October 2008 Climate Summary

Region Breakdown
Temperatures were cooler than normal across the region for much of October 2008. Highlighted locations include Manhattan Municipal Airport, Kansas and Hutchinson, KS. Manhattan Municipal Airport recorded their 3rd lowest average monthly temperature for October with 55.4°F. Hutchinson, Kansas recorded its 4th lowest average monthly temperature for October at 56.7°F and also its 3rd wettest October with 4.32” of precipitation. A large swath of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota reported precipitation totals which were over 200% of normal precipitation with portions of Kansas and Nebraska exceeding 400% of normal. Many daily and monthly precipitation records were broken and this excessive precipitation also prompted flood warnings in many counties.
Interestingly, this wet and cool month ended dry and warm across the high plains region which allowed fall harvesting to increase in intensity. This is a notable difference from earlier weeks where widespread precipitation and late maturing crops slowed harvest progress.

With the only exceptions being portions of Wyoming and Colorado, October 2008 was wet with most of the region receiving ample precipitation. This precipitation was welcome as it helped alleviate drought conditions in a number of locations. According to the Drought Monitor, drought conditions have improved in South Dakota, western North Dakota, and across the Colorado-Kansas border.
Extremes in monthly precipitation across the region include La Junta Municipal Airport in Colorado which received 3.38 inches (85.9 mm) of precipitation or 537% of normal, Lenora, KS which received 7.67 inches (194.8 mm) of precipitation or 619% of normal, and Minden, NE which received 11.64 inches (295.7 mm) of precipitation or 761% of normal. This was the wettest October on record for Minden whose previous October total precipitation record of 7.34 inches (186.4 mm) was set back in 1897. Another wet location was Kearney, NE which also recorded its all-time wettest October on record with 9.36 inches (237.7 mm). The total precipitation for the year for Kearney is currently 35.63 inches (905.0 mm) and this already ranks as the 4th wettest year ever recorded, even with two months remaining in the year.

Climate Outlook
ENSO conditions remain neutral and are expected to persist into early 2009. NOAA forecasters are predicting chances of above normal temperatures for the entire High Plains region during the months of November – January. Equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation conditions exist for all but a portion of extreme southern Colorado where there are chances for below normal precipitation. This outlook is produced by scientists at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. More information can be found here: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/.

Drought Watch
Drought conditions have improved across South Dakota due to copious amounts of precipitation this month. Drought conditions have also improved across western North Dakota where areas of extreme drought (D3) have been downgraded to severe drought (D2). Areas across the Colorado-Kansas border have been downgraded to moderate drought (D1). According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, this area is forecast to improve; however, drought will persist across southwest Wyoming and western North Dakota.