October was warm and dry in Decorah

Weather observer Richard Bernatz says October was the fourth consecutive month of below average precipitation in Decorah.  Since July 1st, less than ten inches of rain has fallen, which is 4.4 inches less than normal.

October saw just 1.5 inches of precipitation in Decorah--0.74 inches less than normal.  That has made area fields dry, but there's no worry about drought yet--precipitation is just slightly ahead of normal for the past 12 months.

Bernatz says the average temperature in Decorah in October was 51.8 degrees.  That was 1.5 degrees warmer than normal.  No record temperatures were recorded, with the warmest temperature being 83 degrees on four different days and the coldest temperature being 21 degrees on two days.

The weather ought to turn colder in November, if past years are any indication.  Bernatz says the average temperature in Decorah in November is 35 degrees--15 degrees cooler than October's normal average temperature.