The Late September and Early October 2019 heatwave and drought

Overview

Numerous daily and all-time October record highs were recorded from October 1st through 4th at the official climate sites and nearly every NWS COOP site. Among the most impressive readings were:

98 degree temperature in Roanoke (tied for 2nd highest ever in October, after 99 on October 6th, 1941)
Lynchburg reached 97 (2nd highest after 98 on October 6th, 1941)
Danville 98 degrees (2nd highest after 100 on October 6th, 1941)
Blacksburg 94 degrees (The highest October reading on record since 1952).

September temperatures were easily the highest since records began at Blacksburg in 1952 at 70.7F (old record 69.2 in 2018). It was also in the top 5 warmest September at the longer-term climate sites--Roanoke (2nd), Lynchburg (3rd), Bluefield (4th), and Danville (6th).

Parts of our area entered the severe drought classification (D2 on a scale from D0 to D4) on the October 1st issuance of the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor and remained there for the next three weeks (until issuance of October 22nd).