Ticker for October 19, 2009

                
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October 19, 2009   October 19, 2009   October 19, 2009   October 19, 2009


A Scary October

I've spoken of my dislike for cold weather, so it's been a scary month thus far
for myself and many other like-minded (i.e., sane) people. Thanks to our friends
at the NWS forecast office in Tulsa for tipping us off about just how cold it's
been:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1014 AM CDT MON OCT 19 2009


...COLDEST OCTOBER TO DATE ACROSS MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

THROUGH THE FIRST EIGHTEEN DAYS...OCTOBER 2009 IS THE COLDEST ON
RECORD FOR MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. A
PERSISTENT WEATHER PATTERN HAS ALLOWED SEVERAL COLD CANADIAN AIRMASSES
TO MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES. CLOUDY SKIES AND
PERIODS OF RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ARIMASSES HAVE LEAD TO
THE EXTENDED COOL WEATHER ACROSS THE REGION.

TULSA...BARTLESVILLE...MCALESTER...AND FAYETTEVILLE HAVE ALL
RECORDED THE COLDEST FIRST EIGHTEEN DAYS IN OCTOBER EVER. FORT SMITH
SAW THE THIRD COLDEST FIRST EIGHTEEN DAYS OF OCTOBER.

LOCATION       OCTOBER 1 - 18 AVERAGE TEMPERATURE       RANK

TULSA          54.8                                     1
BARTLESVILLE   52.2                                     1
MCALESTER      57.2                                     1


A quick calculation of Oklahoma City's October 1-18 stats shows a similar
ranking. Here are the top-10 coolest October 1-18s for Oklahoma City, dating
back to 1898 (averages are in degrees F):

2009	55.61
1970	58.25
1959	58.94
1906	59.25
1925	59.39
1964	59.58
1987	59.67
2001	60.17
1977	60.25
1969	60.39

Now today's numbers aren't included, but the high thus far of 74 degrees
coupled with a low of 49 degrees would not be enough to propel the average
out of the #1 ranking, so I think we're still safe there.

Here's hoping that ranking doesn't hold much longer. Frozen caramel apples
are tough on the teeth!

Gary McManus
Associate State Climatologist
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
(405) 325-2253