Ticker for October 21, 2003

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
October 21, 2003   October 21, 2003   October 21, 2003   October 21, 2003


Good To Be Back

Out-of-state meetings and illness have kept the Entire Ticker Staff
away from the Ticker Building for more than a week.  So, today's
Ticker is a little paler and more dehydrated than usual, but we hope
to get back in full swing soon!


October Warmth: What's the Deal?

Highs have soared into the upper 80s in central Oklahoma the past few
days.  It's been a rare warmth, to be sure.  Upon closer inspection,
however, it's a good example of what October is really all about in
Oklahoma.  Call it what you will: Feast or famine, Jekyll or Hyde,
October is not a month of compromise.

Here's an example taken from Oklahoma City's historical record:


The graphic shows the number of times OKC has reported high temps
within certain temperature ranges during this time of the month.
Notice the "hole" in the middle of the record, with the relative maxima
on either side.  What this means, climatologically, is October tends to
be significantly warmer or cooler than the "normal" high temps (low-
to mid-70s).


Oh, By The Way ...

This isn't a forecast by any means, but the Ticker Staff thought it
would point something out.  The highest temperatures ever observed
in Oklahoma City this week came in 1977, 1978 and 1979.  Why is this
significant?  Because *each* of the subsequent winters ended up being
among the coldest in Oklahoma's history.