This is an day for all meteorologists here in the Midwest. The first snowflakes of the season have been reported in northern Minnesota. Nature has made a major adjustment to our weather pattern. Usually to even things out something dramatic has to happen. It certainly has on the satellite picture above. Our huge high pressure system has been wiped of the map by two whirlwind autumn weather systems. Storm number one is taking place in the form of a hurricane-like low pressure on the Pacific Northwest Coast that will dislodge a huge chunk of chilly air in Canada and keep us feeling like autumn for more than a few hours. This storm system has had pressures as low as a category 3 hurricane. Unbelievable! We also have storm number two which is an upper-level storm that is developing due to chilly air. This low pressure over Michigan could actually bring lake-effect rain showers to our area by later tonight and Thursday morning. This is something we would see in November and many times in the form of snow or what we call lake-effect snow showers. It is caused by a huge temperature difference between the warmer lake and the much colder air mass. We will actually have wind chills in the 40s to talk about with wind gusts near 25 mph by later today. Get out the jackets and hunker down. That is right, only two days ago we had heat index values in the middle 90s!
Here is our reality check. Notice the first 9 days of October with temperatures a whopping 15 degrees above average. The next 5 days we will be at about 5 degrees below average which means we may even have to crank the furnace! The Midwest Climate Center has confirmed what we all know. We are having the hottest October weather on record. But the amazing part is that we have been so hot outside that we would be challenging the hottest September on record. We are so far ahead of the record for warmest Octobers that even with temperatures closer to normal and ups and downs expected the rest of the month we will have a real shot of putting 2007 in first place for the warmest October on record. You can see why!
Warmest Octobers (Avg. Temperature):
1) 1971-61.0 degrees
2) 1963-61.0 degrees
October 2007 so far: 72.7 degrees
Today look for our streak of 13 consecutive days above average to be snapped. We have had 22 of the past 23 days above average, including just making it through our 5th heat wave this year. On average we have 3 heat waves every year, but not this year. Meteorologist Kelly Greene did some research today and confirmed that we have had 33 days of 90 degrees plus at the Purdue airport. I checked my records from home on the southside of Lafayette and recorded 38 days of 90 or above. This compares to our normal of 16 days of 90 degrees or above. I do not expect us to add to this total. Although never say never in Indiana. I do expect another warm spell the last 2 weeks of October. No I am not kidding!
Our first snow is apparently just around the corner with most maps showing a nice cold spell in November. The question is not if, but when. But remember today we do not have any snow in the forecast although it will feel like it at times. Remember to drink plenty of fluids and keep your body hydrated. This will help it adjust to the huge temperature change. Drinking plenty of water helps your body through not only hot temperatures as we found out, but when we have dramatic drops in temperatures. Hopefully this will keep you from the sniffles and sneezes that always pop up this time of year with the weather change. I think hot chocolate will do. I may put us under a hot chocolate advisory as early as tonight. Just think if we were only about 10 degrees colder tonight I would be calling for snow. I will talk more about snow and your winter forecast here on the blog by tomorrow. In the meantime, stay warm! Now I have to find jackets which may include a trip to the attic. If you do not see me by 5 p.m. tonight you know that I somehow got stuck up there. It has been too hot to clean out and organize this summer. Send help if you do not see me! Have a great day.
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