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October 2018 Graphical Climate Summaries
Mobile Alabama and Pensacola Florida Area

Joe Maniscalco - Meteorologist/Forecaster/Climate Program Lead
National Weather Service Mobile Alabama
November 4, 2018

 

October 2018 in Review - A steady, but highly unseasonably warm temperature trend occurred at both Mobile and Pensacola for the first week of October. Temperatures then became chaotic with large swings as a series of cold fronts passed across the central Gulf coast the remainder of the month. Overall, October was yet another unseasonably warm month for the central Gulf coast where the average monthly temperature broke into the top 10 warmest Octobers on record at Mobile and into the top 5 warmest at Pensacola. Three record temperatures were reached at Mobile while one at Pensacola. It remains an unusually dry year at Mobile with rainfall deficits of several inches continuing to be observed. Meanwhile, Pensacola enjoys a surplus of annual rainfall, despite being drier than normal for the month.

 

Mobile Alabama Area - The average monthly high was 83.7° or 4.5° above normal. The average monthly low was 63.5° or 5.9° above normal. The average monthly temperature was 73.6° or 5.2° above normal, which places 8th warmest on the period of record dating back to 1872. Two record highs were recorded for the month, 89° occurred on the 15th and 88° occurred on the 19th. Both of these highs tied with the previous records, set on those dates in 2015 and 1949 respectively. A new record low high temperature was reached on the 10th, 75°, breaking the old record of 74° set back on this date in 2011. (Fig. A) shows how temperatures compared to the seasonal normal monthly highs and lows, which are shown by the colored dashed lines. October rainfall measured just shy of 2 inches at 1.98" or 1.71" below normal (Fig. B). The annual rainfall deficit has increased, with the total rainfall year to date now standing at 47.60" or 8.36" below normal.

 

Click on the Mobile Alabama area climate graphics below to expand:

Figure A
Figure B
Year to Date Rainfall Trends
Against Climatology

 

 

Pensacola Florida Area - The average monthly high was 83.0° or 4.1° above normal. The average monthly low was 66.6° or 6.3° above normal. The average monthly temperature was 74.8° or 5.2° above normal, which places 5th warmest on the period of record dating back to 1879. A record high low temperature of 75° occurred on the 15th. This surpassed the old record of 73° which occurred on this date way back in 1879. (Fig. C) shows how temperatures compared to the seasonal normal monthly highs and lows, which are shown by the colored dashed lines. October rainfall measured 3.75" or 1.49" below normal (Fig. B). Despite below normal monthly rain, Pensacola continues to see a substantial surplus in annual rainfall. Year to date total rainfall now stands at 67.84" or 11.85" above normal.

 

Click on the Pensacola Florida area climate graphics below to expand:

Figure C
Figure D
Year to Date Annual Trends
Against Climatology

 

November Climatology and Outlooks:

Click on the snap shots below to expand:

Normals
Temperature
Outlook
Precipitation
Outlook
Drought
Outlook
Red Tide
Information

 

 Climate Prediction Center's Interactive Long Range Outlooks

 

Additional Climate Links:

The links below are intended to provide additional climate information, education and outlooks. The National Weather Service Mobile Alabama's Climate and Past Weather page provides climate data at your fingertips for many observation points in the local forecast area by accessing the NOWData tab as well as many other climate resources. The Climate Prediction Center Link provides short and longer range climatic outlooks and education about the larger scale global circulations that impact temperatures and weather. With the large agriculture and farming presence along the central Gulf coast, the Drought Monitor link provides updates on drought trends and impacts. Another very helpful resource is the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network, which is a large group of volunteers working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). The aim of CoCoRaHS is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. You can be a part of the CoCoRaHS team by becoming a volunteer rainfall observer. To learn more click on the CoCoRaHS link below.

 

National Weather Service Mobile AL Climate and Past Weather

Climate Prediction Center (CPC)

Drought Monitor

CoCoRaHS Network

CoCoRaHS Network Water Year Summaries

 

Questions or Comments:

Contact: Joe Maniscalco, WFO Mobile, AL at joe.maniscalco@noaa.gov