October 2014 Climate Summary

...OCTOBER 2014 MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY...

Warmer than normal temperatures and some wetter than normal precipitation totals define the climate of October 2014 around the Mid-South. The above normal temperatures continue from September, the first month to experience such temperatures, at least for all four sites simultaneously, in almost a year.

Tupelo had the greatest temperature departure from normal in October with 2.0 degrees above its normal. Jonesboro was 1.8 degrees above normal, Jackson was 1.6 degrees above normal, and Memphis was 1.4 degrees above normal. Jonesboro recorded the warmest temperature of all four sites with 91.0 degrees, while Jackson recorded the coolest at 35.0 degrees. Despite being warmer than normal for the months of September and October, all sites still have a cooler than normal average temperature for the year so far, with Jonesboro having the greatest departure at 2.0 degrees below normal for the year to date.

With the exception of Jonesboro, all official sites had a wetter than normal October. Memphis was only slightly so at just 0.02 inches above normal. Tupelo had the greatest departure with over 4 inches above normal, while Jackson was 0.74 inches above normal. Jonesboro had a monthly precipitation total that was 0.31 inches below normal. For the year to date both Memphis and Jackson are 10 inches above normal, while Tupelo is 3.48 inches above normal, and Jonesboro is 1.04 inches above normal. This is good news for Tupelo, which had been below normal for the past several months. The data for October 2014 are as follows.

TEMPERATURE DATA:

 Memphis    Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Average Temperature (MONTH)  :   65.5       62.1      63.0      65.0

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

Departure from Normal (MONTH):    1.4        1.6        1.8       2.0

Average Temperature (YEAR)   :   64.2       60.8      61.0      63.7

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

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :   -1.7       -1.8      -2.0      -1.5

Maximum Temperature          :   90.0       87.0      91.0      89.0

Minimum Temperature          :   40.0       35.0      37.0      39.0

PRECIPITATION DATA:

                                Memphis   Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Total Precipitation (MONTH)  :    4.00      4.51      3.95      8.34

Normal Precipitation (MONTH) :    3.98      3.77      4.26      4.12

Departure from Normal (MONTH):    0.02      0.74      -0.31      4.22

Total Precipitation (YEAR)   :   52.47    53.02      39.47     47.51

Normal Precipitation (YEAR)  :   42.45    43.02      38.43     44.03

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :   10.02    10.00      1.04      3.48

Percent of Normal            :    124%      123%      103%      108%

Climate Outlook:

With a weak El Nino still forecast during the winter months, the official winter outlook released by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) this past month gave enhanced odds of below normal temperatures for the upcoming winter months of December, January, and February. Climate signals for precipitation were not as clear, and therefore the official winter forecast for Mid-South precipitation is equal chances for above, near, and below normal precipitation totals.

For the month of November the CPC has forecast equal chances for temperatures, while predicting an enhanced chance for above normal precipitation. For the three month period encompassing the months of November, December, and January collectively, the prediction is for equal chances for both temperature and precipitation.

MAYE