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A Bone-Dry Start to October

mid-oct pdpt map

October 1-15 precipitation ranged from less than 25% of normal to 200% of normal, with most areas on the dry side.

Much of the Northeast experienced a drier-than-normal first half of October. The driest locations, which saw less than 25% of normal precipitation, included southwestern West Virginia and an area stretching from southern Maryland to western Massachusetts. This October 1-15 period was record dry for five of the region’s 35 major climate sites - Central Park and Kennedy Airport, NY; Newark and Atlantic City, NJ; and Philadelphia, PA - with four of those sites not seeing measurable precipitation. It was among the 20 driest starts to October for another nine major climate sites.

However, a handful of locations along a path from eastern West Virginia into western New York, as well northern Maine, were wetter than normal. In fact, three major climate sites were wetter than normal including Rochester, NY, which had its 18th wettest start to October. Overall, precipitation at the 35 major climate sites ranged from 0% of normal to 153% of normal, with 32 of the sites being drier than normal.

mid-oct precip chart

This October 1-15 period was record dry for five major climate sites and among the 20 driest for another nine sites. However, it was the 18th wettest such period for Rochester, NY.

mid-oct tdpt map

October 1-15 average temperatures ranged from 2°F below normal to 4°F above normal, with much of the region being warmer than normal.

While some spots were as much as 2°F cooler than normal during the first half of October, a large portion of the Northeast saw above-normal average temperatures, with several locations up to 4°F warmer than normal. October 1-15 average temperatures at the 35 major climate sites ranged from 1.5°F below normal in Portland, ME, to 3.1°F above normal at Kennedy Airport, NY, with 26 of the sites being warmer than normal. This first half of October ranked among the 20 warmest on record for three major climate sites.

mid-oct temp chart

This first half of October was among the 20 warmest on record for three major climate sites.