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Powerful Pacific System Impacting the West; First Significant Snow for Portions of the East

Power Pacific system will continue to bring significant impacts for Pacific Northwest into northern California the remainder of the week. Dangerous coastal affects, heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow continues. Meanwhile, a storm across the east is set to bring the first accumulating snow to many higher elevations of the Catskills into the central Appalachians. Read More >

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°(Click on the links in the gray box below to quickly jump to sections located farther down the page)

Monthly Narrative

Tri-Cities & Ord Details
& Monthly Extremes
Graphs, Tables, Maps Drought Monitor Graphics

Monthly Precipitation &
Snowfall Tables & Archive of Monthly Reviews


* Please Note: All climate data presented here are preliminary and have not undergone final quality control by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Therefore, these data are subject to revision. Final and certified climate data can be accessed at: WWW.NCDC.NOAA.GOV

 October 2015 Weather/Climate Web Stories

Early-Mid Oct: Long Life Of A Upper Level Low
Oct. 11: Grand Island/Hastings Break/Tie Records For All-Time Warmest October Day


(Click HERE for archive to all web stories)


 

October 2015 Climate And Weather Review For South Central Nebraska
And Portions Of North Central Kansas

The following narrative focuses on climate and weather highlights for the month of October 2015 across the NWS Hastings coverage area, encompassing 24 counties in south central and central Nebraska, and 6 counties in north central Kansas. Click here for a map of this coverage area. The temperature and precipitation data presented here are largely based on the NWS Cooperative Observer network, along with data from a handful of automated airport sites. All climate averages and "normals" presented here are based on the official NCDC 1981-2010 normals.
 

TEMPERATURES...Unfortunately, due to time constraints, no Temperature narrative was written for October 2015

 

(Please look farther down the page for more information on October 2015 temperatures and extremes, including detailed breakdowns for Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney and Ord.)


PRECIPITATION/FLOODING...Unfortunately, due to time constraints, no Precipitaton/Flooding narrative was written for October 2015

(Please look farther down the page for more information on October 2015 precipitation/snowfall and extremes, including rankings of wettest and driest locations, percent-of-normal plots, and a detailed breakdown for Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney and Ord. In addition, the link on the far upper right of this page contains an archive of monthly/annual precipitation and snowfall totals for around 70 locations.)


DROUGHT STATUS (see images at bottom of page)...Unfortunately, due to time constraints, no Drought Status narrative was written for October 2015
 

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS/HIGH WINDS (for all official/finalized storm reports please refer to NCDC Storm Data)...Unfortunately, due to time constraints, no Severe Thunderstorm narrative was written for October 2015

- Number of Severe Thunderstorm Warning polygons issued by NWS Hastings in October 2015: 0 (19 less than October 2014)
- Number of Tornado Warning polygons issued by NWS Hastings in October 2015: 0 (Same as October 2014
- Number of confirmed tornadoes within the NWS Hastings coverage area in October 2015: 0 (Same as October 2014)

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October 2015 Climate Details For Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney and Ord...Along With Temperature/Rainfall Extremes Mainly From NWS Cooperative Observers and Automated Airport Sites


Click on the link below for October 2015 climate summaries specifically for Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney and Ord

Grand Island - Hastings - Kearney - Ord

 ...A FEW OF THE HOTTEST HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING OCTOBER 2015
(All data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites. All occurred on the 11th.)
100 degrees...Webster Dam, KS
98 degrees....Beaver City
97 degrees....2 W Genoa - Greeley - Loup City - Red Cloud - Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport ASOS
                    Hastings Airport ASOS - Aurora Airport AWOS
96 degrees....Central City - Franklin - Minden - Ravenna - 3 N York - 4 WNW Plainville, KS
95 degrees....Clay Center - Cambridge - Kearney Airport - Osceola - Lexington Airport AWOS - Ord Airport ASOS - Kirwin Dam, KS - 2 SW Alton, KS

