October 2023 – Warm and Dry Across Delaware

October Temperatures
Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in October was 60.4°F, which was 2.4°F above the 1991-2020 mean value of 58.0°F (Figure 1).  This October’s temperature was the 13^th warmest since observations began in 1895.

October Precipitation
Delaware’s statewide precipitation for October 2023 averaged 1.40 inches, 2.54 inches below the 1991-2020 mean of 3.94 inches (Figure 2).  This month’s statewide precipitation total was the 15^th driest October total since observations began in 1895.

Statewide Spatial Anomalies
Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that temperature departures were primarily positive across the state, with the highest positive departures found across the Wilmington metropolitan area (Figure 3).  Precipitation was below normal at every station, with some locations seeing negative anomalies of greater than three inches (Figure 4).

National Anomalies
Temperatures were generally above or near normal across the entire country, with the largest positive anomalies of 5^° to 7^°F found across New England (Figure 5).  Negative precipitation departures dominated the eastern and western United States, while the central portion of the country saw generally above normal precipitation (Figure 6). The 500 hPa height pattern for October shows a weak jet stream trough covering the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. (Figure 7).

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