NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY

OCTOBER 2011

1st-8th…In conjunction with a complex storm system, wet weather
gradually engulfed the western half of the nation. Some of the most
important rain fell at week’s end across drought stricken portions of
the central and southern Plains. Storm-total rainfall ranged from 2 to
4 inches, with locally higher amounts, from central Texas into central
Oklahoma. Beneficial rain also fell in winter wheat areas of the
northern High Plains, which had trended dry in recent weeks. Most of
the West also received substantial precipitation, curtailing fieldwork
but boosting topsoil moisture and helping to establish high-elevation
snow packs.
Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10°F below normal in
California. In contrast, dry weather promoted Midwestern summer crop
maturation and harvesting. In fact, late-season warmth elevated weekly
temperatures 10 to 20F above normal in the north-central U.S. The
Southeast also experienced a full week of open weather, except for
late-week downpours in parts of Florida. Elsewhere, dry conditions
gradually returned to the lower Great Lakes region and the Northeast,
following a protracted period of cool, damp weather. Early in the
week, record-setting warmth covered the central U.S. Rapid City, SD,
set a monthly record with a high of 96°F on October 2. Previously,
Rapid City’s highest October reading of 94°F had occurred on October
1, 2005, and several earlier dates. Elsewhere in the Dakotas,
Dickinson, ND (95F), posted a daily-record high for October 2. The
following day, Hill City, KS (96F on October 3), also notched a daily-
record high. In stark contrast, the week opened with chilly air in
place across the South and East. Daily-record lows for October 2
included 37F in Greenwood, MS, and 38F in El Dorado, AR. On October 3,
El Dorado again recorded 38°F, while Macon, GA, dipped to 39F. By mid-
week, a new surge of record-setting warmth overspread the north-
central U.S. Pierre, SD, logged a daily-record high for October 4,
followed the next day by records in Grand Forks, ND (89F), and
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (88F). High winds accompanied the warmth,
with gusts topping 60 mph at many locations on the Plains on October
6-7. During the second half of the week, sharply cooler air engulfed
the West. Ely, NV (30F), reported its first freeze (and first
measurable snowfall, 2.6 inches) of the season on October 5. Ely’s
only later observance of the season’s first freeze had occurred on
October 13, 1963. Late-week lows dipped to daily-record levels in
locations such as Gateway, CO (29°F on October 7), and Douglas, AZ
(35F on October 8). Farther east, record-setting warmth arrived in the
Northeast, where Portland, ME (81, 85, and 81F), posted a trio of
daily-record highs from October 8-10. In addition, enough warmth
lingered in Green Bay, WI, to result in the longest October stretch of
70-degree weather on record. Green Bay’s warm spell lasted 10 days,
from October 3-12, surpassing the 9-day streak of 70-degree days that
had been established from October 14-22, 1947. Early-week snow dusted
parts of the Appalachians, with more than 6 inches reported on a few
peaks in West Virginia. With a half-inch of snow on October 1, Beech
Mountain, NC, set a record for the earliest measurable snow in North
Carolina (previously, 4.0 inches atop Mt. Mitchell on October 5,
1980).
By October 3, heavy precipitation arrived along the Pacific Coast.
Ukiah, CA, netted consecutive daily-record amounts on October 3-4,
totaling 2.35 inches. During the first 6 days of the month, 4.40
inches soaked Crescent City, CA. On October 5, another surge of
moisture resulted in daily-record totals in locations such as Stanley,
ID (1.39 inches), and downtown Los Angeles, CA (1.15 inches). Later in
Wyoming, daily-record snowfall amounts reached 8.7 inches (on October
7) in Riverton and 6.0 inches (on October 8) in Cheyenne. Riverton’s
October 6-7 storm-total snowfall climbed to 10.9 inches. Elsewhere in
Wyoming, Sheridan (1.79 inches on October 7) experienced its wettest
October day on record (previously, 1.60 inches on October 30, 1974).
In Nebraska, Kearney’s October 6-9 rainfall reached 4.82 inches.
Farther south, daily-record totals in Texas for October 8 included
3.57 inches in Abilene and 3.26 inches in Wichita Falls. The heavy
rain continued into the following day, when record-setting amounts for
October 9 reached 5.83 inches in Waco, TX, and 2.71 inches in Oklahoma
City, OK. Farther east, a low-pressure system near the southern
Atlantic Coast generated late-week downpours and high winds. From
October 6-9, Vero Beach, FL, received 11.86 inches of rain and
recorded a peak wind gust to 52 mph. The majority (8.30 inches) of
Vero Beach’s rain fell on October 8, representing its second-wettest
day on record behind 8.82 inches on January 21, 1957. Melbourne, FL,
experienced its second wettest October day (5.68 inches) on October 8,
followed by a wind gust to 54 mph on October 9. Melbourne’s only
wetter
October day occurred on October 17, 1956, when 6.03 inches fell.

