Ticker for November 2, 2007

                
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November 2, 2007   November 2, 2007   November 2, 2007   November 2, 2007



Chilly Nights Return

One of the blessed benefits of autumn is the general escort of humidity
southward to its sources. Calm, clear and dry conditions encourage
overnight cooling as the day's heat is rapidly lost to the skies and
a cold layer sets up near the surface.

About this time of year, the question that absolutely grips the state
is "When is the Typical First Freeze of Autumn?"

Okay, maybe "grips the state" is a bit hyperbolic, but surely somebody
considered it in passing? The answer is "Right about now, depending on
where you live."


Here's a snapshot of which Mesonet stations have dipped below freezing
so far this season.


Blue numbers represent the total hours spent below freezing this fall,
while the gray numbers indicate the lowest temperature achieved so far.

Of course, patterns of overnight lows can be quite chaotic, and local
conditions may vary greatly. We'll visit that phenomenon next week.