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September Weather Wrap

By Bill Kappel

Temperatures were above normal most of September, only interrupted by a wet and cold period during the middle of the month. Precipitation ended right about normal, but it all occurred during a four-day period.

The first week of the month was well above normal with high reaching the upper 80s on the 1st and 2nd, then mid-80s on the 3rd and 4th. Skies were clear to mostly clear with afternoon clouds building.

Temperatures cooled back to normal over the next few days with continued mostly sunny skies. Highs were in the mid-70s to mid-80s from the 5th through the 9th. The weather pattern changed on the 10th with a frontal passage late that morning. This brought with it high levels of moisture. Clouds built in and showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening. Cloudy and wet conditions continued into the next day with areas of fog and rain off and on all day. During the period, 1-2 inches of rainfall accumulated in the region. Temperatures were cool as well, with highs in the 50s and 60s. During this time, the first snowfall of the season occurred in the mountains, with several inches accumulating above tree line, a sign of things to come.

Unsettled conditions continued to affect the area over the next couple of days. This included cool temperatures, clouds, more rainfall, and mountain snow. Our coldest day of the month occurred on the 15th, with highs barely reaching 50F and lows in the mid- to upper 30s on the 15th and 16th. The chilly temperatures and clear skies on the morning of the 16th also resulted in the first frost of the season for many of us.

However, after this brief wet and cool period, quiet conditions again moved in. The remainder of the month was right around normal with highs consistently in the mid- to upper 70s and lows in the 40s. Except for the 19th and 20th, every day was dry as well. Even these two days only had brief sprinkles, barely enough to wet the pavement. The coolest day during the period from the 16th through the 30th was the 23rd, when highs held in the upper 60s and the low again touched the upper 30s. The warmest time during this period was the last few days of the month when we were in the upper 70s to low 80s.

A look ahead.

October can be an active weather month for the region with our first snowy conditions often experienced. Most years, we seem to get a good snowfall around Halloween, and after a warm and dry September, we could use a wet and cold storm this year. Snow can be heavy at times during any part of October as when over 20 inches of snow fell on Oct. 9-10 in 2005, and 2006 saw over 24 inches of snow fall in less than 24 hours on Oct. 26.

Of course, the big storm some of us remember occurred during October 1997, when nearly 4 feet of snow and blizzard conditions shut everything down for several days. But we are just as likely to get mild and sunny conditions, so enjoy those sunny days when you can. This fall and winter we are expected to enter an El Niño pattern. If the other teleconnections are supportive, this would normally result in above normal snowfall for the winter and spring, so let’s hope for that.

September 2023 Weather Statistics.

Average High 74.6° (+3.7); 100-year return frequency value max 77.5° min 63.5°

Average Low 44.8° (+3.6); 100-year return frequency value max 46.7° min 36.1°

Monthly Precipitation 1.67” (-0.13”); 100-year return frequency value max 4.34” min 0.40”

Monthly Snowfall 0.0” (-0.4”)

Highest Temperature 89° on the 1st

Lowest Temperature 34° on the 16th

Season to Date Snow 0.0” (-0.4”) (100% below normal) (the snow season is from July 1 to June 30)

Season to Date Precip. 23.85” (+4.08”) (20% above normal) (the precip season is from (Jan 1 to Dec 31)

Heating Degree Days 182 (-153)

Cooling Degree Days 23 (+0)

Bill Kappel is a meteorologist and Tri-Lakes resident. He can be reached at billkappel@ocn.me.

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