In the wake of a record-setting wet September, October 1-22 was exceptionally dry across Minnesota. No rain fell from September 26 to October 22 at the Twin Cities International Airport, making it a 27-day stretch without measureable precipitation. This was the eighth longest stretch on record. The longest stretch of days without measurable precipitation in the Twin Cities is 51 days; from November 13, 1943 through January 4, 1944. The last time the Twin Cities has gone so long without measurable precipitation was a stretch of 30 days that ended on May 9, 1980.
October was quite warm. The average temperature through October 21 was six degrees above normal at the Twin Cities International Airport.
Naturally, one would expect that an October with so many dry days would be sunny. In fact, the first three weeks of October 2010 was the sunniest October 1-21 since solar radiation measurements began at the U of M St. Paul Campus Climate Observatory in 1963.
Twin Cities October Watch (thru October 21)
| Driest Octobers thru 10/21 | Warmest Octobers thru 10/21 | Latest 32 degree temperature reached |
|---|---|---|
| Trace 2010 0.01 1952 0.02 1975 0.02 1960 0.03 1895 0.04 1944 0.04 1938 0.14 2000 0.18 1978 0.25 1989 normal 1.44 inches | 63.2 1947 62.1 1920 62.0 1953 61.0 1963 59.4 1938 58.9 1910 58.7 1914 58.7 1892 58.7 1900 58.0 1942 57.1 2010 normal 51.1 degrees F | 11/7/1900 11/6/1958 11/5/1894 11/5/1940 11/2/1924 11/1/1921 11/1/1931 10/30/1973 10/29/1963 10/28/2010 10/28/2007 10/28/1953 10/28/1928 10/28/1910 average October 6 |