9th-15th…The nation saw some active weather on Tuesday with
precipitation in the Southeast through the Northwest. Precipitation in
the Southeast was mainly due to a storm which slowly drifted up the
eastern seaboard. This storm brought heavy rainfall to portions of the
region from Georgia through the Carolinas. Today's rainfall totals
brought the accumulated precipitation from the past few days to over 5
inches in some locations. A high surf warning for the coast was
cancelled, but the risk for rip currents remains along the entire
southeastern coast. The Northwest also saw some significant
precipitation on Tuesday. Heavy rainfall was reported throughout the
Cascades and over the Olympic Peninsula. The entire Puget Sound region
also saw precipitation, but with mostly drizzle and light rain. The
region's precipitation was caused by a Pacific storm that slammed into
Southern Alaska. In addition to heavy rain, strong winds brought high
surf to the coast, and some of the highest elevations saw snowfall.
The Plains also saw wet weather on Tuesday as a weak trough in the
upper atmosphere stretched across the region. Precipitation was
generally isolated, but some heavy downpours were reported. Elsewhere,
conditions were generally pleasant with warm weather and clear skies
in the Northeast and northern Plains. Cloud cover began in increase in
the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England by late afternoon, but New
England remained clear.

16th-22nd…Unsettled weather continued in the eastern half of the
nation on Wednesday as a deepening low over eastern Kentucky absorbed
low pressure from the Southeast. These systems pulled in ample
moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic Ocean as they
began to merge during the afternoon and produced showers, periods of
heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong wind in areas from the Great
Lakes and Ohio Valley through parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Some storms in the Mid-Atlantic had the potential to turn severe. The
main concerns with these storms were hail, damaging wind gusts, and
tornadoes or waterspouts. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms
continued ahead of an associated cold front that reached through the
Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. In the West, a trough of low pressure
moved through the Pacific Northwest today. Onshore flow associated
with this system pushed marine air into the coastal and inland
valleys. This transition resulted in cooler temperatures and increased
cloud cover throughout the region.
23rd-31st…Another day of generally quiet weather was underway across
the country on Tuesday though a few areas of the nation saw some
precipitation. The largest and most intense area of precipitation was
located in lower portion of Michigan as well as portions of Wisconsin.
Rain spread from around Green Bay across lake Michigan and the
peninsula into Lake Huron. The Heaviest rain fell in the Vicinity of
Traverse City through Grayling State Forest, where rainfall totals of
half an inch to over an inch were reported. Radar estimates of
precipitation in the region were even higher. Lighter precipitation
had moved across Canada and into New York as well. Elsewhere in the
East, clear skies remained in place from the Southeast through coastal
New England, though the Canadian Border region saw clouds push south
throughout the day. Beneath the sunny skies, temperatures were
generally pleasant, with highs reaching into the upper 50s and 60s in
New England with 70s reported in the Southeast. Even the deep south
saw pleasant conditions with highs in the upper 70s reported for most
locations. Across the Plains, similarly pleasant weather was recorded,
but in the Rockies, cloud cover began to build and several areas of
precipitation were noted. The Northern Rockies in Montana saw snow
showers around the Bitterroot mountains and into Helena while to the
south, Colorado and Utah saw showers and a few thunderstorms. The
storms in the Rockies generally moved quickly enough to keep flash
flooding concerns at bay. In the West, conditions along the coast
cleared out substantially as high pressure built in behind a departing
trough of low pressure. As the skies cleared, winds calmed down and
temperatures began to rise, signaling the start of another round of
summer like weather for the West Coast.
A strong storm system and cold air mass continued to impact this
Colorado and the Central Rockies with showers, thunderstorms, snow
showers, periods of heavy snowfall, and strong wind gusts through the
afternoon. As of this afternoon, snow totals in parts of Colorado
range up to about 4.5 inches and up to 1 foot in higher elevations.
Various Winter Storm Warnings, Winter Weather Advisories, and Freeze
Watches and Warnings remained in effect for much of Colorado and parts
of northern New Mexico. Meanwhile, additional showers formed ahead of
associated cold fronts in parts of northeastern Arizona and northern
New Mexico, while cold temperatures remained over much of the
Intermountain West. A few light showers also formed in the Pacific
Northwest, ahead of an advancing cold front. While much of today's
precipitation remained focused in the West, some showers also
developed ahead of a cold front that extended from the Southern Plains
through the Lower Great Lakes. Afternoon showers were embedded in
cloud cover from the southern regions of the Mid-Mississippi and Ohio
Valley into the northern Mid-Atlantic. Showers also continued in New
York, ahead of a warm front lifting into the Northeast.
A strong early season winter storm developed across the eastern US as
a low pressure system moved in from the Mississippi Valley. Counter-
clockwise flow around this system pulled in ample moisture from the
Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, the back side of this system pulled
in cool air from Canada. This combination produced a large swath of
snow that stretched from the Central Appalachians through New England.
Coastal areas remained warmer, moderated by the ocean temperature, and
saw 1 to 2 inches of rain. However, most of the region saw snowfall
accumulation between 3 to 7 inches, while up to 12 inches have been
reported at highest elevations. This heavy wet snow caused damage to
tree limbs and power lines across the Northeast, especially since most
of the trees still have their leaves. Heaviest rainfall along the
coasts was reported at Wallops Island, Virginia with a mid-day total
of 1.83 inches of rain.
To the south, a cold front extended southward from this system and
remained just offshore as it stretched down the East Coast, over
Florida, and into the Gulf of Mexico. The warm and humid conditions
over Florida allowed for scattered thunderstorms to pop up along the
frontal boundary. Heaviest rainfall was reported in Naples, Florida
with a mid-day total of 1.35 inches of rain. Out West, scattered rain
and snow showers diminished over the Northern Rockies as a trough of
low pressure quickly moved into the Northern Plains. Cool overnight
temperatures produced a few snow showers that lingered into the early
morning hours across the Dakotas, which turned into daytime rain
showers. Total accumulation of this wintry mix of precipitation
remained light at less than a half of an inch.

