Streak of Above Normal Months in the Twin Cities

With the sun setting on Halloween 2012, so ends the streak of consecutive above normal temperatures in the Twin Cities. The preliminary average temperature for October 2012 is 47.5 degrees, or 1.4 degrees below normal. March 2012 with an average temperature of 48.3 degrees was warmer than October 2012 with an average temperature of 47.5 degrees. This is the first time in the threaded Twin Cities record (1872-2012) that this has happened.

Dating back to June 2011, the Twin Cites average monthly temperatures stayed above normal for each month. The top three months above normal during the streak were March, 2012 with 15.5 degrees above normal, December, 2011 with 8.1 degrees above normal, and January, 2012 with 7.7 degrees above normal. There were also 2 months that were less than one degree above normal (September 2011 with .9 degrees above normal and August 2012 with .8 degrees above normal.)

During the month of October, 2012, temperatures remained above average for parts of the month but the final week determined the end of the streak. Persistent balmy, but chilly pattern dominated the weather for the final week as a high pressure lingered in the area.

MONTH     AVG. MONTHLY TEMP.   DPTR FM NORMAL
--------------------------------------------
May (2011)       58.4             -0.9
June             69.5              1.1
July             78.8              5.6
August           73.6              2.4
September        62.9              0.9
October          55.3              6.4 
November         39.2              5.5
December         27.8              8.1
January(2012)    23.3              7.7
February         27.7              6.9
March            48.3             15.5
April            50.0              2.5
May              63.7              4.6
June             72.3              3.5
July             80.2              6.4
August           72.0              0.8
September        63.9              1.9
October          47.5             -1.4