NATIONAL WEATHERF SUMMARY

 

OCTOBER 2014

 

5-11:  Little or no rain fell in many other parts of the country. In particular, mostly dry weather covered the lower Southeast and stretched from the Pacific Coast to the northern Plains. Persistently cool weather in the Midwest contrasted above-normal temperatures across the remainder of the U.S. Especially warm weather covered the South and West, with weekly temperatures averaging at least 10F above normal at several Northwestern locations. Farther east, Midwestern freezes reached as far south and east as large sections of Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Early in the week, unusually cool air settled into the Southeast. Daily record lows for October 5 included 36F in Muscle Shoals, AL; 37F in Macon, GA; and 47F in Gainesville, FL. Elsewhere in Florida, Daytona Beach opened the week with consecutive daily-record lows (57 and 56F, respectively) on October 5-6. Meanwhile, late season heat continued in the West and began to spread eastward. On

October 6, Wenatchee, WA, reached 90F in October for the first time on record. Elsewhere on the 6th, Paso Robles, CA, posted a daily record high of 102F. A day later, record-setting highs for October 7 reached 97F in Fresno, CA, and 98F in Texas locations such as Dallas-Ft. Worth and San Angelo. For Dallas-Ft. Worth, it represented the hottest October day since October 11, 1979, when the high reached 99F. During the second half of the week, very warm weather shifted into the Southeast. In Georgia, Columbus closed the week with

a trio of daily-record highs (90, 89, and 89°F) from October 9-11. Similar three consecutive daily record highs were noted from October 10-12 in Macon, GA (91, 91, and 90F), and Montgomery, AL (91, 90, and 90°F). From October 8-13, Montgomery experienced 6 consecutive days with 90 degree heat, including a high of 92F on October 9. Daily record highs topped the 90 degree mark on October 11 in Southeastern locations such as Tallahassee, FL (93F); Augusta, GA (92F); and Columbia, SC (91F). Early to mid-week rainfall was generally light and mostly confined to the South, East, and lower Midwest.

 

12-18: Generally mild weather across the western half of the U.S. In contrast, 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. Drier weather returned or continued across much of the nation, except for Lingering showers from the Great Lakes region into the Northeast, and developing showers in the Pacific Northwest. Warmth prevailed early in the week near the Pacific Coast and Across the South and East. In California, daily record highs For October 12 climbed to 95°F in San Rafael and 92F in Kentfield. The following day in Oregon, Klamath Falls, OR, notched a daily record high (81F) for October 13. Farther east, Augusta, GA, posted three consecutive daily record Highs (92, 90, and 89F) from October 11-13. Daily record Highs also reached 90°F on October 12 in locations such As Montgomery, AL, and Macon, GA. Later, consecutive daily-record highs were set on October 14-15 in several Northeastern communities, including Burlington, VT (79 and 80F), and Watertown, NY (83 and 78F). Elsewhere in New York, Albany experienced its highest October minimum Temperature (70F on the 15th), tying a record first set on October 5, 1926. Meanwhile, warmth quickly returned to the South and West. In Colorado, daily-record highs for October 15 reached 83F in Denver and 82F in Colorado Springs. In Texas, record-breaking highs for October 16 soared to 95F in Childress and 92F in Midland.

 

19-25: Beside from a brief, mid-week period of showers, dry weather covered the nation’s mid-section. In the Plains, late season warmth covered the Plains, although, lingering drought remained a concern. Farther east, dry weather prevailed, despite a return to cool conditions in the eastern Plains. Pockets of excessive wetness persisted across the South. Elsewhere, significant precipitation was confined to the Northeast and Northwest. In the Northeast, a slow moving storm resulted in rainy, windy conditions during the mid to late week period. Several rounds of precipitation hit the Northwest, with late week showers pushing inland across the northern Rockies and southward into northern California. In advance of the Northwestern showers, late season warmth stretched from the Pacific Coast to the Plains and upper Midwest. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10F above normal across portions of the northern and central Plains. By October 24-25, temperatures topped 90F as far north as the central Plains. In contrast, freezes on October 19 and 22-23 reached deeper into the Great Lakes region including Wisconsin and Michigan than had been previously observed. As the week began, warmth covered the Northwest. In Washington, daily record highs for October 19 reached 81F in La Crosse and 75F in Bellingham. Warmth surged across the northern Plains on October 20, when daily record highs included 81F in Havre, MT, and 78F in Williston, ND. In contrast, chilly weather covered the eastern U.S., where high temperatures for October 22 reached only 50F in Kentucky locations such as Jackson and London. Toward week’s end, warmth greatly expanded across the western and central U.S. By October 24, highs surged to daily record levels in dozens of locations, including Childress, TX (91F); Colby, KS (90F); and McCook, NE (89F). A day later, record-setting highs for October 25 soared to 92F in Oklahoma City, OK, and 90F in Dodge City, KS. On October 24-25, the week ended with consecutive daily record highs in locations such as Phoenix, AZ (96F both days); Denver, CO (82 and 80F); and Salt Lake City, UT (79F both days). In Kansas, Wichita attained consecutive 90 degree readings later in the year than ever before, with highs of 91F on October 25 and 90F on October 26. Previously, Wichita’s latest pair of 90 degree readings had occurred on October 11-12, 1975. Similarly, Worland, WY 81F on October 25 reported its latest reading above the 80 degree mark, previously set with a high of 83°F on October 24, 1992.

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