The extremely dangerous heat wave continues across the East Coast and much of the South-Central U.S. today. Record high temperatures are expected for some areas especially across the Mid-Atlantic where extreme heat risk conditions reside. There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms today for the northern Mid-Atlantic into portions of southern New England. Read More >
Oct. 2019 Summary (COLD, with variable precipitation):
(see tabs below for much more, including several graphics)
More than anything else, Oct. 2019 was defined by well-below average temperatures, with most of the area averaging 4-6º below normal for the month as a whole. In terms of rankings, most official temperature stations experienced somewhere between the 3rd-7th coldest October on record. The overall-coldest stretch occurred during the final five days of the month (27th-31st), which marked the coldest finish to October on record at Hastings, and 2nd-coldest at Grand Island (around 18º below normal over the course of those 5 days)! Precipitation-wise, totals varied considerably, from less than 0.75" in several southwestern local counties (such as Furnas/Harlan/Gosper), to at least 4-5" in parts of Thayer and southeastern Fillmore counties. As a whole, roughly 60% of the area measured below-normal October precipitation, with the majority of above-normal amounts focused (roughly) east of a line from Osceola NE to Osborne KS.
NOTE: All information in this story pertains to the 30-county NWS Hastings Coverage Area
2018 Nebraska Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 45 sites) |
Narrative
** Unfortunately, due to time constraints, a full/detailed narrative was not written for Oct. 2019 **
- Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes/Severe Non-Thunderstorm Winds (for official severe storm reports refer to NCEI Storm Events Database):
- # of confirmed tornadoes during Oct. 2019: Zero (same as 2018)
- Largest known hail stone diameter reported to NWS Hastings: none occurred
- Strongest known measured thunderstorm wind gust: none occurred
- Strongest known measured NON-thunderstorm wind gust: 65 MPH north of Codell KS and 63 MPH near Cambridge (both unofficial weather stations)...the highest official gust was 58 MPH at Ord airport. More details: During the daytime hours on the 21st, most of the coverage area experienced strong northwesterly wind gusts of 50-65 MPH as an intense surface low pressure system gradually shifted from IA into southern MN.
- Notable wind damage reported to NWS Hastings (ground-truth reports): Nothing known.
- # of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued by NWS Hastings: Zero (1 fewer than 2018)
- # of Tornado Warnings issued by NWS Hastings: Zero (same as 2018)
Grand Island & Hastings Details (Including 12-Month History):
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| Detailed October 2019 info for Grand Island/Hastings (Click to enlarge) |
October 2019 Grand Island Temperature Departures From Normal |
October 2019 Hastings ​Temperature Departures From Normal |
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| Grand Island Precipitation Summary: The green line indicates cumulative observed precipitation for October 2019.The brown line indicates "normal" October precipitation based on 30-year data from 1981-2010. (click to enlarge) | Hastings Precipitation Summary: The green line indicates cumulative observed precipitation for October 2019. The brown line indicates "normal" October precipitation based on 30-year data from 1981-2010. (click to enlarge) |
| Grand Island (Regional Airport ASOS) - Nov. 2018 - Oct. 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | |
| Average High (F) | 45.9 | 39.5 | 36.4 | 26.8 | 43.8 | 65.7 | 68.9 | 83.2 | 87.7 | 81.3 | 83.5 | 59.0 |
| Average Low (F) | 24.2 | 20.2 | 17.5 | 9.3 | 24.4 | 38.6 | 47.6 | 60.5 | 67.1 | 63.9 | 60.9 | 34.9 |
| Average Temperature (F) | 35.0 | 29.9 | 27.0 | 18.1 | 34.1 | 52.2 | 58.3 | 71.8 | 77.4 | 72.6 | 72.2 | 46.9 |
| Departure From Normal | -3.1 | +3.2 | +1.9 | -11.0 | -5.3 | +1.6 | -2.9 | +0.5 | +1.2 | -1.4 | +7.1 | -5.3 |
| Precipitation (in) | 1.69 | 3.44 | 0.14 | 0.81 | 3.67 | 1.03 | 6.68 | 4.10 | 5.21 | 11.94 | 1.37 | 1.35 |
