October

It’s been awhile since Oklahoma has seen a month like October. Eleven months, to be exact. Not since September 2011 had Oklahoma seen a month where the statewide average temperature finished on the cold side of normal. In fact, 25 of the 30 months prior to October were warmer than normal, starting with April 2010. According to data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, October became the 26th coolest on record with a statewide average of 59.7 degrees, 1.6 degrees below normal.  Statewide records date back to 1895.

September brought Oklahomans relief from the heat and October did its part with a bit of drought relief. The drought conditions remain quite severe across the state despite the rain, however. The statewide average rainfall total was 2.89 inches, about a half of an inch below normal and the 52nd wettest October since 1895. The month was also a bit on the warm side at more than a half a degree above normal. The statewide average temperature of 61.9 degrees ranks as the 53rd warmest October on record.

Dry and warm conditions continued over much of the state, although a late-month drink gave a bit of relief to drought-plagued southwestern Oklahoma. A powerful upper-level storm that brought significant rains to the southwestern quarter of the state kept this October from finishing as one of the state’s top-ten driest on record. Despite that moisture, however, much of the state still received a meager 20-60 percent of normal rainfall for the month.