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After experiencing the 4th warmest and 6th driest September on record at the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Negaunee Township last month, October 2009 was the complete opposite. This was largely due to a strong low pressure system that moved through the Great Lakes region at the end of September, which changed the weather to a cooler and more active pattern.  As you can see in the chart below, temperatures were below normal for most of the month.  In fact, there were only 8 days where the temperature was above normal, with 5 of those days occurring at the end of the month.  Overall, October 2009 will go down as the 5th coldest and 2nd wettest on record.  

Additional Monthly Climate Graphs can be found here.

Preliminary October 2009 Climate Values and Records

Overall, October 2009 ended up with below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. 

                                             Value             Departure from Normal
Average Temperature       39.0                            -4.2
Precipitation  (liquid)         6.95                           +3.29
Snowfall                               2.0                              -3.9

Here are the preliminary records that occurred in October 2009:

• On October 1st, a new record low temperature of 26 degrees was set.  This broke the old record of 30 degrees, which was set in 2003, 1984, 1974, and 1966.
• A daily rainfall record was set on October 6th, when 1.50 inches of rain fell. This broke the previous record of 1.11 inches, which was set in 1995.
• Another record low temperature was set on October 14th, when the temperature reached 20 degrees.  The previous record was 21 degrees and was set in 2002.
• A record low high temperature was tied on October 15th.  The high temperature on that day was 37 degrees, which tied the previous record that was set in 1991.
• On October 21st, a new daily rainfall record was set, with 1.22 inches of rain.  This broke the previous record of 0.88 inches, which was set in 1972.

Note: the statistics and records for the National Weather Service office in Negaunee Township are based on records which began in October 1961. All climate data listed here are preliminary and unofficial.