October 2013 Monthly Climate Summary

...OCTOBER 2013 MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY...

October is the first full month of fall, and it definitely felt like fall this past month, with average temperatures around the Mid-South remaining near normal. Memphis was the warmest site around the region with an average temperature of 64.6 degrees, which was 0.5 degrees above the normal average temperature for October, which is 64.1 degrees. Memphis is still slightly cooler than normal for the year, at 65.4 degrees for the current average temperature for 2013, which is 0.5 degrees cooler than the normal average of 65.9 degrees. Tupelo was the second warmest site around the region in October, but had the greatest deviation from normal. The average temperature in Tupelo this past month was 64.2 degrees, 1.2 degrees warmer than the normal average of 63.0 degrees. For the year so far Tupelo is just 0.5 degrees cooler than normal. Its current average temperature for the year is 64.7 degrees, while the normal average is 65.2 degrees. Jonesboro had an average temperature this month of 61.6 degrees, 0.4 degrees warmer than the normal average of 61.2 degrees. Currently for 2013, Jonesboro is 0.2 degrees above the normal average of 63.0 degrees at 63.2 degrees. Finally, Jackson’s average temperature during the month of October 2013 was 60.8 degrees, which was only 0.3 degrees above the normal average of 60.5 degrees. So far this year, Jackson has an average temperature of 61.7 degrees, 0.9 degrees below the normal average of 62.6 degrees.

Precipitation across the Mid-South during October varied depending on location around the region. Two sites had slightly above normal precipitation values for the month, while one had a slightly below normal total, and one site had a total almost 2 inches below normal. Jonesboro was the wettest site this month with 4.86 inches of rainfall. This also made Jonesboro the site with the greatest deviation above normal, albeit slightly, with 0.60 inches above the monthly normal precipitation total of 4.26 inches. Jonesboro is 5.16 inches of precipitation above normal for 2013 so far. Jackson was the second wettest site this month with 3.79 inches of precipitation, which was only 0.02 inches above the normal precipitation total of 3.77 inches. Currently Jackson is 8.68 inches of precipitation above normal for the year. Memphis was the third wettest site this month with a precipitation total of 3.30 inches, which was actually 0.68 inches below the normal total of 3.98 inches. However, despite this slight below normal total, Memphis remains 9.49 inches of precipitation above normal for the year. Tupelo was the driest site around the region this month and also had the greatest deviation from the normal precipitation total. Tupelo only received 2.18 inches of rain, which is 1.94 inches below the normal for October of 4.12 inches. Tupelo is now the only site in this summary with a below normal precipitation total for 2013 with 1.78 inches of precipitation below normal. You can find out more about these precipitation amounts using the graphics at the conclusion of this summary.

TEMPERATURE DATA:

                               Memphis    Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Average Temperature (MONTH)  :   64.6       60.8      61.6      64.2

Normal Avg. Temp (MONTH)     :   64.1       60.5      61.2      63.0

Departure from Normal (MONTH):    0.5        0.3       0.4       1.2

Average Temperature (YEAR)   :   65.4       61.7      63.2      64.7

Normal Avg. Temp (YEAR)      :   65.9       62.6      63.0      65.2

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :   -0.5       -0.9       0.2      -0.5

PRECIPITATION DATA:

                                Memphis   Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Total Precipitation (MONTH)  :    3.30      3.79      4.86      2.18

Normal Precipitation (MONTH) :    3.98      3.77      4.26      4.12

Departure from Normal (MONTH):   -0.68      0.02      0.60     -1.94

Total Precipitation (YEAR)   :   51.94     51.70     43.59     42.25

Normal Precipitation (YEAR)  :   42.45     43.02     38.43     44.03

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :    9.49      8.68      5.16     -1.78

Significant Weather:

A cold front associated with an upper level low pressure system approached the Mid-South region on Halloween, the very last day of October. While the atmosphere was too stable to allow for a widespread severe weather outbreak, a few storms did have severe parameters, including one storm which produced a tornado in eastern Craighead County, Arkansas. The storm occurred in the town of Caraway at approximately 7:40 PM. At this time there were many families out with their children participating in various Halloween festivities. Astonishingly, there were no injuries or fatalities. The tornado was rated an EF-1 with maximum wind speeds reaching 90 to 100 MPH. The tornado struck the business district of Caraway, causing significant structural damage to the roofs of businesses, homes, and a church. The path of the tornado was 0.7 miles long and, at its maximum intensity, the tornado was about 300 yards wide.

Climate Outlook:

For the month of November, the Climate Prediction Center is predicting above normal temperatures as well as above normal precipitation amounts. The three month outlook, which is valid for the months of November, December, and January, predicts above normal temperatures for the Mid-South region with an equal chance of above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation amounts.

Precipitation Graphics:

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