1.63 inches on October 14, 1945). In Missouri, record-setting rainfall totals for October 9 included 2.30 inches in St. Joseph and 2.22 inches in Vichy-Rolla. Elsewhere in Missouri, October 9-10 rainfall totaled 4.04 inches in West Plains and 3.62 inches in Joplin. Jackson, KY, measured a daily-record total (1.82 inches) on October 10, helping to boost its weekly sum to 4.84 inches. On October 10, daily-record amounts exceeded 2 inches in several Southern locations, including Nashville, TN (2.62 inches); McAlester, OK (2.54 inches); and

Harrison, AR (2.46 inches).

 

12-18: A slow-moving storm system produced widespread showers and locally severe thunderstorms, primarily from October 12-15, from the southeastern Plains into the Midwest, South, and East. Some of the heaviest rain, 4 inches or more, soaked the southern Appalachians. In Combination with the previous week’s heavy rain, soil remained Saturated across the Plains. The week opened in the midst of a late-season severe weather outbreak. From October 12-14, there were more than three Dozen tornadoes, according to preliminary reports, from the Mid-South into the Southeast and lower Midwest. The Majority of the tornado and wind damage occurred on October 13 from the Gulf Coast northward into the lower Ohio Valley. Daily record totals topped 2 inches at many locations across the central and eastern U.S., starting on Monday. Daily record totals for October 13 reached 3.15 inches in Muscle Shoals, AL; 2.62 inches in Pensacola, FL; and 2.61 Inches in Chanute, KS. The following day, record setting Amounts for October 14 included 3.91 inches in Columbus, GA; 2.41 inches in Asheville, NC; and 2.27 inches in Crossville, TN. Elsewhere on the 14th, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, tied an October daily record with 2.24 inches of rain. Previously, Sault Ste. Marie had received 2.24 inches on October 18, 1923. Through the 18th, month-to-date Precipitation totals were already approaching October records In locations such as Columbia, MO (9.86 inches; record is 13.44 inches in 1941), and London, KY (6.73 inches; record is 7.69 inches in 1977). By October 15, rainfall shifted into the Northeast, where daily record totals in Pennsylvania reached 2.98 inches in Reading and 2.62 inches in Scranton. A day Later in New England, record shattering amounts for October 16 included 2.69 inches in Worcester, MA, and 1.80 inches in

Concord, NH. Heavy rain lingered across Maine through October 17, when daily-record amounts climbed to 2.13 inches In Houlton and 1.73 inches in Caribou.

 

19-25: A few early-week showers dotted the south-central U.S., resulting in daily record totals in Texas locations such as El Paso (0.88 inch on October 19) and Corpus Christi (1.68 inches on October 20). Showers lingered for much of the week across portions of Florida’s peninsula, where Vero Beach netted a daily-record amount (1.56 inches) on October 21. During the mid to late week period, heavy showers soaked the Northeast and Northwest. Record setting totals for October 22 reached 2.44 inches in Quillayute, WA; 1.88 inches in Portland, OR; and 1.51 inches at Central Park in New York City. The following day, Bangor, ME, received a daily-record total (1.94 inches) for October 23. At the height of the Northeastern storm, on October 22-23, Boston, MA, measured 3.12 inches of rain and clocked a peak wind gust to 54 mph. Elsewhere in Massachusetts, the Blue Hill Observatory near Milton tallied 5.04 inches of rain and had a wind gust to 59 mph.

 

Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com