| Departure From Normal | +0.52 | +2.81 | -0.39 | +0.13 | +1.87 | -1.50 | +2.27 | -0.20 | +1.81 | +8.82 | -0.86 | -0.51 |
| Snowfall (in) | 7.9 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 10.9 | 8.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 |
| Departure From Normal | +4.8 | -0.9 | -4.9 | +4.6 | +2.8 | -0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 | +0.6 |
| Hastings (Municipal Airport ASOS) - Nov. 2018 - Oct. 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | |
| Average High (F) | 46.3 | 39.9 | 37.0 | 27.5 | 43.7 | 65.5 | 68.1 | 82.4 | 87.1 | 82.4 | 83.1 | 58.8 |
| Average Low (F) | 24.9 | 21.9 | 19.4 | 10.8 | 25.5 | 39.6 | 48.1 | 60.9 | 67.3 | 64.6 | 61.8 | 35.0 |
| Average Temperature (F) | 35.6 | 30.9 | 28.2 | 19.2 | 34.6 | 52.5 | 58.1 | 71.7 | 77.2 | 73.5 | 72.4 | 46.9 |
| Departure From Normal | -3.1 | +3.3 | +2.2 | -10.7 | -5.3 | +1.8 | -3.2 | -0.1 | +0.1 | -0.8 | +6.8 | -5.7 |
| Precipitation (in) | 1.52 | 3.13 | 0.07 | 0.68 | 2.65 | 1.21 | 7.78 | 4.86 | 4.27 | 7.57 | 1.66 | 1.25 |
| Departure From Normal | +0.23 | +2.52 | -0.34 | +0.19 | +0.86 | -1.35 | +3.21 | +1.06 | +0.53 | +4.27 | -0.90 | -0.74 |
| Snowfall (in) | 5.5 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 11.6 | 5.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 |
| Departure From Normal | +2.9 | -1.8 | -5.1 | +5.1 | +0.1 | -0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | +0.2 |
Kearney - 12 Month Climate History:
All data here is from the official NWS observer at Kearney airport, with 24-hour observations taken around 7 a.m. ** PLEASE NOTE: This official Kearney data often differs slightly from the unofficial data recorded by the automated airport system (KEAR) **
| Kearney Airport (Coop Observer) - Nov. 2018 - Oct. 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | |
| Average High (F) | 45.2 | 37.5 | 34.7 | 27.0 | 41.8 | 64.4 | 65.3 | 80.1 | 85.5 | 82.1 | 81.9 | 59.5 |
| Average Low (F) | 22.6 | 18.4 | 17.1 | 7.0 | 22.2 | 36.1 | 44.5 | 56.4 | 64.2 | 62.4 | 57.3 | 33.2 |
| Average Temperature (F) | 33.9 | 28.0 | 25.9 | 17.0 | 32.0 | 50.3 | 54.9 | 68.3 | 74.9 | 72.2 | 69.6 | 46.4 |
| Departure From Normal | -3.1 | +2.1 | +1.3 | -11.1 | -5.7 | +1.6 | -4.6 | -1.5 | +0.2 | -0.4 | +6.1 | -4.5 |
| Precipitation (in) | 0.85 | 3.49 | 0.23 | 1.06 | 4.78 | 1.80 | 7.97 | 5.50 | 7.25 | 3.71 | 1.20 | 1.80 |
| Departure From Normal (in) | -0.17 | +2.92 | -0.26 | +0.51 | +2.99 | -0.43 | +3.79 | +1.57 | +3.97 | +0.63 | -0.87 | -0.24 |
| Snowfall (in) | 5.7 | 8.7 | 1.5 | 12.9 | 8.6 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 |
| Departure From Normal (in) | +2.6 | +5.2 | -2.9 | +7.8 | +4.0 | +1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | +1.0 |
Ord - 12 Month Climate History:
All snowfall data is from the NWS Cooperative Observer in town. In addition, winter precipitation totals often include Cooperative Observer data given that the automated airport equipment is not designed to accurately melt snowfall liquid equivalent (in most cases).
| Ord (Evelyn Sharp Field ASOS) - Nov. 2018 - Oct. 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | |
| Average High (F) | 45.3 | 38.6 | 36.5 | 26.3 | 42.7 | 62.8 | 66.5 | 80.7 | 85.2 | 80.2 | 81.7 | 57.1 |
| Average Low (F) | 20.2 | 14.5 | 15.9 | 6.7 | 22.0 | 34.8 | 43.5 | 55.9 | 63.6 | 61.7 | 56.6 | 29.6 |
| Average Temperature (F) | 32.8 | 26.6 | 26.2 | 16.5 | 32.3 | 48.8 | 55.0 | 68.3 | 74.4 | 70.9 | 69.2 | 43.4 |
| Departure From Normal | -3.5 | +1.7 | +1.6 | -11.3 | -5.4 | 0.0 | -4.3 | -0.9 | 0.0 | -2.1 | +5.6 | -6.2 |
| Precipitation (in) | 0.91 | 3.09 | 0.12 | 1.05 | 4.15 | 2.87 | 7.03 | 3.76 | 4.34 | 9.81 | 0.92 | 1.80 |
| Departure From Normal (in) | -0.16 | +2.50 | -0.25 | +0.61 | +2.70 | +0.28 | +3.22 | -0.36 | +1.37 | +6.65 | -1.52 | -0.13 |
| Snowfall (in) | 3.8 | 10.5 | 2.4 | 15.8 | 13.6 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | T |
| Departure From Normal (in) | -1.5 | +3.1 | -4.4 | +9.8 | +7.7 | +3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | +1.1 |
Smith Center, KS - 12 Month Climate History:
All data is from the official NWS observer, with 24-hour observations taken around 7 a.m. As a result, data may vary slightly from true "Calendar Day".
