NWS: Fall 2017 drier than normal for most locations, wetter in Pennyrile

 

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, temperatures averaged above normal for the region in ths three-month period. The warmest month, in regard to departure from normal, was October. However, all three months finished above normal at all three of of NWS’ official climate stations.

The fall season was abnormally dry for much of the region. Seasonal rainfall deficits were upwards of 4 to 8 inches over most of southeast Missouri. Cape Girardeau, Mo., recorded its fourth driest fall on record, only recording 50 percent of their normal rainfall. The dry conditions were present in southern Illinois, southwest Indiana and the Jackson Purchase area of western Kentucky as well, but deficits in most of these areas weren’t as extreme as further to the west.

The exception to the dry weather was across much of the Pennyrile region of western Kentucky. This was largely due to tropical rainfall associated with the remnants of Hurricane Harvey on Sept. 1 and the remnants of Hurricane Nate in early October. The remnants of Hurricane Irma also affected the region in mid-September, but rainfall totals were lower with this tropical system.

The highest reported seasonal total was at the Kentucky Mesonet Station in Muhlenberg County north of Greenville which observed 20.80 inches. On the other side of the forecast area, many locations in the Ozark Foothills of southeast Missouri received less than 4 inches of rain, including Poplar Bluff, where the airport only recorded 3.97 inches for the entire season. This lead to the development of moderate to severe drought by the end of November.