October began with 7 straight days of below normal temperatures. During this time the monthly low of 28 degrees was recorded on the 6th.

Sunrise October 13th

Despite this by month’s end the average temperature was .1 degrees above the norm. This slight warmth was helped by the next 8 days all being above normal. During this period the monthly high of 79° occured on the 10th.

2.12 inches was the amount of precipitation recorded. This is .68 inches below normal. Rainiest day of the month was the 3rd when 3/4 an inch of rain fell. Lack of rain is not a good sign for our low water levels.

A look to the October skies would have made most happy. 14 clear days were recorded, 10 partly cloudy and only a week of cloudy days occured. This is the exact same amount of cloudiness as occured in October 2002.

Average winds for the month were 8.6 knots. There was quite a spread between the windiest day the 3rd when AWS was 19.1 knots and the 9th when it was only 2.4 knots. The 8.6 knots was .6 under the average for October.

The average wind speed for November is 10.6 knots. November is also the month that most frequently sees gale force winds. Indeed the ‘Gales of November’ are a reality.

Year to date the just above normal temps of October bring Muskegon to just .1 degrees below normal. The last 3 months have made up for a cool start to 2003 in Muskegon.

Sunset October 25th

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