October Temperatures
Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in October was 60.3°F, which is 3.2°F above the 1981-2010 mean value of 57.1°F (Figure 1). October 2018 tied October of 2016 as the 11th warmest on record since 1895. Our warm October followed record setting warmth during September. The mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States shared in this warmth with many areas seeing temperatures 3° – 5°F above normal (Figure 2).
October Precipitation
Delaware’s statewide precipitation for October 2018 averaged 4.95 inches, 1.49 inches above the 1981-2010 mean (Figure 3). This continued a string of four months with above normal precipitation across the First State.
Statewide Spatial Averages
Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that temperature (Figure 4) departures were positive throughout the State, with the largest departures across Sussex County. Precipitation departures were positive across the southern two-thirds of the State, while many locations in New Castle County actually saw below normal precipitation (Figure 5).
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- Figure 1. Delaware statewide mean October temperature (°F) 1895-2018. Gray line indicates 1981-2010 normal.
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- Figure 2. National daily mean temperature anomalies for October 2018 (from the PRISM Climate Group, OSU).
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- Figure 3. Delaware statewide October precipitation (inches) 1895-2018. Gray line indicates 1981-2010 normal.
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- Figure 4. October 2018 average temperature departures (°F) from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.
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- Figure 5. October 2018 precipitation departures (inches) from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.
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