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Heat Wave Expands to the East Coast; Flash Flooding Likely in the Central Plains into the Midwest; Severe Thunderstorms in the Northeast

Dangerous, prolonged heat is ongoing in the Mid-South to Mid-Mississippi Valley and heat expands into the Northeast for a brief period today. Widely scattered instances of flash flooding due to heavy rains are forecast from northeast Kansas to much of Indiana. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of New England, northern Mid-Atlantic, and North Dakota. Read More >

October 2009 ended up much below normal across a majority of the Northern Plains, including much of South Dakota and west-central Minnesota.  Below are a few interesting temperature facts at Pierre, Aberdeen, and Watertown. Tables listing the top 10 coldest temperatures are provided.  A more complete summary of October 2009 will be provided within the next couple of days.

 
At Pierre: 
  • The average daily temperature of 40.4 was the 2nd coldest on record.
  • The average high temperature of 47.9 was the all time coldest on record.
  • The average low temperature of 32.8 was the 7th coldest on record.
 
At Aberdeen:
  • The average daily temperature of 40.2 was the 4th coldest on record.
  • The average high temperature of 47.5 was the 3rd coldest on record.
 
At Watertown:
  • The average daily temperature of 39.1 was the 4th coldest on record.
  • The average high temperature of 45.5 was the 2nd coldest on record.
 
 
 
 Top Ten Coldest Average October Temperatures in Pierre (1933-2009)
 

 

 
Value
Year(s)
1
39.7
2002
2
40.4
2009
3
42.2
1969
4
44.3
1959
5
44.8
1946
6
45.5
2006, 1972
8
46.2
1987
9
46.3
1976, 1970
  
Top Ten Coldest Average October Temperatures in Aberdeen (1893-2009)
  

 

 
Value
Year(s)
1
35.5
1925
2
37.6
2002
3
39.8
1919
4
40.2
2009
5
40.3
1898
6
41.4
1899
7
41.7
1905, 1959
9
42.0
2006
10
42.6
1969

 

Top Ten Coldest Average October Temperatures in Watertown (1893-2009)

 

 

 
Value
Year(s)
1
34.2
1925
2
35.5
1917
3
37.6
2002
4
39.1
2009
5
41.0
1919
6
41.2
1959
7
41.3
1913
8
41.6
1969
9
42.1
1976
10
42.2
1916