October 2009

Report and Summary

Tyler, Texas
October 2009
by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D.
National Weather Service Cooperating Observer

The month of October 2009 was much cooler and much wetter than normal. In fact, it was the second wettest October on record, with only October 1985 with 14.82 inches being wetter. With an average temperature of 62.8 deg., it was the ninth coolest October.

Tyler's weather records date to 1896.

Compared with October 2008, the month was 1.0 deg. Cooler, and 9.19 inches wetter.

Year-to-date rainfall was 1.93 inches greater in 2008 than thus far in 2009. In both years, Tyler had already exceeded its normal yearly rainfall by the end of October. Five major rain events affected the area during the month, with numerous instances of flooded roads. All of the area's rivers were in minor to moderate flood for most of the month. The thirty-day outlook had called for near normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.

The week September 27-October 3 saw temperatures about 3 degrees below normal, and rainfall about one-half normal. Tropical Maritime air early in the week was replaced by a Pacific cold front on the 29th, which lowered temperatures. A stronger front on the 1st lowered readings further, and brought a line of thunderstorms that evening. The front became stationary, combining with southwest winds aloft and moisture from dissipating Eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Olaf to return rain the afternoon of the 3rd, which continued into the following week. The week's average temperature was 70.0, and rainfall was 0.46 inch. This was 0.5 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 0.8 deg. Warmer, and there was no rainfall last year.

The week October 4-10 saw temperatures about 2 degrees below normal, and rainfall about 400 percent of normal. Two wet storm systems crossed the region one on the 4th and the second on the 9th. Both resulted in widespread heavy rainfall. Both systems brought cooler air, which was replaced at mid-week when the first cold front came back northward as a warm front. There were reports of severe weather with the system of the 9th. The week's average temperature was 67.7, and rainfall was 3.69 inches. This was 2.3 degrees cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 0.2 deg. Cooler, and 3.03 inches wetter.

The week October 11-17 was about 5 degrees cooler than normal, and rainfall was about 300 percent of normal. More heavy rain struck the area early in the week, when a slow-moving storm system combined with ample moisture and a cold front. Temperatures started the week cool, warmed at mid-week, then cooled again at the weekend. The week's average temperature was 63.4 deg., and rainfall was 3.22 inches. This was 4.3 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 5.0 deg. Cooler, and 0.51 inch wetter.

The week October 18-24 saw temperatures about 7 degrees below normal, and rainfall again about 300 percent of normal. Heavy and flooding rains again struck the area on the 22nd, with amounts of two to five inches common. The week began cool, warmed with Tropical Maritime air at mid-week ahead of the storm of the 22nd, then cooled again at late-week behind the accompanying cold front. The week's average temperature was 59.3 deg., which was 4.1 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Rainfall was 3.06 inches. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 2.0 deg. Cooler, and 2.93 inches wetter. The week October 25-31 saw temperatures about 3 degrees below normal, and rainfall about 300 percent of normal.

Two wet storms crossed the region, resulting in instances of flooding on both occasions. The storm of the 26th-27th brought rains of two to five inches, while the system of the 29th-30th brought rains of one to eight inches. With the first system, rainfall was evenly distributed, while the second saw amounts increase from northwest to southeast. The second storm also resulted in considerable severe weather over the southeastern counties, and numerous road closings including some main highways. Cooler air followed the second system, ending the month on a clear and cool note.

• 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 2009

• DY MX MN OBS PCPN REMARKS
• 01 86 62 81 MN 0000-1200 69
• 02 77 51 66 0.35 T, F, PCPN 0200-0300
• 03 77 52 64 0.11 PCPN 2200-2400
• 04 67 56 59 2.48 F, PCPN 0000-1800, MN 00000-1200 61
• 05 70 56 68 F
• 06 87 66 77 F
• 07 70 59 69
• 08 91 69 85
• 09 80 51 53 1.21 F, T, PCPN 1100-1900 MN 0000-1200 64, MX 1200-2400 64
• 10 58 50 56 F
• 11 56 50 54 0.32 F, PCPN 2000-2400
• 12 65 56 64 0.99 F, PCPN 0000-0900
• 13 70 64 69 1.87 F, +F, PCPN 1000-2400
• 14 83 68 78 0.04 F, +F, PCPN 0000-0100, 1100-1200
• 15 81 57 62 F, MN 0000-1200 72
• 16 69 53 60 F
• 17 69 46 61
• 18 66 43 58
• 19 74 46 65
• 20 78 55 70
• 21 71 60 69 tr.
• 22 68 49 55 3.06R F, PCPN 0100-1500, MN 0000-1200 63
• 23 63 44 55 MN 0000-1200 47
• 24 72 41 62
• 25 76 52 70
• 26 66 53 56 1.58 F, T, PCPN 0700-2100 MN 0000-1200 60, MX 1200-2400 60
• 27 65 48 55 0.23F, PCPN 0000-0500, MN 0000-1200 49
• 28 74 48 71 F
• 29 83 57 60 1.33 F, T, PCPN 1500-1600, 2200-2300 MN 0000-2400 68
• 30 63 43 55 0.12 PCPN 1000-1100, MN 0000-1200 51
• 31 70 40 57

• OCTOBER 2009, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:
• 22ND RECORD RAINFALL OF 3.06 INCHES, PREVIOUS RECORD 2.34 INCHES IN 1919;
• SECOND WETTEST OCTOBER ON RECORD WITH 13.69 IN.;
• HIGHEST TEMPERATURE 91 ON THE 8TH;
• LOWEST TEMPERATURE 40 ON THE 31ST;
• AVERAGE MAXIMUM
• AVERAGE MINIMUM
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
• DEG. THAN NORMAL.
• 125 HEATING DEGREE DAYS,
• PERCENT OF NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS.277.7
• 49 COOLING DEGREE DAYS,
• 40.8 PERCENT OF NORMAL COOLING DEGREE-DAYS;
• TOTAL PRECIPITATION 13.69 IN.,
• 8.55 IN. GREATER THAN MONTHLY NORMAL.
• 266.3 PERCENT OF NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION.
• YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION 47.51 IN.,
• 11.48 IN. GREATER THAN NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION,
• 131.9 PERCENT OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION;
• 4 DAYS ON WHICH THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED;
• 17 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED TO BETWEEN 1 AND 7 MILES BY FOG, SMOKE, OR HAZE;
• 2 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED TO 1 MILE OR LESS BY FOG;
• 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.
• 13 DAYS ON WHICH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION OCCURRED.
• 1 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.
• 127 SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS,
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 270.2;
• 2362 YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS.
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 94.9;
• PRECIPITATION DURING THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS 55.61 IN.,
• TWELVE-MONTH PRECIPITATION PERCENTAGE 122.8.

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