...A FEW OF THE COOLEST LOW TEMPERATURES DURING OCTOBER 2015
(All data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites. All occurred on the 29th.)
23 degrees...Beaver City - Gothenburg - Holdrege
24 degrees...Cambridge - Canaday Steam Plant (6 SSE Lexington) - Red Cloud
25 degrees...Franklin - Greeley - Kearney Airport - Ravenna - Superior - Lexington Airport AWOS - 2 SW Alton
26 degrees...Minden - 2 W Genoa - 4 N Hastings (NWS Office) - 6 NNW Oxford - Harlan County Lake
27 degrees...Loup City - 3 N York - Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport ASOS - Ord Airport ASOS - Aurora Airport AWOS
                   Beloit, KS - Kirwin Dam, KS - Smith Center, KS

...A FEW OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY RAINFALL TOTALS DURING OCTOBER 2015
(
All data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites, unless indicated)
2.08 inches...Logan, KS (Phillips County)
1.92 inches...Gothenburg (Dawson County)
1.90 inches...Webster Dam, KS (Rooks County)
1.86 inches...Belgrade (Nance County)
1.79 inches...4 WNW Plainville, KS (Rooks County) - Glen Elder Dam, KS (Mitchell County)
1.75 inches...4 N Hastings (NWS office - Adams County)
1.60 inches...Cambridge (Furnas County) - Holdrege (Phelps County)
1.56 inches...6 NNW Oxford (Furnas County) - Burr Oak, KS (Jewell County)
1.52 inches...Wilsonville (Furnas County)
1.51 inches...Ionia, KS (Jewell County)

...A FEW OF THE LOWEST MONTHLY RAINFALL TOTALS DURING OCTOBER 2015
(
All data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites, unless indicated)
0.38 inch...4 S Shickley (Fillmore County)
0.53 inch...Lovewell Dam, KS (Jewell County)
0.59 inch...2 W Genoa (Nance County)
0.72 inch...Canaday Steam Plant (6 SSE Lexington - Gosper County)
0.76 inch...Osceola (Polk County)
0.77 inch...Bradshaw (York County)
0.79 inch...Superior (Nuckolls County) - 6 ESE Clay Center (Clay County)
0.84 inch...3 W Gresham (York County)
0.85 inch...Geneva (Fillmore County)
0.93 inch...4 N Aurora (Hamilton County)

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Various graphs and tables depicting October 2015 climate data for
South Central Nebraska and North Central Kansas:

* Please Note: These data are preliminary and have not undergone final quality control by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). Therefore, these data are subject to revision. Final and certified climate data can be accessed at WWW.NCDC.NOAA.GOV

Click Image For Larger Version
Grand Island Temperature Summary: Observed daily
maximum and minimum temperatures are connected by blue
bars. Area between normal maximum and minimum temperatures
is shaded green. Red bars connect record high temperatures. Blue
bars connect record low temperatures.
Hastings Temperature Summary: Observed daily maximum
and minimum temperatures are connected by blue bars. Area
between normal maximum and minimum temperatures is shaded
green. Red bars connect record high temperatures. Blue bars
connect record low temperatures.

 

 
Grand Island Precipitation Summary: Green line indicates cumulative observed precipitation for October 2015. Brown line indicates "normal" October precipitation based on 30-year data from 1981-2010. Hastings Precipitation Summary: Green line indicates
cumulative observed precipitation for October 2015. Brown line indicates "normal" October precipitation based on 30-year data from 1981-2010.

 

 

Grand Island (Regional Airport) - October 2014 - October 2015
  Oct. 2014 Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.
Average High (F) 68.7 47.3 37.1 40.1 36.3 60.4 64.8 69.4 82.6 87.3 84.2 82.2 69.0
Average Low (F) 41.1 21.0 21.1 15.1 11.4 27.2 39.8 48.8 60.4 63.9 60.4 59.1 44.3
Average Temperature (F) 54.9 34.2 29.1 27.6 23.8 43.8 52.3 59.1 71.5 75.6 72.3 70.6 56.6
Departure from Normal (F) +2.7 -3.9 +2.4 +2.5 -5.3 +4.4 +1.7 -2.1 +0.2 -0.6 -1.7 +5.5 +4.4
 
