October 2026 Climate Summary

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Overview and Graphics

October 2026 Climate Review:

Temperatures averaged well above normal by 5 to 6.5 degrees. It was one of our warmest October’s on record, ranking 4th warmest in Paducah, 5th warmest in Carbondale, and 6th warmest in Evansville and Poplar Bluff while finishing 6th. Record heat was experienced on the 1st and again from the 12th through 15th when several record highs and warm lows were broken. Highs in the low 90s combined with unusually high humidity levels for October to produce heat index readings in the mid 90s to around 100 on the 13th and 15th. Dewpoints reached into the mid to upper 70s which were at record levels for this late in the season. A strong cold front moved through on the 15th which allowed much cooler air to push into the region from the 16th through 19th. Lows dipped into the low to mid 30s on the morning of the 18th, bringing widespread frost along with a light freeze for a few communities. After a few days with highs in the 60s, we moderated back into the 70s from the 19th through the end of the month while lows were primarily in the 40s. Slightly warmer conditions were observed on the 29th and 30th when several locations peaked around 80 degrees. This was only the 2nd October in the past 28 years in which high temperatures hit 60 degrees or higher every day in Paducah. Typically we at least experience one colder stretch with a handful of days stuck in the 50s, but that didn’t happen this year.

Precipitation was drier than normal across the region, with monthly deficits generally ranging from 1 to 2.5” in most locations. While there were some localized higher amounts of 3.5 to 4”, many areas were only experienced 1 to 3”. In Paducah, we had our 4th wettest October day on record with 3.42” on the 2nd. We then observed our 5th driest October 3-31 period on record with only 0.43” the rest of the month. The highest observed amount in our region was 4.26” at the mesonet station in Caldwell County Kentucky (Princeton 2 SE). Drought conditions increased throughout the month, reaching moderate levels in 48% of the region and severe levels in 17% by the end of the month.