Warma and Dry October 2010

In the wake of a record-setting wet September, October 1-22 was exceptionally dry across Minnesota. No rain fell from September 26 to October 22 at the Twin Cities International Airport, making it a 27-day stretch without measureable precipitation. This was the eighth longest stretch on record. The longest stretch of days without measurable precipitation in the Twin Cities is 51 days; from November 13, 1943 through January 4, 1944. The last time the Twin Cities has gone so long without measurable precipitation was a stretch of 30 days that ended on May 9, 1980.

October was quite warm. The average temperature through October 21 was six degrees above normal at the Twin Cities International Airport.

Naturally, one would expect that an October with so many dry days would be sunny. In fact, the first three weeks of October 2010 was the sunniest October 1-21 since solar radiation measurements began at the U of M St. Paul Campus Climate Observatory in 1963.

Twin Cities October Watch (thru October 21)

Driest Octobers thru 10/21 Warmest Octobers thru 10/21 Latest 32 degree temperature reached
Trace 2010
0.01 1952
0.02 1975
0.02 1960
0.03 1895
0.04 1944
0.04 1938
0.14 2000
0.18 1978
0.25 1989





normal 1.44 inches
63.2 1947
62.1 1920
62.0 1953
61.0 1963
59.4 1938
58.9 1910
58.7 1914
58.7 1892
58.7 1900
58.0 1942

57.1 2010



normal 51.1 degrees F
11/7/1900
11/6/1958
11/5/1894
11/5/1940
11/2/1924
11/1/1921
11/1/1931
10/30/1973
10/29/1963
10/28/2010
10/28/2007
10/28/1953
10/28/1928
10/28/1910

average October 6
Last modified: December 14, 2015

 

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