Third Coldest October on Record

State of the Climate
National Overview
October 2009

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Climatic Data Center

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Use the form below to access monthly reports.

« September 2009
National Overview Report

Report:          ----- National -----         National Overview         Drought         U.S. Wildfire         Hurricanes & Tropical Storms         Snow & Ice         Tornadoes         ----- Global -----         Global Analysis         Global Hazards         El Niño/Southern Oscillation Analysis       

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Maps and Graphics:

October	Most Recent 3 Months	Most Recent 6 Months
Most Recent 12 Months	Year-to-Date	US Percent Area Very Wet/Dry/Warm/Cold
Annual Summary for 2008

PLEASE NOTE: All temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. As final data become available, the most up-to-date statistics and graphics will be available on the Climate Monitoring Products page and the U.S. Climate at a Glance Web site.

For graphics covering periods other than those mentioned above or for tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for October, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate at a Glance page.

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National Overview:

• Temperature Highlights - October
• The average October temperature of 50.8°F was 4.0°F below the 20^th Century average and ranked as the 3^rd coolest based on preliminary data.
• For the nation as a whole, it was the third coolest October on record. The month was marked by an active weather pattern that reinforced unseasonably cold air behind a series of cold fronts. Temperatures were below normal in eight of the nation's nine climate regions, and of the nine, five were much below normal. Only the Southeast climate region had near normal temperatures for October.
• Statewide temperatures coincided with the regional values as all but six states had below normal temperatures. Oklahoma had its coolest October on record and ten other states had their top five coolest such months.
• Florida was the only state to have an above normal temperature average in October. It was the sixth consecutive month that the Florida's temperature was above normal, resulting in the third warmest such period (May-October).
• The three-month period (August-October) was the coolest on record for three states:Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Five other states had top five cool periods:Missouri (2^nd), Iowa (3^rd) , Arkansas (5^th) , Illinois (5^th) and South Dakota (5^th) . Everyclimate division in Kansas (nine) and Nebraska (eight) recorded a record cool such period.
• For the year-to-date (January - October) period, the contiguous U.S. temperature ranked 43^rd warmest. No state had a top or bottom ten temperature value for this period.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/?report=national&year=2009&month=10&submitted=Get+Report