Winter is creeping ever closer and nature has been really weird this October in it’s distribution of cold and arrival of it’s first snows. While many parts of Alaska patiently await their first snow, parts of Texas have already seen the white stuff.
Alaska sweats while Texas shivers!
After the warmest September on record for much of western Alaska, parts of the state remain exceptionally mild and snowless through mid October.
An unusually persistent ridge has led to this unusual warmth for Alaska.
Drought, warmth, and a towering ridge of high pressure make an unusual start to fall in Alaska. https://t.co/cQC6HaqMiJ pic.twitter.com/1uzdCyo3oA
— NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) October 15, 2018
One of these years is not like the others: Nome's had just one day so far this autumn with a low temperature at or below freezing. The average through Oct 16th is 22, and no year had less than 10. Until now. #akwx #Arctic @Climatologist49 @lisashefguy @mdiaak54 @IARC_Alaska pic.twitter.com/Yem8eTXsxk
— Rick Thoman (@AlaskaWx) October 17, 2018
No snow yet in Fairbanks, AK. This is now the latest they have gone into the season without even a flake of snow. Every day without snow adds to the record. @AlaskaWx ❄️?️☃️ pic.twitter.com/x0fiFZZmOG
— Brian Brettschneider (@Climatologist49) October 12, 2018
In stark contrast, it was a top 10 coldest September and it’s been the coldest first half to October on record for Regina, Winnipeg and parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota.
What a variation of extremes through October’s first 15 days…
Warmest for most of Alaska, coldest for parts of North Dakota, warmest for Gulf Coast Texas as much of the East.
Regina just finished the coldest first half of October on record since 1884. The mean temperature of 0.3 °C was 0.5 °C cooler than the previous record of 0.8 °C in 1959 and 2009. #skwx #yqr pic.twitter.com/1pR5OcYwfh
— Weatherlogics (@weatherlogics) October 17, 2018
It’s been over 140 years since Winnipeg saw a colder first half of October. This comes on the heels of a cold second half of September. It’s been a rough 30 days.. https://t.co/L8xyMEENxq
— Rob's Obs (@robsobs) October 16, 2018
After the snowiest October day on record (32.8 cm on Oct 2) and more snow this week, Calgary has now recorded its snowiest October on record since 1884 with 48.2 cm. It is also the 29th snowiest month on record and the snowiest since December 2013 (53.2 cm). #abstorm #abwx #yyc pic.twitter.com/867qhPNndv
— Weatherlogics (@weatherlogics) October 12, 2018
A southward punch of arctic air making it all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico, several cities witnessed their coldest temperatures for so early in the season.
While Fairbanks awaits their first snow (average 1st snow is Sept 27), Wichita and Kansas City, MO have been observed their earliest snow since records began in the late 1800s.
Despite a snowless Alaska and record warm east, we’re looking at the greatest snow cover extent across North America for the time of year in at least 13 years.
A high of 49 in Dallas was the earliest sub-50 high by a full week, surpassing Oct 22, 1936.
Not only did DFW set a record low of 41°F today, but the midnight high of 49°F makes today the earliest day on record—by a full week—where DFW won't touch 50°F. Old record is Oct. 22, 1936 (when high was just 48°F). https://t.co/opiT30efXA
— Bob Henson (@bhensonweather) October 15, 2018
According to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, the past few days have been as cold as any on record for the time of year from the Montana-South Dakota border to South Texas.
While record cold in West Texas, it was record warm in Florida.
First snows…
First snow of the season in Denver. Hopefully, it will make the #Broncos game more interesting. pic.twitter.com/JTNfb7XzbI
— KJ Schwalbe (@Supervike13) October 14, 2018
Look at the difference around the NFL today. Temperatures around 20 degrees in Denver with 3-5" of snow. Yet in Miami for the Dolphins game they'll see heat indices over 100 degrees! pic.twitter.com/guAOK1uuZa
— Chris Sowers (@chris_sowers) October 14, 2018
Wow. Incredible #snowliage capture!!! Pleasant Valley – Cambridge, VT looking at snow covered Mt. Mansfield. ?:John H. Knox #stormhour @TylerJankoski @ericfisher @ryanhanrahan @VermontTourism #fall #foliage pic.twitter.com/GN6fVUk2Yt
— eweather (@Eweather13) October 14, 2018
Parts of #NewHampshire saw their first snow last night! Check out these frosty foliage photos… ?❄️
(?: @CannonMt) pic.twitter.com/sXt030evCU— CBS 13 News (@WGME) October 13, 2018
First snow of the season for Cannon Mountain! pic.twitter.com/d9pHSzBvXD
— cannonmountain (@cannonmountain) October 13, 2018
For those keeping track, the last Minnesota snow was April 14th. Today, October 14th, is the first snow of the year. Minnesota winters are officially 6 months long. pic.twitter.com/58a0vFCVe7
— Kelly! Kelli! Kelle! (@GirlGopher) October 14, 2018
First snow today in Minneapolis Minnesota pic.twitter.com/nfkzjLpKWF
— Charles Haire (@charlesphaire) October 14, 2018
First snow in Iowa, this is going to be a long winter, I can feel it. ??♀️? pic.twitter.com/kVIqp3Y5si
— TohruMills (@TohruMills13) October 14, 2018
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