| Smith Center KS (NWS Coop Observer) - Nov. 2018 - Oct. 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | |
| Average High (F) | 48.6 | 41.1 | 37.4 | 32.4 | 47.0 | 69.5 | 70.5 | 85.4 | 91.9 | 87.4 | 86.6 | 63.1 |
| Average Low (F) | 24.4 | 20.3 | 18.8 | 11.8 | 24.1 | 37.9 | 46.9 | 58.5 | 65.3 | 64.7 | 60.9 | 34.8 |
| Average Temperature (F) | 36.5 | 30.7 | 28.1 | 22.1 | 35.6 | 53.7 | 58.7 | 72.0 | 78.6 | 76.1 | 73.8 | 49.0 |
| Departure From Normal | -3.9 | +1.9 | +0.4 | -9.9 | -6.0 | +1.2 | -5.0 | -2.0 | -1.1 | -1.1 | +5.6 | -5.8 |
| Precipitation (in) | 0.62 | 3.61 | 0.42 | 0.86 | 1.57 | 0.09 | 5.31 | 2.92 | 4.38 | 4.57 | 1.23 | 2.17 |
| Departure From Normal (in) | -0.60 | +2.95 | -0.07 | +0.28 | -0.30 | -2.18 | +1.39 | -0.69 | +0.51 | +1.27 | -0.81 | +0.29 |
| Snowfall (in) | 5.8 | 2.4 | 7.0 | 12.4 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Departure From Normal (in) | +4.0 | -0.8 | +3.3 | +8.3 | +4.4 | +0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | +0.1 |
Temperature & Precipitation Departure From Normal Maps:
These images depict October 2019 monthly temperature departure from normal & precipitation percent-of-normal for both Nebraska & Kansas. Images are courtesy of the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC). Please note: These maps occasionally contain "bullseyes" of errant data. For precipitation, you can also generate departure from normal/percent-of-normal maps using the NWS AHPS page, or view local-area images generated each day by NWS Hastings.
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| Departure from Normal Temperature - NE (left) & KS (right) | Percent of Normal Precipitation - NE (left) & KS (right) | ||
Drought:
The following drought images, current as of October 29, 2019, are courtesy of the U.S. Drought Monitor
Summary of changes during October 2019 across the NWS Hastings coverage area:
Although the vast majority of our coverage area remained void of all drought categories during Oct. 2019, an area of Category D0 (Abnormally Dry) was introduced into western Furnas County during the latter half of the month. This marked the first drought category within our coverage area since D0 briefly crept into portions of north central KS during late July-early August.
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| Drought Monitor for Nebraska (left) & Kansas (right). Valid as of October 29, 2019 (click to enlarge) | |
October 2019 Extremes for the NWS Hastings Coverage Area:
...SOME OF THE WARMEST HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING OCTOBER 2019...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites, with the date it actually occurred indicated in parentheses)
88...Beaver City (18th)
87...Cambridge (17th) - Webster Dam KS (18th)
85...Harlan County Lake (18th)
84...Plainville 4WNW (18th) - Franklin (18th)
...SOME OF THE COLDEST LOW TEMPERATURES DURING OCTOBER 2019...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites, with the date it actually occurred indicated in parentheses)
2...Oxford 6NNW (31st)
4...Beaver City (31st) - Holdrege (31st)
5...Canaday Plant/6SSE Lexington (31st)
6...Cambridge (31st) - Lexington airport (31st) - Ord airport (31st) - Ravenna (31st)
...SOME OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION TOTALS DURING OCTOBER 2019...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers and CoCoRaHS/NeRAIN observers unless indicated)
5.71"...Tobias 2WSW
5.07"...Hebron (airport AWOS)
4.20"...Deshler 5SSW
3.82"...Shelby 3NE
3.77"...Superior
3.68"...Hardy 4E
3.67"...Davenport 6SE
3.48"...Nora 2N
3.39"...Jewell KS
3.36"...Burr Oak KS
...SOME OF THE LOWEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION TOTALS DURING OCTOBER 2019...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers and CoCoRaHS/NeRAIN observers unless indicated)
0.38"...Beaver City 6S
0.59"...Orleans 6WNW
0.60"...Elwood 8S
0.62"...Miller
0.64"...Sumner 4ESE
0.67"...Beaver City (in town)
0.71"...Stamford 2E
0.73"...Logan KS
0.74"...Oxford 6NNW
0.77"...Edison
...SOME OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY SNOW TOTALS DURING OCTOBER 2019...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers and CoCoRaHS/NeRAIN observers unless indicated)
3.0"...Wilsonville
2.5"...Lexington 6SW
2.1"...Cambridge - Burr Oak KS
2.0"...Logan KS - Bladen 4SW - Wilcox 6S - Nelson
1.9"...Orleans 2W
1.7"...Kearney airport
1.6"...Grand Island airport - Hubbell - Shelby 3NE - Miller - Blue Hill 4SW
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