NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY

OCTOBER 2019

1-5: The combination of mostly dry weather and record-setting high temperatures led to further drought development and intensification as far north as the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic. In fact, weekly temperatures generally averaged 10 to 15°F above
normal from the southeastern Plains to the Ohio Valley and interior Southeast. Meanwhile, cool weather in northern New England held readings as much as 5°F below normal. Elsewhere, mostly dry weather favored autumn fieldwork in the Desert Southwest,
while rain and snow showers accompanied below-normal temperatures in the Northwest. In the latter region, the cool, showery weather boosted soil moisture but slowed winter wheat emergence and establishment. Weekly temperatures averaged more than 10°F
below normal in many locations from California to Montana.
For the first time on record, October temperatures reached or topped the 100degree mark in locations such as Huntsville, AL (100°F on October 2 and 3); Birmingham, AL (101°F on October 3); RaleighDurham, NC (100°F on October 3); Athens, GA (100°F on
October 3); Augusta, GA (100 and 101°F, respectively, on October 3-4); Greenwood, MS (100°F on October 3); and Chattanooga, TN (100°F on October 2 and 3). Like many Southeastern communities, Macon, GA, set multiple October record highs, reaching 102
and 103°F, respectively, on October 3-4. Previously, Macon’s highest October reading had been 100°F on October 5, 1954. Montgomery, AL, achieved three triple-digit readings in October—101°F on the 1st and 102°F on the 3rd and 4th. Prior to
this year, Montgomery’s highest October temperature had been 100°F on October 6, 1954. In the Midwest, the 1st was the hottest October day on record in Cincinnati, OH (95°F), and Evansville, IN (94°F). Elsewhere on October 1, monthly record highs
were established in many West Virginia locations, including Huntington (95°F), Parkersburg (94°F), Beckley (91°F), and Elkins (90°F). Neither Beckley nor Elkins had ever attained a 90-degree reading in October. Farther east, monthly records from
October 5, 1941, were broken on the 2nd in mid-Atlantic cities such as Washington, DC (98°F); Wilmington, DE (98°F); and Newark, NJ (96°F). In stark contrast, frigid conditions affected snow-covered sections of the northern Rockies and northern High
Plains in late September and early October. From September 30 – October 2, a trio of daily record lows were set in Montana locations such as Cut Bank (6, 1, and 8°F) and Great Falls (12, 9, and 17°F). By October 3, cold air had pushed eastward
across the Plains, where Sidney, NE, notched a daily-record low of 24°F. Chilly air settled as far south as southern California; Bishop collected consecutive daily-record lows (30 and 28°F, respectively) on October 3-4. Cold air also edged westward
toward the Pacific Coast, where record-setting lows for October 1 dipped to 29°F (on September 30) in Olympia, WA, and 35°F (on October 1) in Astoria, OR.

6-12: Cold weather accompanying and trailing the storm ended the 2019 growing season across large sections of the Plains and western and central Corn Belt. On the same morning, freezes reached the Ozark Plateau and extended eastward into much of
Illinois and Wisconsin. Some additional Midwestern freezes were noted on October 13-14. Little or no rain fell through week’s end in large sections of the middle and southern Atlantic States, as well as southern Texas, allowing short-term drought to
further intensify. Southeastern weekly temperatures averaged more than 5°F above normal in many locations. Meanwhile, dry weather prevailed across much of California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest. The dry weather, accompanied at times by windy
conditions and low humidity levels, contributed to local wildfire emergencies and the rapid expansion of several fires, especially in southern California. Elsewhere, weekly temperatures averaged more than 10°F below normal across northern sections of
the Rockies and High Plains.
On October 6, prior to the arrival of cooler air, daily-record highs in Texas soared to 100°F in Del Rio and 98°F in San Angelo. Later, a final surge of heat into Texas led to consecutive daily-record highs on October 9-10 in locations such as
Midland (95°F both days) and Del Rio (96 and 99°F, respectively). Meanwhile, New Orleans, LA, reported highs of 90°F or greater on 9 or the first 10 days in October. Previously, New Orleans’ record for 90degree readings in October had been 8 days
in 2016. By mid-week, cold air drove into the Northwest, where Olympia, WA, recorded a trio of daily-record lows (26, 26, and 27°F) from October 9-11. Similarly, three consecutive daily-record lows were set from October 10-12 in locations such as
Eureka, NV (5, 9, and 12°F), and Pocatello, ID (16, 14, and 17°F). On October 10, temperatures plunged to daily-record levels in Montana locations such as Cut Bank (-3°F) and Great Falls (0°F). Previously, Great Falls’ earliest autumn reading of
0°F or below had occurred on October 25, 1919. In Colorado, consecutive daily-record lows were established on October 10-11 in Denver (13 and 9°F) and Colorado Springs (14 and 9°F). On the southern Plains, consecutive daily-record lows on October 11-
12 were set in locations such as Oklahoma City, OK (32 and 28°F), and Dalhart, TX (22 and 24°F). For Oklahoma City, the October 11 freeze was the third-earliest first autumn freeze; the record remains October 8, 2012. On October 12, daily-record lows
dipped to 30°F in Vichy-Rolla, MO, and Fayetteville, AR, while Abilene, TX, collected a daily-record low of 33°F.

