October 2005

Report and Summary

Tyler, Texas
October 2005
by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D.
National Weather Service Cooperating Observer

The month of October 2005 saw near normal temperatures and much below normal precipitation.

It was a month of sharp temperature contrasts, reflected in the fact that both heating and cooling degree-day totals were well above normal.

Compared with the same month in 2004, the month was 5.8 deg. cooler, and 3.23 inches drier.

Year-to-date rainfall through month's end was 14.99 inches less this year than last, reflecting the fact that the area remained in severe drought.

The thirty-day outlook for October 2005 had called for near normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.

The week September 25-October 1 saw temperatures about 6 deg. above normal, and rainfall about 10 percent of normal. The upper air high pressure ridge persisted until a cold front arrived on the evening of the 28th. The week's rain was lingering effects from Rita. No rain accompanied the cold front.

By late-week, the upper air high pressure ridge had re- established itself, and temperatures returned to above normal levels.

The week's average temperature was 80.1 deg., which was 3.5 deg. cooler than the previous week. Rainfall was 0.12 inch. Compared with the same week in 2004, the week was 6.3 deg. warmer, and 0.32 inch drier.

The week October 2-8 saw temperatures about 3 deg. warmer than normal, and rainfall about 5 percent of normal.

Upper air high pressure again dominated early in the week, keeping temperatures well above normal. A cold front, arriving on the morning of the 6th, abruptly lowered temperatures.

Upper air low pressure, crossing on the 8th, brought the week's only rainfall.

The week's average temperature was 74.4 deg., which was 5.7 deg. cooler than the previous week. Precipitation was 0.05 inch. Compared with the same week in 2004, the week was 2.2 deg. warmer, and 2.14 inches drier.

The week October 9-15 saw near normal temperatures and no rainfall.

A dry surface high pressure ridge dominated the areaþs weather on the 9th, and between the 12th and 15th. This resulted in low humidities, cool nighttime and warm daytime readings.

Two upper air storms were over Southwest Texas. The first brought light rain to the northwestern half of the region on the 12th and 13th, though no rain fell in Tyler.

The week's average temperature was 69.2 deg., which was 5.2 deg. cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2004, the week was 2.6 deg. warmer and 1.08 inches drier.

The week October 16-22 saw temperatures about 6 deg. warmer than normal, and no rainfall.

Through the 20th, surface and upper air high pressure dominated the region's weather. The surface high was responsible for low humidities early in the week, and higher humidities at mid- week as the center moved to the east of the region. The upper air high, centered over North Mexico, was responsible for the high temperatures.

Indeed, record high readings were reached on the 17th and 18th.

On the night of the 20th, a cold front passed through the region. It caused a few light showers over the northwest earlier that day, and lowered temperatures to near normal levels for late- week.

The week's average temperature was 71.6, which was 2.4 deg. warmer than the previous week.

Compared with the same week in 2004, the week was 7.0 deg. cooler, and 0.28 inch drier.

The week October 23-29 saw temperatures about 8 deg. below normal, and no rainfall.

Polar Continental air built into the region on the 23rd, with a reinforcing cool surge on the 27th. The air mass was very dry throughout the week, resulting in virtually clear skies all week long and much below normal nighttime temperatures.

A few stations across the east and northeast experienced freezes on the 24th, 25th, and 28th. No freeze occurred in Tyler, though patchy frost formed in the city on the mornings of the 24th and 25th.

The week was 15.4 deg. cooler than the previous week.

Compared with the same week in 2004, the week was 20.1 deg. cooler, and 0.39 inch drier.

Had it not been for general rain on the 31st, October 2005 would have gone into the record books as the third driest October on record.

However, a line of thunderstorms moved into the area from the northwest at mid-day ahead of a cold front. General rains of between one-half and two inches fell in the region, with a few occurrences of severe weather to the southeast of Tyler.

• KEY TO SYMBOLS:
• A = HAIL
• B = BLOWING
• D = DUST
• F = FOG
• H = HAZE
• IP = SLEET
• K = SMOKE
• L = DRIZZLE
• R = RAIN
• S = SNOW
• T = THUNDERSTORM
• Z = GREENWICH MEAN TIME
• ZL = FREEZING DRIZZLE
• ZR = FREEZING RAIN
• - = LIGHT
• + = HEAVY

R FOLLOWING A TEMPERATURE OR PRECIPITATION VALUE RECORD;

The reporting period for temperatures, precipitation, and phenomenon on each day is for the twenty-four hours ending at midnight hours GMT--6 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CDT. All times are given using the twenty-four hour clock, and are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time.

Observations are from NWS Station 41/9207/4 in Tyler, Texas. The term "normal" refers to averages from the standard climatic period 1971-2000.

OCTOBER 2005

• 01 90 65 85
• 02 90 70 85
• 03 91 73 84
• 04 89 72 83
• 05 91 70 83
• 06 83 68 68 MN 0000-1200 70, MX 1200-2400 82
• 07 68 58 59 MX 1200-2400 65
• 08 68 55 61 0.05 PCPN 2100-2200
• 09 78 48 70
• 10 78 55 71
• 11 82 62 76
• 12 80 63 72
• 13 83 57 74
• 14 84 59 73
• 15 85 54 74
• 16 85 55 76
• 17 89R 56 78
• 18 93R 60 82
• 19 90 62 80
• 20 90 66 79
• 21 79 54 68 MX 1200-2400 74
• 22 77 51 67
• 23 67 47 47 MN 0000-1200 50, MX 1200-2400 66
• 24 64 38 56
• 25 70 36 58
• 26 73 43 63
• 27 73 45 62
• 28 72 45 63
• 29 72 42 63
• 30 78 47 71
• 31 75 55 55 1.10 T, PCPN 1800=-2200 MN 0000-1200 61

OCTOBER 2005, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:

• 17TH, EQUALLED RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 89, SET FIRST IN 1910, AND REACHED AGAIN IN 1939, 1947, AND 1980;
• 18TH, RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM 93, PREVIOUS RECORD 92 IN 1947 AND 1972;
• 93 ON THE 18TH,HIGHEST TEMPERATURE
• LOWEST TEMPERATURE 36 ON THE 25TH;
• AVERAGE MAXIMUM 79.9 F.,
• AVERAGE MINIMUM 55.8 F.,
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 67.9 F.,
• 0.5 DEG. WARMER THAN NORMAL.
• HEATING DEGREE DAYS 76,
• 167.7 PERCENT OF NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS.
• COOLING DEGREE DAYS 165,
• 137.1 PERCENT OF NORMAL COOLING DEGREE-DAYS;
• TOTAL PRECIPITATION 1.15 IN.,
• 3.99 IN. THAN MONTHLY NORMAL.
• 22.4 PERCENT OF NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION.
• YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION 22.33 IN.,
• 13.70 IN. LESS THAN NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION,
• 61.4 PERCENT OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION;
• 1 DAYS ON WHICH THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS HEAVILY RESTRICTED BY FOG, SMOKE, OR HAZE;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED BY DUST OR BLOWING DUST;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH FROZEN PRECIPITATION WAS OBSERVED;
• 0 IN. TOTAL SNOWFALL.
• 2 DAYS ON WHICH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION OCCURRED.
• 7 DAYS ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 90 DEG.;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 100 DEG.;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE TEMPERATURE FAILED TO RISE ABOVE 32 DEG.
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR FELL BELOW 32 DEG.
• SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS,73,
• 155.3 PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS:
• YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS.2839,
• 114.3 PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS:
• PRECIPITATION DURING THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS 30.70 IN.,
• TWELVE-MONTH PRECIPITATION PERCENTAGE 67.8.

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