September 2013 Monthly Climate Summary

...SEPTEMBER 2013 MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY...

September in the Mid-South was warmer and drier than normal, yet most of the sites are holding onto slightly cooler than normal average temperatures for the year, in addition to greater than normal precipitation totals so far in 2013.

Memphis had the warmest average temperature this month at 78.2 degrees, 3 degrees warmer than the normal average temperature for September, which is 75.2 degrees. Memphis is barely holding at cooler than normal for the year with an average temperature for 2013 that is only 0.6 degrees below normal. Jonesboro had the second warmest average temperature this month at 77.0 degrees, but it was the site with the largest deviation from normal at 5.1 degrees warmer than normal. Its current average temperature for 2013, 63.4 degrees, is 0.2 degrees above normal for the year, the only site in this summary with an above average temperature so far for 2013. Tupelo was the third warmest site this month with an average temperature of 75.8 degrees, 1.7 degrees above normal for the month. For 2013, the current average temperature for Tupelo is 64.8 degrees, which is only 0.6 degrees below the normal average temperature of 65.4 degrees. Jackson was the coolest site this month with an average temperature of 72.4 degrees, only 1 degree above the normal average temperature for September. For the year so far, Jackson has the coolest average temperature at 61.8 degrees, which is also the largest deviation from normal at 1.1 degrees below normal.

Tupelo had the most precipitation this month with 3.08 inches, which was 0.36 inches below normal for the month, the smallest deviation from normal of all the sites included in this summary. Tupelo is also the site with the smallest deviation from normal for 2013 at only 0.16 inches of precipitation above normal. Jackson was the second wettest site this month with 2.86 inches of precipitation, only 0.52 inches below the normal for September. Currently Jackson is 8.66 inches above normal for the year, with 47.91 inches of precipitation falling so far in 2013. Memphis was the third wettest during September with 2.69 inches of precipitation falling, 0.40 inches below normal for the month. Currently for 2013, Memphis is 10.17 inches of precipitation above normal. Jonesboro was the driest site for September with only 1.28 inches of precipitation during the month, leaving a deviation of 1.78 inches below normal for the month. For the year so far, Jonesboro is 4.56 inches above normal. Images displaying the observed rainfall and departure from normal for September are located at the end of this summary.

TEMPERATURE DATA:

                                Memphis   Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Average Temperature (MONTH)  :    78.2      72.4      77.0      75.8

Normal Avg. Temp (MONTH)     :    75.2      71.4      71.9      74.1

Departure from Normal (MONTH):     3.0       1.0        5.1       1.7

Average Temperature (YEAR)   :    65.5      61.8      63.4      64.8

Normal Avg. Temp (YEAR)      :    66.1      62.9      63.2      65.4

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :    -0.6      -1.1        0.2      -0.6

PRECIPITATION DATA:

                                Memphis   Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Total Precipitation (MONTH)  :    2.69      2.86      1.28      3.08

Normal Precipitation (MONTH) :    3.09      3.38      3.06      3.44

Departure from Normal (MONTH):   -0.40    -0.52      -1.78     -0.36

Total Precipitation (YEAR)   :   48.64    47.91      38.73     40.07

Normal Precipitation (YEAR)  :   38.47    39.25      34.17     39.91

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :   10.17      8.66      4.56      0.16

Climate Outlook:

During the fall months, it is quite common for people to begin to wonder about the upcoming winter months and how much wintry precipitation might be expected. While it is definitely too early to accurately give any kind of forecast in that regard, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has released their three month climate predictions for the months of November, December, and January as a whole. For the Mid-South during these winter months, the CPC has predicted above normal temperatures, with the month of November having an equal chance of seeing above normal, normal, or below normal temperatures. In regards to precipitation, the prediction is that November, December, and January will have an equal chance of witnessing above normal, normal, or below normal amounts of precipitation. For the month of November the precipitation prediction is also an equal chance.

September Rainfall Graphics:

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