13-19: Cool, mostly dry weather dominated the Plains and Midwest. Farther west, cool, showery weather from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies contrasted with dry conditions in the Southwest.
Cool air engulfed most of the country, with lingering warmth confined to parts of the Deep South. Weekly temperatures averaged more than 5°F below normal in parts of the Dakotas, as well scattered locations in California and large sections of the mid-
South and Midwest—but were at least 5°F above normal at a few locations in Florida. The week began amid a cold snap which ended the 2019 growing season across much of the northern and western Corn Belt. Later, chilly conditions expanded across the
remainder of the Midwest and into the Northeast, where scattered to widespread frost was reported. At the time of the freezes, a substantial amount of corn and some soybeans were not yet fully mature and may require extended time to dry down.
With cold weather lingering across the Plains and West early in the week, daily-record lows for October 13 dipped to 23°F in Bishop, CA; McCook, NE; and Goodland, KS. Later in the week, Western lows of 38°F set daily records in Half Moon Bay, CA (on
October 18), and Desert Rock, NV (on October 19). Farther east, however, several daily-record highs were established, mainly from Texas to Florida. October 14 featured daily-record highs of 92°F in Florida locations such as Fort Myers and Tallahassee,
as well as a record-setting high of 95°F in Corpus Christi, TX. Other records during the early- to mid-week period included 97°F (on October 15) in Harlingen, TX, and 93°F (on October 16) in Vero Beach, FL. Meanwhile, another surge of cold air
reached the Plains, resulting in record-setting lows for October 16 in Nebraska communities such as McCook (24°F) and Hastings (28°F). Late in the week, however, heat again surged across Texas in advance of a cold front. Del Rio, TX, collected a pair
of daily-record highs (95 and 96°F, respectively) on October 19-20. Elsewhere in Texas, record setting high for October 19 soared to 97°F in Austin (Bergstrom) and 94°F in Corpus Christi.

20-26: Cold air blanketed the Rockies, Plains, and upper Midwest, while warmth returned across the East and Far West. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10°F below normal at scattered locations across central and southern sections of the Rockies and
Plains. In contrast, readings averaged more than 5°F above normal in the southern Atlantic region and coastal California. For much of the week, lingering warmth across the southern Atlantic region set numerous daily-record highs. Miami, FL, tallied a
trio of daily-record highs (92, 91, and 91°F) from October 20-22. Elsewhere in Florida, Naples (95°F on October 24) tied a monthly record most recently attained on October 4, 2007. Farther west, early-week heat in Texas was quickly swept away.
Record-setting highs in Texas for October 20 soared to 97°F in Laredo and 95°F in San Angelo. Heat also affected parts of California, where downtown Oakland notched consecutive daily-record highs of 85°F on October 21-22. Oakland posted another
record, 89°F, on October 24. Sacramento, CA, registered consecutive daily-record highs (89 and 90°F, respectively) on October 23-24. Meanwhile, cold air surged southward across the Plains. Consecutive daily-record lows were established on October 24-
25 in Texas locations such as Amarillo (24 and 22°F) and Borger (27 and 25°F). Elsewhere on the 25th, daily-record lows dipped to 20°F in Goodland, KS, and McCook, NE. At week’s end, a brief surge of Northwestern warmth preceded another blast of
cold air. In Washington, record-setting highs for October 25 rose to 76°F in Pasco and 75°F in Yakima.

27-31: An impressive early-season cold snap gripped much of the country, sending weekly temperatures more than 20°F below normal across portions of the Rockies and High Plains. Temperatures averaged at least 10°F below normal in a broader area
covering much of the western and central U.S. In contrast, lingering warmth along the Atlantic Seaboard boosted temperatures 5 to 10°F above normal. As the week began, cold air was already in place across the Plains and West. Daily record lows for
October 27 fell to -4°F in Casper, WY; 10°F in Pocatello, ID; and 11°F in Rapid City, SD. However, those locations went on to achieve monthly record lows during a subsequent blast of even colder air. Casper registered -9°F on the 29th and 30th (
previously, -3°F on October 30, 1971); Pocatello recorded -6°F on the 30th (previously, 7°F on October 31, 2003); and Rapid City noted -2°F on the 30th, tying a record first set on October 31, 1991. Among dozens of other monthly record lows set
during the last 3 days of October were readings of -20°F (on October 30) in Rawlins, WY; -14°F (on October 29 and 30) in Bozeman, MT; 2°F (on October 31) in Tribune, KS; 4°F (on October 31) in North Platte, NE; 6°F (on October 31) in Grand Junction,
CO; 14°F (on October 30) in Salt Lake City, UT; and 23°F (on October 30) in Midland, TX. Prior to this year, Grand Junction’s lowest October reading had been 16°F on October 29, 1917. Tribune tied a monthly record that had been originally set on
October 23, 1917. Elsewhere in Kansas, Dodge City (10°F on October 31) tied a monthly record first set on October 27, 1878. In stark contrast, record-setting warmth prevailed for much of the week across Florida’s peninsula. With a high of 91°F on
October 31, Jacksonville, FL, observed its latest-ever reading of 90°F or greater (previously, 90°F on October 27, 2010). Fort Myers, FL, achieved temperatures of 90°F or higher on each of the last 5 days of the month, with the temperature peaking at
94°F—a record for the date—on October 29. Similarly, Orlando, FL, reached or exceeded the 90-degree mark each day from October 26-31, with the temperature peaking at 92°F on the 28th and 29th. Warmth briefly expanded into the East, where record-
setting highs for October 31 rose to 86°F in Norfolk, VA; 75°F in Albany, NY; and 71°F in Burlington, VT.

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