October 2003

Report and Summary

Tyler, Texas
October 2003
by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D.
National Weather Service Cooperating Observer

The month of October 2003 saw near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall.

The early part of the month was cool, with average temperature rising during the last half of the month under upper air high pressure.

The month was 1.6 deg. warmer than October 2002, and 2.71 inches drier. Year-to-date rainfall through October 31 was 0.84 greater in 2003 than in 2002.

Rainfall in 2003 has not been uniform in the area. Generally, the southwestern half has been wet, and the northeastern half dry. The thirty-day outlook for October 2003 had called for near normal temperatures and near normal precipitation. The week September 28-October 4 saw temperatures 7 deg. cooler than normal, and no rainfall.

For the week, upper air high pressure was over the Western United States. This brought a northwesterly flow aloft, which allowed cool and dry air to flow southward into the region. Cold fronts on the 28th, 1st, and night of the 2nd kept winds from a northerly direction for much of the week.

Disturbances early in the week caused periods of cloudiness as they moved through Oklahoma, causing rain activity there. None of this crossed into East Texas. The week's average temperature was 65.9 deg. This was 8.2 deg. cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2002, the week was 11.0 deg. cooler. There was no rainfall during the 2002 week, either. The week October 5-11 saw near normal temperatures, and rainfall about 200 percent of normal.

Two wet storms crossed the area during the week: the first on the 6th, and the second on the 8th-9th.

Tropical Maritime air was over the area for most of the week, and high-level moisture from the remnants of Pacific Tropical Cyclones Nora and Olaf were responsible for the rains. The week's average temperature was 70.1 deg., which was 4.2 deg. warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2002, the week was 1.3 deg. warmer, and 0.09 inch drier.

The week October 12-18 saw normal temperatures and minimal rainfall.

Cold fronts on the 14th and 17th displaced Tropical Maritime air masses, and lowered temperatures.

Upper air high pressure over Western North America kept the middle and upper atmosphere dry, and suppressed most rainfall. The week's average temperature was 68.0 deg., which was 2.1 deg. warmer than the previous week. Rainfall was 0.01 inch. Compared with the same week in 2002, the week was 6.0 deg. warmer, and 1.27 inches drier. The week October 19-25 saw temperatures 5 deg. warmer, and no rainfall.

Upper air and surface high pressure were over the region during the week.

This resulted in lower nighttime temperatures, but warm daytime readings for most of the week. On the 25th, Gulf moisture returned, ahead of a cold front which went through that night. The week's average temperature was 70.4 deg., which was 2.4 deg. warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2002, the week was 5.8 deg. warmer, and 0.90 inch drier.

During the final six days of the month, Polar Maritime air controlled through the evening of the 29th. This built in behind the cold front of the 25th.

On the evening of the 29th, Tropical Maritime air returned rapidly, and temperatures warmed. This happened as upper air high pressure built in from the Southeastern United States, and deepening low pressure at the surface to the northwest pulled in very moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. The record high minimum temperature was equalled on the 31st. Conditions were windy on the 30th with the strong pressure gradient.

Rainfall occurred overnight the 25th/26th with the passage of the cold front.

• KEY TO SYMBOLS:
• A = HAIL
• B = BLOWING
• D = DUST
• F = FOG
• H = HAZE
• IP = SLEET
• K = SMOKE
• L = DRIZZLE
• R = RAIN
• S = SNOW
• T = THUNDERSTORM
• Z = GREENWICH MEAN TIME
• ZL = FREEZING DRIZZLE
• ZR = FREEZING RAIN
• - = LIGHT
• + = HEAVY

The reporting period for temperatures and phenomenon on each day is for the twenty-four hours ending at midnight hours GMT--6 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CDT. The reporting period for precipitation is for the twenty-four hours ending at noon GMT--6 a.m. CST and 7 a.m. CDT. All times are given using the twenty-four hour clock, and are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time.

Observations are from NWS Station 41/9207/4 in Tyler, Texas. The term "normal" refers to averages from the standard climatic period 1971-2000.

OCTOBER 2003

DY MX MN OBS PCPN REMARKS

• 01 78 55 73
• 02 73 54 67
• 03 77 50 71
• 04 84 52 75
• 05 75 61 66 T, PCPN 1400-2100, 2200-2300 MAX 1200-2400 66
• 06 71 64 69 1.15 T, F, PCPN 1700-2000
• 07 82 63 73 0.60 F
• 08 80 64 75 F
• 09 75 68 70 0.43 F, PCPN 0500-2200 MAX 1200-2400 71
• 10 81 68 72 0.22
• 11 82 60 73 F
• 12 80 66 73
• 13 80 66 74
• 14 74 62 65 0.01 PCPN 1100-1200, MIN 0000-1200 66
• 15 76 46 68
• 16 81 52 75
• 17 76 65 68 MIN 0000-1200 70
• 18 78 50 66
• 19 81 50 73
• 20 84 52 76
• 21 86 53 74
• 22 90 56 76
• 23 88 58 74
• 24 87 57 77
• 25 79 64 73 T, MIN 0000-1200 65
• 26 73 50 59 0.27 T, PCPN 0000-0300, 1200-1400 MIN 0000-1200 51, MAX 1200-2400 64
• 27 73 45 61
• 28 80 45 66
• 29 79 48 73 AURORA BOREALIS VISIBLE NORTH 0800-0900
• 30 83 61 77
• 31 83 72 78

OCTOBER 2003, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:

• 26TH, RETURNED TO STANDARD TIME AT 0700Z;
• 31ST: EQUALLED RECORD HIGH MINIMUM 72, SET FIRST IN 1977;
• HIGHEST TEMPERATURE 90 ON THE 22ND;
• LOWEST TEMPERATURE 45 ON THE 27TH AND 28TH;
• AVERAGE MAXIMUM 78.9 DEG.,
• AVERAGE MINIMUM 57.3 DEG.,
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 68.1 DEG.,
• 0.7 DEG. WARMER THAN NORMAL.
• HEATING DEGREE DAYS 28,
• 62.2 PERCENT OF NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS.
• COOLING DEGREE DAYS 125,
• 103.8 PERCENT OF NORMAL COOLING DEGREE-DAYS;
• TOTAL PRECIPITATION 2.68 IN.,
• 2.46 IN. LESS THAN NORMAL.
• 52.1 PERCENT OF NORMAL PRECIPITATION.
• YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION 38.37 IN.,
• 4 DAYS ON WHICH THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED;
• 5 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS HEAVILY RESTRICTED BY FOG, SMOKE,
• OR HAZE;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED BY DUST OR BLOWING DUST;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH FROZEN PRECIPITATION WAS OBSERVED;
• 0 IN. TOTAL SNOWFALL.
• 6 DAYS ON WHICH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION OCCURRED.
• 1 DAYS ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 90 DEG.;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 100 DEG.;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE TEMPERATURE FAILED TO RISE ABOVE 32 DEG.
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR FELL BELOW 32 DEG.
• SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS,28,
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 59.6,
• 2310 YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS.
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 92.8
• PRECIPITATION DURING THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS 47.67 in.,
• TWELVE-MONTH PRECIPITATION PERCENTAGE 105.3.

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