October 2010

Report and Summary

Tyler, Texas
October 2010
by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D.
National Weather Service Cooperating Observer

The month of October 2010 saw near normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. Compared with October 2009, the month was 3.8 deg. Warmer, and 11.23 inches drier. Year-to-date rainfall through October 31 was 14.91 inches less in 2010 than in 2009. The thirty-day outlook for October 2010 had called for near normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.

The week September 26-October 2 saw temperatures about 4 deg. Below normal, and no rainfall. The upper air flow pattern changed from late-Summer to early-Autumn at the beginning of the week. Surface and upper air high pressure controlled the weather. A dry and cool air mass was present for much of the week, resulting in mild overnight lows and seasonal afternoon highs. The week's average temperature was 68.9, which was 12.4 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2009, the week was 1.1 deg. Cooler, and 0.46 inch drier.

The week October 3-9 saw temperatures about 6 degrees below normal, and no rainfall. Modified Polar Continental air covered the area during the first half of the week, lowering temperatures. A very dry air mass permitted warming daytime highs late in the week, while overnight lows remained cool. The week's average temperature was 64.3 deg., which was 4.6 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2009, the week was 2.3 deg. Cooler, and 3.69 inches drier.

The week October 10-16 saw temperatures about 3 deg. Below normal, and rainfall about one-half normal. The week began mild, with a cold front on the 13th bringing the week's rain and lowering temperatures. Compared with the previous week, it was 1.9 deg. Warmer. Compared with the same week in 2009, the week was 2.8 deg. Warmer, and 2.67 inches drier.

The week October 17-23 warmed, with readings running about 5 deg. Above normal, and rainfall about one-third normal. Upper air high pressure was in control, until an upper air low began crossing on the 22nd. This brought widespread severe weather on the evenings of the 23rd and 24th. The week's average temperature was 71.1 deg., 4.9 deg. Warmer than the previous week, and rainfall was 0.45 inch. Compared with the sane week in 2009, the week was 11.8 deg. Warmer, and 2.61 inches drier.

The week October 24-30 saw near normal temperatures, and rainfall less than one-half normal. The slow-moving storm system brought rain early in the week, with a weak cold front on the 26th and a strong front on the 28th controlling temperatures. The week began warmer than normal, but temperatures fell to below normal levels late in the week. The week's average temperature was 64.2 deg., 6.9 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Rainfall was 0.46 inch. Compared with the same week in 2009, the week was 4.4 deg. Warmer, and 2.80 inches wetter.

On the 31st, a south wind warmed temperatures under fair skies. Effective with the November 2010 summary, the weekly comparisons and summations will be discontinued. The statistical end-of-month data will be retained.

• 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 2010

• DY MX MN OBS PCPN REMARKS
• 01 83 59 76 MORNING LOW 62
• 02 83 54 76
• 03 71 49 64 MORNING LOW 53
• 04 73 46 65
• 05 77 47 68
• 06 82 46 71
• 07 86 46 74
• 08 88 50 76
• 09 88 51 78
• 10 87 53 78
• 11 69 60 0.55 T, F, PCPN 1700-2200 MORNING LOW 63
• 12 80 56 72 F
• 13 81 56 73
• 14 75 49 65 MORNING LOW 52
• 15 84 45 70
• 16 84 48 71
• 17 83 51 72
• 18 84 58 74 F
• 19 86 60 78
• 20 83 61 75
• 21 85 59 77
• 22 81 64 77 0.02 F, PCPN 0900-1100
• 23 80 60 60 0.43 F, T, PCPN 2200-2400, MORNING LOW 66
• 24 84 60 79 0.32 T, F, PCPN 0000-0300
• 25 82 65 79 1.13 F, T, PCPN 0000-0300
• 26 78 54 65 0.01 PCPN 1000-1100, MORNING LOW 74
• 27 86 53 76
• 28 71 46 60 MORNING LOW 55
• 29 68 39 56
• 30 75 38 62
• 31 82 47 69

• OCTOBER 2010, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:
• HIGHEST TEMPERATURE 88 ON THE 8TH AND 9TH,
• LOWEST TEMPERATURE 38 ON THE 30TH,
• AVERAGE MAXIMUM 80.6 F.,
• AVERAGE MINIMUM 52.6 F.,
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 66.6 F.,
• 0.8 DEG. COOLER THAN NORMAL.
• 42 HEATING DEGREE DAYS,
• 93.3 PERCENT OF NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS.
• 98 COOLING DEGREE DAYS,
• 81.7 PERCENT OF NORMAL COOLING DEGREE-DAYS;
• TOTAL PRECIPITATION 2.46 IN.,
• 2.68 IN. LESS THAN MONTHLY NORMAL.
• 47.9 PERCENT OF NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION.
• YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION 32.60 IN.,
• 3.43 IN. LESS THAN NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION,
• 90.5 PERCENT OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION;
• 4 DAYS ON WHICH THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED;
• 6 DAYS ON WHICH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION OCCURRED;
• 7 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED TO BETWEEN 1/2 AND 6 MILES BY FOG, SMOKE, OR HAZE;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED TO 1/4 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.
• 0 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.
• 44 SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS,
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 93.6,
• 2821 YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS.
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 113.4
• PRECIPITATION DURING THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS 38.73 IN.,
• TWELVE-MONTH PRECIPITATION PERCENTAGE 85.6.

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