October 2001 Weather Summary

The month of October was dominated by above normal temperatures and only a few cold outbreaks.  October was a warm month across the commonwealth with temperatures feeling much more like late summer than fall.  Dry conditions also continued and drought warnings were issued during the first week of the month for most of southeastern Pennsylvania.

 

Temperatures during the first week of October were in the 60’s and 70’s as high pressure and southwesterly flow dominated the weather.  Temperatures soared into the 80’s on October 4^th in areas of Eastern Pennsylvania, and thermometers reached 83 degrees in Philadelphia.  There was a slight cool down for the first weekend of October following a weak cold frontal passage Friday night into Saturday, October 4^th and 5^th.  However, there was little rain associated with the frontal passage and drought conditions continued.  The cooler temperatures did not last very long as warm air once again filtered into Pennsylvania and temperatures rose back into the 60’s and 70’s for the start of the second week of the month.

 

Once again, a strong high pressure area dominated the weather throughout the second week of the month.  Skies remained clear and above normal temperatures continued as highs reached the upper 60’s and 70’s every day across much of the state.  A cold front passed through the state on the 15^th, dropping temperatures to more seasonable levels for the remainder of the week.

 

The third week of October was yet another week with temperatures in the upper 70’s across much of the region.  Record high temperatures were set across much of the state.  Records were broken in Philadelphia on both the 24^th and 25^th.  A strong cold front complete with cold Canadian air passed through the state on the 25^th resulting in a major cool down for the last weekend of the month.  Highs which had been in the 70’s did not even make it out of the lower 40’s on Saturday October 27^th.  Very windy conditions and even snow squalls dominated the weather for the weekend.

 

The remaining days of October were continued mild with scattered rain showers for Halloween.

 

 

-Erin Roberts

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October 2001 Extremes for Pennsylvania

Max High	Town	Date
92	Carnegie Science Center	13th
Min Low	Town	Date
12	Waynesburg	26th
Max Monthly Precipitation		Town
5.67 inches		Bradford
Min Monthly Precipitation		Town
0.3 inches		Reading