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Contents of This Report:
Through climate analysis, National Climatic Data Center scientists have identified nine climatically consistent regions within the contiguous United States which are useful for putting current climate anomalies into an historical perspective.
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No state ranked within the top ten warm or cool for October 2000. The predominant upper-air pattern is reflected by state rankings, as states in the Mississippi Valley region were warmer than normal while the extreme Southwest and Southeast were cooler than normal. |
| It was the driest October on record for North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Numerous reporting stations within these three states measured no precipitation for the entire month. It was the second driest October on record for Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The previous driest October on record for each state occurred in 1963. Fourteen other states ranked within the dry third portion of the distribution.
Fifteen states ranked within the wet third portion of the distribution including the second wettest October on record for Arizona (wettest was 1972) and the third wettest October since 1895 for Kansas. Additional drought information is contained within the U.S. Drought page. |
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October Regional Highlights
Based upon preliminary data, October 2000 was the 16th warmest such month since 1895 for the East-North Central region. Eighteen of the last 25 Octobers have been below to much below the long term mean.
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larger imageDue to an active subtropical jet stream providing copious Pacific moisture, it was the second wettest October on record for the Southwest region.
October 2000 was the second driest such month since 1895 for the Southeast region. October 1963 is the driest October on record. This contrast with last month when the region had the 19th wettest such September on record.
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larger imagePreliminary data indicate that precipitation for the first month of the Primary Hard Red Winter Wheat growing season averaged significantly above the long-term mean. Only four of the last 14 such seasons have been above the long-term mean. The growing season runs from October through February. The Joint Agricultural Weather Facility has additional information regarding agricultural interests.
January-October 2000 Statewide Ranks
Larger MapForty-two states ranked within the warm third portion of the historical distribution for January-October 2000 while 21 states ranked within the top ten warm. It was the warmest such year-to-date on record for New Mexico, Texas and Utah and the second warmest year-to-date for
- Arizona (warmest was 1896)
- Colorado (1934)
- Nevada (1934)
- Wyoming (1934)
No state ranked within the cool third of the historical distribution.
January-October 2000 was the driest such period on record for Florida, second driest for Mississippi (1952) and third driest for Alabama and Louisiana. Ten other states ranked within the dry third portion of the distribution. It was the seventh wettest January-October on record for New York. Sixteen other states ranked within the wet third portion of the distribution.
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larger imagePreliminary data indicate that January-October 2000 was the third warmest such period since 1895 for the West region. Thirteen of the last fifteen such periods have been above to much above the long-term mean.
Preliminary data indicate that the year-to-date, January-October 2000, was the 22nd wettest such period on record for the Northeast region. Five of the last seven such periods have been much wetter than the long-term mean in this region.
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larger imagePreliminary data indicate that January-October 2000 was the 15th driest such period since 1895 for the South region. Only three of the last twelve such periods have been much below the long-term mean.
A detailed drought update through October is located at the NCDC U.S. Drought page. Additional drought information can also be found at the Web Page for the National Drought Mitigation Center. The Center monitors current droughts both in the United States and worldwide.Damage due to the drought has been summarized by NOAA and the Office of Global Programs in the Climatological Impacts section of the Climate Information Project. Crop impact information can be found at the USDA NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) and Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin pages. Drought statements by local National Weather Service Offices can be found at the NWS Hydrologic Information Center. Drought threat assessments and other information can be found at NOAA's Drought Information Center.
October Precipitation and Temperature Ranks, Extremes and Normals
Table 1 shows precipitation and temperature ranks for each of the 9 regions and the nation for October 2000, the two-month period of September-October 2000, the six months of May-October 2000, and the past 12 months, November 1999-October 2000.PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE RANKS, BASED ON THE PERIOD 1895-2000. 1 = DRIEST/COLDEST, 106 = WETTEST/WARMEST FOR OCTOBER 2000, 106 = WETTEST/WARMEST FOR SEP-OCT 2000, 106 = WETTEST/WARMEST FOR MAY-OCT 2000, 105 = WETTEST/WARMEST FOR NOV 1999-OCT 2000. OCT SEP-OCT MAY-OCT NOV 1999- REGION 2000 2000 2000 OCT 2000 ------ ---- --------- --------- --------- PRECIPITATION: NORTHEAST 28 28 68 68 EAST NORTH CENTRAL 35 29 68 38 CENTRAL 20 32 62 36 SOUTHEAST 2 36 4 3 WEST NORTH CENTRAL 95 74 34 30 SOUTH 78 43 18 10 SOUTHWEST 105 91 54 26 NORTHWEST 68 80 54 62 WEST 95 91 83 57 NATIONAL 63 41 26 13 TEMPERATURE: NORTHEAST 61 42 26 87 EAST NORTH CENTRAL 91 87 70 102 CENTRAL 83 71 66 100 SOUTHEAST 48 30 60 81 WEST NORTH CENTRAL 74 83 94 105 SOUTH 77 87 99 105 SOUTHWEST 47 76 106 105 NORTHWEST 50 53 81 99 WEST 52 73 101 102 NATIONAL* 82 84 101 105 *National Temperature Rank Based on a combination of USHCN and divisional data.It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values in Tables 1 through 5 are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed. Additional state, regional and national ranks maps including three-month and 12-month rankings can be viewed at the October Preliminary page.
