Delaware Climate Near Normal During October 2015

Delaware experienced near normal temperature and precipitation conditions during October 2015. Although the monthly averages were near normal, an early October weather system brought strong winds, and coastal flooding to much of the State.

Figure 1. Delaware statewide mean October temperature (°F) 1895-2015.

Figure 2. Delaware statewide mean October precipitation (inches) 1895-2015.

October Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in October was 56.6°F, 0.5°F below the 1981-2010 normal of 57.1°F (Figure 1). October 2015 was the coolest since 2009.

October Precipitation

Delaware’s preliminary statewide precipitation total for October 2015 averaged 3.49 inches, just 0.03 inches above the 1981-2010 mean (Figure 2).

Statewide Spatial Averages

Most Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) stations saw temperatures slightly below normal for the month (Figure 3). Like Delaware, much of the eastern portion of the United States had near normal temperatures during the month, while the western United States was much warmer than average (Figure 4).

Precipitation varied substantially across the State, with the largest positive departures found across southern Delaware and the majority of negative departures across northern Delaware and Chester County, PA (Figure 5).

Figure 3. October 2015 average temperature departures from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.

Figure 4. October temperature departures from the 1901-2000 mean across the coterminous United States. Data and map provided by the National Center for Environmental Information.

Figure 5. October 2015 precipitation departures (inches) from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.