October Heat Gives Way to Fall Chill

The summer warmth that lingered through much of September carried into the first three weeks of October before Mother Nature finally switched the channel to a more autumnal pattern during the month’s final 10 days. Highs that had routinely climbed into the 80s and 90s during those first three weeks fell into the 60s and 70s — with 50s appearing by month’s end. The season’s first freeze occurred on Oct. 19 in the Panhandle, followed by a more widespread freeze during the final four days of the month.

October rains favor northeast Oklahoma

The shift to a more autumnal pattern also brought much-needed moisture to a broad swath of the northeastern third of the state. Widespread rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches fell across that area, representing surpluses of 2 to 4 inches. The southwestern third of the state fared just as poorly as the northeast thrived, however, suffering deficits of 2 to 4 inches. Stigler recorded the highest total in the state at 7.93 inches, while Altus brought up the rear with a meager 0.32 inches. Forty-eight of the Oklahoma Mesonet’s 120 sites recorded less than 2 inches, with 17 of those sites failing to reach an inch.

Drought response mixed

Drought continued its fall rampage thanks to the extended hot and dry weather — the primary recipe for that particular hazard to flourish. Coverage had risen to more than 29% of the state on the Oct. 14 U.S. Drought Monitor before easing to 19% by month’s end. The rains across the northeastern one-third of Oklahoma gave the planted winter wheat crop access to moisture it had largely gone without up to that point. Reports to the Oklahoma Mesonet indicated severely stressed wheat, dry farm ponds, and desiccated soils were widespread in the hardest-hit areas. Wildfires also became more common before the late-month rainfall and persisted afterward in areas that missed out on the relief. 

October by the numbers

• Statewide average temperature: 66.2°F, 4.9°F above normal — the eighth-warmest October since records began in 1895
• Temperature extremes: High of 95°F at Goodwell on Oct. 3 and Grandfield on Oct. 20; low of 24°F at Boise City on Oct. 29 and at Beaver on Oct. 30; lowest wind chill, 13°F at Boise City on Oct. 29
• Warmest and coolest locations: Highest monthly average, 67.1°F at Mangum and Seminole; lowest, 58.9°F at Kenton
• Statewide average precipitation: 2.63 inches, 0.73 inches below normal — the 61st-driest October on record
• Rainfall extremes: High of 7.93 inches at Stigler; low of 0.32 inches at Altus
• Rainfall totals below 2 inches: 48 instances recorded at the 120 Oklahoma Mesonet sites

Warm and dry weather favored for November

The Climate Prediction Center’s November outlook indicates increased odds of above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation across the entire state. Those odds for below-normal precipitation are highest across the western third of Oklahoma. The CPC’s November drought outlook calls drought development “likely” across much of the southern half of the state by month’s end.