Table 2 shows historical extremes for October, the 1961-1990 normal, and the October 2000 value for each of the 9 regions and the contiguous U.S. for precipitation and temperature. It should be noted that the 2000 values will change when the final data are processed.
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
DRIEST WETTEST NORMAL 2000
REGION VALUE YEAR VALUE YEAR PCPN PCPN
------ ---------- ---------- ------ ------
NORTHEAST 0.44 1924 6.96 1995 3.35 2.25
EAST NORTH CENTRAL 0.25 1952 4.66 1984 2.47 1.83
CENTRAL 0.53 1963 7.15 1919 3.04 1.77
SOUTHEAST 0.53 1963 7.33 1959 3.16 0.64
WEST NORTH CENTRAL 0.13 1952 2.95 1998 1.09 1.69
SOUTH 0.12 1952 7.07 1984 2.89 3.49
SOUTHWEST 0.02 1952 3.67 1972 1.12 2.75
NORTHWEST 0.14 1987 5.20 1950 2.05 2.51
WEST 0.01 1917 2.86 1962 1.01 1.90
NATIONAL 0.54 1952 3.72 1941 2.16 2.22*
* PRELIMINARY VALUE, CONFIDENCE
INTERVAL + OR - 0.21 INCHES
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
COLDEST WARMEST NORMAL 2000
REGION VALUE YEAR VALUE YEAR TEMP TEMP
------ ---------- ---------- ------ ------
NORTHEAST 42.7 1925 56.0 1947 48.9 49.9
EAST NORTH CENTRAL 37.5 1925 57.6 1963 47.8 51.4
CENTRAL 48.2 1917 62.9 1947 55.2 58.6
SOUTHEAST 58.2 1987 72.8 1919 63.4 63.6
WEST NORTH CENTRAL 35.5 1925 53.9 1963 45.9 47.5
SOUTH 56.7 1976 69.9 1947 63.4 65.4
SOUTHWEST 48.6 1984 59.4 1950 53.4 53.2
NORTHWEST 42.3 1919 53.9 1988 47.7 47.9
WEST 51.8 1916 62.1 1988 56.9 56.6
NATIONAL* 49.5 1925 60.0 1963 54.8 55.8
* National Temperature Values based on a combination of
USHCN and divisional data.
January-October Precipitation and Temperature Ranks, Extremes and Normals
Table 3 shows precipitation and temperature ranks for each of the 9 regions and the nation for January-October 2000. Based on the period 1895-2000.
1 = DRIEST/COLDEST, 106 = WETTEST/HOTTEST REGION PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE ------ ------------- ----------- NORTHEAST 85 73 EAST NORTH CENTRAL 60 102 CENTRAL 46 93 SOUTHEAST 7 75 WEST NORTH CENTRAL 41 104 SOUTH 15 105 SOUTHWEST 48 106 NORTHWEST 60 94 WEST 85 104 NATIONAL* 24 106 *National Temperature Rank Based on a combination of USHCN and divisional data.
Table 4 shows historical extremes for January-October, the 1961-1990 normal, and the January-October 2000 value for each of the 9 regions and the contiguous U.S. for precipitation and temperature. It should be noted that the 2000 values will change when the final data are processed.
