NOAA REPORTS RECORD WARMTH IN OCTOBER
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 10:41 am
Nov. 17, 2003 — Many western states had record or near-record warmth in October, while temperatures in the eastern third of the country were near average or cooler than average. It all added up to a warmer than average October for the United States, according to scientists at the NOAA Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Anomalously warm temperatures also occurred in many other areas of the world, and the average global temperature was the warmest on record for October. (Click NOAA image for larger view of October 2003 monthly weather extreme records. Please credit “NOAA.”)
NOAA scientists report that the average temperature for the contiguous United States in October (based on preliminary data) was 57.0 degrees F (13.9 degrees C), which was 2.3 degrees F (1.3 degrees C) above the 1895-2003 mean. The October mean temperature in Nevada and California was the warmest on record, and ten other western states were much warmer than average. The average October temperature in Alaska was also much warmer than average, 6.4 degrees F (3.6 degrees C) above the 1971-2000 mean. Conversely, significantly cooler-than-average temperatures occurred in eight Midwestern and eastern states from Indiana to Massachusetts.
Drier-than-average conditions affected many states from the West Coast to the central United States and parts of the Southeast. The only states with significantly wetter-than-average conditions were Washington and twelve states along the eastern seaboard. The cooler and wetter-than-average conditions in the East, along with warmer and drier-than-average conditions from the central to the western United States are part of a pattern that has persisted for many months. The most recent six-month period (May-October) was the wettest on record in the Northeast and second wettest in the Southeast and Central regions, while five regions from the East North Central to the West were drier or much drier than average.
The combination of above average-temperatures and below-average precipitation led to moderate to extreme drought in 42 percent of the contiguous United States at the end of October based on the Palmer Drought Index, a widely used measure of drought. Drought conditions have persisted for much of the past four to five years in parts of the West. Impacts of the cumulative effects of warm and dry conditions include below average reservoir levels, poor range and pasture conditions, tree die-off in many forested regions and conditions favorable for wildfire development.
Although fewer acres have been consumed by wildfire in 2003 than in the preceding year, dry conditions in southern California contributed to some of the most costly and deadly wildfires ever experienced with more than 475,000 acres burned in late October, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Globe:
The average global surface temperature for combined land and ocean surfaces during October 2003 (based on preliminary data) was 1.2 degrees F (0.7 degrees C) above the 1880-2002 long-term mean and was the warmest October since the beginning of reliable instrumental records in 1880. The January-October year-to-date temperature was the third warmest, slightly cooler than 1998 and 2002.
NOAA scientists report that the average temperature for the contiguous United States in October (based on preliminary data) was 57.0 degrees F (13.9 degrees C), which was 2.3 degrees F (1.3 degrees C) above the 1895-2003 mean. The October mean temperature in Nevada and California was the warmest on record, and ten other western states were much warmer than average. The average October temperature in Alaska was also much warmer than average, 6.4 degrees F (3.6 degrees C) above the 1971-2000 mean. Conversely, significantly cooler-than-average temperatures occurred in eight Midwestern and eastern states from Indiana to Massachusetts.
Drier-than-average conditions affected many states from the West Coast to the central United States and parts of the Southeast. The only states with significantly wetter-than-average conditions were Washington and twelve states along the eastern seaboard. The cooler and wetter-than-average conditions in the East, along with warmer and drier-than-average conditions from the central to the western United States are part of a pattern that has persisted for many months. The most recent six-month period (May-October) was the wettest on record in the Northeast and second wettest in the Southeast and Central regions, while five regions from the East North Central to the West were drier or much drier than average.
The combination of above average-temperatures and below-average precipitation led to moderate to extreme drought in 42 percent of the contiguous United States at the end of October based on the Palmer Drought Index, a widely used measure of drought. Drought conditions have persisted for much of the past four to five years in parts of the West. Impacts of the cumulative effects of warm and dry conditions include below average reservoir levels, poor range and pasture conditions, tree die-off in many forested regions and conditions favorable for wildfire development.
Although fewer acres have been consumed by wildfire in 2003 than in the preceding year, dry conditions in southern California contributed to some of the most costly and deadly wildfires ever experienced with more than 475,000 acres burned in late October, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Globe:
The average global surface temperature for combined land and ocean surfaces during October 2003 (based on preliminary data) was 1.2 degrees F (0.7 degrees C) above the 1880-2002 long-term mean and was the warmest October since the beginning of reliable instrumental records in 1880. The January-October year-to-date temperature was the third warmest, slightly cooler than 1998 and 2002.