October 2020 Climate Summary and Highlights

October 2020 Climate Summary and Highlights

Overall, October 2020 was cooler and drier than normal across the region. Below are some monthly climate highlights for Wichita, Salina and Chanute.

WICHITA
The average monthly temperature of 54.8 degrees was 3.5 degrees cooler than normal. It was the 10th coolest October since
records began in 1888, and the coolest since last year. Two days failed to exceed 32 degrees, which tied 1925 for the most on
record. Monthly precipitation totaled 2.06 inches, which was 0.72 inches below normal. It was the driest October since 2016.
Monthly snowfall totaled 1.6 inches, which was 1.5 inches above normal. It was the 2nd snowiest October on record, with the
snowiest being 2.5 inches in 1905. Furthermore, on the 26th, 1.3 inches of snow fell, which was the most snowfall measured so
early in the season.

SALINA
The average monthly temperature of 53.7 degrees was 3.8 degrees cooler than normal. It was the 13th coolest October since
records began in 1900, and the coolest since last year. One day failed to exceed 32 degrees, which tied for the 2nd most on record. Monthly precipitation totaled only 0.12 inches, which was 2.15 inches below normal. It tied 1999 for the 7th driest October
on record, and it was the driest since 1999.

CHANUTE
The average monthly temperature of 55.8 degrees was 2.5 degrees cooler than normal. It was the 13th coolest October since
records began in 1898, and the coolest since 2009. One day failed to reach 35 degrees, which tied 1925 for the most on record.
monthly precipitation totaled only 2.77 inches, which was 0.89 inches below normal. It was the driest October since 2015.

Temperatures
Precipitation
Miscellaneous

October Temperatures

Kansas Monthly Average Temperature	Kansas Monthly Departure from Normal

October 2020 average temperatures across Kansas (the average of each daily high and low temperature).	October 2020 average temperature departure from normal across Kansas. It was a cooler than normal month statewide.

Kansas October Temperature Rankings

Kansas October 2020 temperature rankings by division. One denotes the warmest October on record (since 1893), 128 denotes the coolest. Most divisions were much cooler than normal.

October Precipitation

Kansas Monthly Precipitation	Kansas Monthly Departure from Normal

October 2020 precipitation across Kansas. This map constitutes a mix of observations and radar estimates.	October 2020 precipitation departure from normal across Kansas. With the exception of southern Kansas, much of the state was much drier than normal.

Kansas Precipitation Departure from Normal

August-October

Wichita's Top-10 Snowiest Octobers

Since 1888

Portions of southeast Kansas are around 10 inches drier than normal since June 1st.

Wichita recorded its 2nd snowiest October since records began in 1888.

Kansas October Precipitation Rankings

Kansas October 2020 precipitation rankings by division. One denotes the wettest October on record (since 1893), 128 denotes the driest. Divisions across the northern two-thirds of the state were much drier than normal.

Miscellaneous Climate Information

October Jet Stream Location	October 500mb Height Anomaly

The average upper level jet stream location for October dipped a bit further south from its September location. This allowed for cooler air to spread south into Mid-America. Also, northwesterly flow aloft supported drier than normal conditions across the region.	Low pressure in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere dominated across central portions of North America. This allowed cooler air to spill south into the region.

October 850mb Temperature Anomaly	October Atmospheric Moisture Anomaly

A good chunk of central North America experienced below normal temperatures in the low-levels for October, which translated to cooler than normal weather at the surface.	Atmospheric moisture was below normal across mainly the southwest quarter of the country, which extended into Kansas. This supported below normal precipitation across a large portion of the region.

Kansas October Red Flag Warnings	Kansas October Winter Weather Advisories

Due to the recent dry weather, fire weather concerns increased across parts of the state, especially western Kansas. The map above shows the number of Red Flag Warnings issued in October.	The above map shows the number of Winter Weather Advisories issued in October. Every single county experienced wintry weather in the form of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Some of this was record to near record early wintry weather.

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