Weather Underground midday recap for Monday, October 31, 2011. After a
very busy weekend in the Northeast, relatively calm weather greeted
the country on Monday. The most active storm rolled through the Upper
Midwest where it produced mostly rain from the Great Lakes through
Illinois.

Meanwhile, a high pressure system moved along the eastern seaboard,
producing dry conditions from the Southeast through the Northeast. The
one exception to this was in Florida where significant rain and
thunderstorms developed once again. This has been a particularly wet
few days in the Sunshine State due to very moist tropical flow off the
Gulf of Mexico. Many cities in the state received several inches of
rain with Cocoa Beach reporting over a half of foot.

The West was mostly dry and mild, with the only active storm in the
Northwest. Scattered rain was noticed from Washington through Montana,
but was not widespread in nature.

The Northeast continued to be cool with temperatures in the 40s and
50s, while the Southeast saw temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The
Plains rose into the 70s and 80s, while the Southwest saw similar
temperatures. The Northwest rose into the 40s and 50s.
After a very busy weekend in the Northeast, relatively calm weather
greeted the country on Monday. The most active storm rolled through
the Upper Midwest where it produced mostly rain from the Great Lakes
through Illinois. Meanwhile, a high pressure system moved along the
eastern seaboard, producing dry conditions from the Southeast through
the Northeast. The one exception to this was in Florida where
significant rain and thunderstorms developed once again. This has been
a particularly wet few days in the Sunshine State due to very moist
tropical flow off the Gulf of Mexico. Many cities in the state
received several inches of rain with Cocoa Beach reporting over a half
of foot. The West was mostly dry and mild, with the only active storm
in the Northwest. Scattered rain was noticed from Washington through
Montana, but was not widespread in nature. The Northeast continued to
be cool with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, while the Southeast saw
temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The Plains rose into the 70s and 80s,
while the Southwest saw similar temperatures. The Northwest rose into
the 40s and 50s.