Precipitation (inches) 1.28 0.29 0.76 0.47 0.70 0.16 2.14 3.69 5.67 2.58 1.24 3.33 1.28
Departure from Normal -0.58 -0.88 +0.13 -0.06 +0.02 -1.64 -0.39 -0.72 +1.37 -0.82 -1.88 +1.10 -0.58
 
Snowfall (inches) 0.0 2.2 5.9 3.7 11.1 0.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Departure from Normal -1.0 -0.9 +0.8 -2.8 +4.8 -4.8 -0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -1.0

 

 

Hastings (Municipal Airport) - October 2014 - October 2015
  Oct. 2014 Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.
Average High (F) 67.9 47.7 37.9 41.7 37.7 61.0 64.8 69.3 82.3 86.6 83.6 83.3 69.5
Average Low (F) 41.6 21.2 22.4 16.3 12.9 27.8 41.3 50.0 61.7 65.0 61.3 60.3 45.4
Average Temperature (F) 54.8 34.4 30.1 29.0 25.3 44.4 53.1 59.6 72.0 75.8 72.4 71.8 57.5
Departure from Normal (F) +2.2 -4.3 +2.5 +3.0 -4.6 +4.5 +2.4 -1.7 +0.2 -1.3 -1.9 +6.2 +4.9
 
Precipitation (inches) 1.76 0.23 0.54 0.77 0.34 0.20 3.55 3.86 8.05 4.13 2.15 1.12 1.53
Departure from Normal -0.23 -1.06 -0.07 +0.36 -0.15 -1.59 +0.99 -0.71 +4.25 +0.39 -1.15 -1.44 -0.46
 
Snowfall NWS Office (inches) 0.0 1.7 3.4 5.7 5.4 0.8 Trace 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Departure from Normal -1.0 -0.9 -2.7 -0.3 -1.1 -4.4 -1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2 -1.0

 

 

Kearney (Regional Airport) - October 2014 - October 2015
(*All data from NWS coop observer with daily 24-hour obs taken around 7 AM. As a result, data may vary slightly from true "calendar day" averages)
  Oct. 2014 Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.
Average High (F)* 68.3 47.5 37.0 40.5 38.6 59.7 63.5 69.1 80.6 87.0 82.9 82.9 68.3
Average Low (F)* 38.5 19.2 19.1 14.6 11.6 23.9 38.1 47.1 59.1 62.1 59.4 58.1 41.8
Average Temperature (F)* 53.4 33.4 28.0 27.6 25.1 31.4 50.8 58.1 69.9 74.6 71.1 70.5 55.1
Departure from Normal (F)* +2.5 -3.6 +2.1 -3.0 -3.0 -6.3 +2.1 -1.4 +0.1 -0.1 -1.5 +7.0 +4.2
 
Precipitation (inches) 0.99 0.06 0.69 0.05 0.49 0.07 3.14 2.85 7.08 2.36 2.47 2.27 0.97
Departure from Normal -1.05 -0.96 +0.12 -0.44 -0.06 -1.72 +0.91 -1.33 +3.15 -0.92 -0.61 +0.20 -1.07
 
Snowfall (inches) 0.0 1.7 4.0 0.8 5.6 0.5 Trace 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Departure from Normal -0.7 -1.4 +0.5 -3.6 +0.5 -4.1 -1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2 -0.7

 

 

Ord (Evelyn Sharp Field Airport) - October 2014 - October 2015
(*Winter precipitation data may include coop observer reports due to automated airport equipment under-measuring snowfall liquid equivalent)
  Oct. 2014 Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.
Average High (F) 66.8 45.6 35.9 39.5 37.5 60.7 64.3 67.8 81.9 88.0 83.8 81.3 66.9
Average Low (F) 36.0 16.0 17.5 12.2 9.2 21.9 37.3 45.9 57.9 60.6 57.1 55.7 40.5
Average Temperature (F) 51.4 30.8 26.7 25.8 23.4 41.3 50.8 56.9 69.9 74.3 70.5 68.5 53.7
Departure from Normal (F) +1.8 -5.5 +1.8 +1.2 -4.4 +3.6 +2.0 -2.4 +0.7 -0.1 -2.5 +4.9 +4.1
 