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
DRIEST WETTEST NORMAL 2000
REGION VALUE YEAR VALUE YEAR PCPN PCPN
------ ---------- ---------- ------ ------
NORTHEAST 26.40 1957 44.79 1996 34.34 37.20
EAST NORTH CENTRAL 18.10 1910 33.27 1951 27.17 27.18
CENTRAL 26.58 1930 44.82 1898 36.08 35.63
SOUTHEAST 31.56 1954 54.83 1929 43.86 35.26
WEST NORTH CENTRAL 10.32 1934 21.38 1915 15.53 14.93
SOUTH 20.41 1956 41.23 1973 30.60 25.67
SOUTHWEST 7.05 1956 20.24 1941 11.78 11.48
NORTHWEST 13.30 1929 25.43 1950 19.69 19.94
WEST 5.98 1966 22.96 1998 11.96 15.01
NATIONAL 20.39 1934 28.56 1998 24.84 23.36
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
COLDEST WARMEST NORMAL 2000
REGION VALUE YEAR VALUE YEAR TEMP TEMP
------ ---------- ---------- ------ ------
NORTHEAST 46.5 1907 51.9 1998 48.8 49.5
EAST NORTH CENTRAL 42.8 1917 51.1 1921 47.0 49.6
CENTRAL 53.9 1979 60.1 1921 56.2 58.1
SOUTHEAST 63.0 1940 67.2 1925 64.6 65.8
WEST NORTH CENTRAL 43.0 1917 50.3 1934 46.9 49.7
SOUTH 63.2 1979 67.7 1911 64.8 67.7
SOUTHWEST 51.9 1917 58.1 2000 54.8 58.1
NORTHWEST 46.7 1955 53.0 1934 49.4 50.9
WEST 55.4 1912 60.5 1934 57.6 59.7
NATIONAL* 53.6 1912 58.1 2000 55.8 58.1
* National Temperature Values based on a combination of
USHCN and divisional data.
Water Year River Basin Statistics, October 2000
Table 5 shows statistics for selected river basins: Precipitation rankings are for October 2000, where 1 = driest, and 106 = wettest, based on the period 1895 to 2000. Also shown is the areal percent of the basin experiencing severe or extreme long-term (Palmer) drought, and areal percent of the basin experiencing severe or extreme long-term (Palmer) wet conditions, as of October 2000.PRECIPITATION % AREA % AREA RIVER BASIN RANK DRY WET ----------- ------------- ------ ------ MISSOURI BASIN 93 23.4% 8.1% PACIFIC NORTHWEST BASIN 65 0.0% 0.0% CALIFORNIA RIVER BASIN 92 0.0% 0.0% GREAT BASIN 101 0.0% 0.0% UPPER COLORADO BASIN 79 44.7% 0.0% LOWER COLORADO BASIN 105 0.0% 0.0% RIO GRANDE BASIN 97 17.9% 0.0% ARKANSAS-WHITE-RED BASIN 99 0.0% 0.0% TEXAS GULF COAST BASIN 67 25.6% 0.0% SOURIS-RED-RAINY BASIN 90 0.0% 45.4% UPPER MISSISSIPPI BASIN 33 0.0% 0.0% LOWER MISSISSIPPI BASIN 10 78.1% 0.0% GREAT LAKES BASIN 18 6.7% 6.5% OHIO RIVER BASIN 15 0.0% 4.5% TENNESSEE RIVER BASIN 2 51.9% 0.0% NEW ENGLAND BASIN 50 0.0% 0.0% MID-ATLANTIC BASIN 3 0.0% 0.0% SOUTH ATLANTIC-GULF BASIN 2 58.0% 0.0%The river basin regions are defined by the U.S. Water Resources Council.
For more information, refer to ...
References:Thomas R. Karl and Albert J. Koscielny, 1982: "Drought in the United States: 1895-1981." Journal of Climatology, vol. 2, pp. 313-329.
Thomas R. Karl and Walter James Koss, 1984: "Regional and National Monthly, Seasonal, and Annual Temperature Weighted by Area, 1895-1983." Historical Climatology Series 4-3, National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC, 38 pp.
NOAA's National Climatic Data Center is the world's largest active archive of weather data. The preliminary temperature and precipitation rankings are available from the center by calling: 828-271-4800.
Historical precipitation and temperature ranking maps are also available on the Internet courtesy of the Climate Prediction Center.
NOAA works closely with the academic and scientific communities on climate-related research projects to increase the understanding of El Niño and improve forecasting techniques. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center monitors, analyzes and predicts climate events ranging from weeks to seasons for the nation. NOAA also operates the network of data buoys and satellites that provide vital information about the ocean waters, and initiates research projects to improve future climate forecasts. The long lead climate outlooks are available from the Climate Prediction Center.
For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:
Climate Services DivisionFor further information on the historical climate perspective presented in this report, contact:
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4876
phone: 828-271-4800
email: ncdc.info@noaa.gov
William Brown-or-
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: william.brown@noaa.gov
Jay Lawrimore
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: jay.lawrimore@noaa.gov
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