Skip to main content

October's temperatures average 5 degrees above normal

Subhead
Autumn 2015 likely to go down as one of the warmest on record
By
Troy Thone

I'm not sure anyone could ask for a more beautiful autumn than what we have seen so far. 
The warm temperatures in particular have been at the forefront of many a conversation on the weather recently.  Overall, October average temperatures soared 5 degrees above normal with both highs and lows averaging right around 5 degrees warmer than average.  
Provided November continues the above-normal temperatures, Autumn 2015 will likely go down as one of the warmest on record.
Comparing Sioux Falls temperature statistics (given the extensive historical records) ... the warmest autumn (September, October, and November) on record was set in 1963 when the average temperature for those three months was 53.87 degrees. 
The top 10 is rounded out at 51.57 degrees set in 2005.
So far for 2015 in Luverne the September average was 67 degrees and the October average was 52.85 degrees.  September's average was 5.7 degrees above normal and October's was 5 degrees above normal. 
If November continues that type of average, this will most certainly rank as in the top 10 warmest on record. While discussion has centered on the warm temperatures, the first freeze of the 2015-16 season was recorded on Oct. 16 when the low temperature hit 30 degrees.
Interestingly enough, the latest first freeze (again, with Sioux Falls records) was set on Oct. 28, 1963, with the average being Oct. 1.
If the warm temperatures didn't satisfy, perhaps the drier October conditions did. Just under 1 inch of precipitation fell, which is just over 1 inch below normal for the month. Yes, I haven't forgotten.
We even saw a trace of snowfall on Oct. 28 when some snow squalls blew through the area, briefly limiting visibility at times, but very little sticking to the ground given the warm ground temperatures.
Most of you know that I rarely make predictions in my column and, not to worry, that will not change (I do not enjoy being wrong and enjoy it even less when it is published on the record). 
However, I do enjoy making numerical comparisons and I was curious to know how much snowfall was recorded in the 10 warmest autumns on record. Again, using Sioux Falls information, an average snowfall of 31.7 inches was recorded for the 10 warmest autumn seasons on record. This is nearly 13 inches below the normal. 
So, take that for whatever it is worth. But provided the above-normal temperatures hold up, could we be looking at a below-normal snowfall season?  Take your bets now.
 
A blog of daily summary and other interesting weather events for the Luverne area is at http://luvernemnweather.blogspot.com. Thone can be reached at tathone@gmail.com.

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.