Precipitation (inches)* 1.14 0.06 1.56 0.17 0.57 0.03 2.71 2.98 3.27 2.68 2.13 3.90 1.05
Departure from Normal -0.79 -1.01 +0.97 -0.20 +0.13 -1.42 +0.12 -0.83 -0.85 -0.29 -1.03 +1.46 -0.88
 
Snowfall (Coop Observer) 0.0 4.0 10.8 1.5 8.3 Trace 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Departure from Normal -1.1 -1.3 +3.4 -5.3 +2.3 -5.9 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -1.1

 

 

Smith Center, KS (Cooperative Observer) - October 2014 - October 2015
(*All data from NWS coop observer with daily 24-hour obs taken around 7 AM. As a result, data may vary slightly from true "calendar day" averages)
  Oct. 2014 Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.
Average High (F)* 71.8 51.3 40.5 43.5 40.9 61.8 68.0 71.6 86.2 90.6 87.3 87.4 71.8
Average Low (F)* 42.2 20.7 21.3 14.5 13.7 28.6 40.4 48.7 61.2 64.7 60.6 60.2 44.2
Average Temperature (F)* 57.0 36.0 30.9 29.0 27.3 45.2 54.2 60.2 73.7 77.7 74.0 73.8 58.0
Departure from Normal (F)* +2.2 -4.4 +2.1 -1.3 -4.7 +3.6 +1.7 -3.5 -0.3 -2.0 -3.2 +5.6 +3.2
 
Precipitation (inches) 0.54 0.08 0.54 0.42 0.58 0.57 0.89 6.34 2.68 4.80 5.48 1.13 1.26
Departure from Normal -1.34 -1.14 -0.12 -0.07 0.0 -1.30 -1.38 +2.42 -0.93 +0.93 +2.18 -0.91 -0.62
 
Snowfall (inches) 0.0 1.3 2.7 2.2 1.7 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Departure from Normal -0.4 -0.5 -0.5 -1.5 -2.4 -0.1 -0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2 -0.4

 

 Most of the following images depicting October 2015 Precipitation and Temperatures are courtesy of the High Plains Regional Climate Center:

* Please note: These maps are a "best-approximation" of actual measured values, and data reflected on these maps may not exactly match actual values due to the effects of interpolation and "smoothing" used to create the maps. In addition, some "bullseyes" may be a result of missing data.

Click Images For Larger Version

Nebraska: October 2015
Measured Precipitation (Inches)
Kansas: October 2015
Measured Precipitation (Inches)
Nebraska: October 2015
Percent of Normal Measured Precip.
Kansas: October 2015
Percent of Normal Measured Precip.
 
NWS Hastings Area: October 2015 Total "Observed" Precipitation
Based On AHPS Precipitation Analysis Including Radar Data

While the precipitation images above are based strictly on gauge-measured data, this image on the left utilizes an "Observed" multisensor approach created by River Forecast Centers. Hourly precipitation estimates from WSR-88D NEXRAD radar are compared to ground rainfall gauge reports, and a bias (correction factor) is calculated and applied to the radar field. For much more information on these types of images, and to create your own precipitation maps, please visit the following site: https://water.weather.gov/precip/

   
Nebraska: October 2015  Temperature Departure 
from Normal (F)
Kansas: October 2015
Temperature Departure 
from Normal (F)

 


 

The following drought category images, current as of November 3, 2015, are courtesy of the
U.S. Drought Monitor (see narrative above for more details):

Click Images For Larger Version

Nebraska - U.S. Drought Monitor as of November 3, 2015 Kansas - U.S. Drought Monitor as of November 3, 2015

 

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For more climate related information, check out the following websites:

 



This page was composed by the staff at the National Weather Service in Hastings, Nebraska.