October 2016
Glen Allen
Glen Allen had the warmest October on record. The month started out cloudy and wet
with low temperature ranges and 88% of the month’s precipitation on the 8th and 9th. There
was only 0.10 inches of rain for the rest of the month. The last two-thirds of the month was
sunny with large temperature ranges and heavy dews and no killing frost. Glen Allen also
had the second highest average ground temperature at one foot on record for October.
The monthly mean temperature was 62.7°F +3.3°F departure when compared to the
eight-year average. The lowest minimum temperature was 37.9°F on the 23rd which is the
highest minimum temperature on record for October. The month’s maximum temperature of
89.3°F on the 19th was the second highest maximum temperature on record for October and
the highest for so late in October.
The 3.43 inches of precipitation on the 8th and 9th was from Tropical Storm Matthew
and both the calendar day rain (2.81 inches) and the 24-hour rainfall (3.43 inches) were the
most precipitation since Tropical Storm Irene on Aug. 27, 2011. The total October
precipitation was 4.04 inches which was a 0.60-inch departure. There were seven days with
measurable precipitation.
The maximum wind gust of 38 mph on the 9th was from Matthew which set a record for
the maximum wind gust for October. The highest one day wind run on the 9th was 206.8
miles which was the second highest on record for October. This October was the clearest on
record and the 5th clearest for all months.
Richmond International Airport
The Richmond Airport had two daily records this month. The 3.31 inches of rain on the
th
8 set a new record for the date; the previous record was 2.94 inches in 1996. This was also
the 6th greatest October precipitation in a calendar day. The total precipitation for October
was 4.24 inches making it the 33rd wettest October. This was also a +1.26-inch departure for
October.
The 87°F maximum temperature on the 19th tied the record set in 1938 for the date and
was also the high temperature for the month. The October mean temperature was 62.4°F
which was the 14th warmest October since 1897 and was a +2.7° departure from average. The
lowest daily mean temperature was 50°F on the 26th which was the 10th warmest on record
for October. The highest minimum temperature was 61°F on the 8th. Only 1995 with a
minimum of 63°F was higher for the month of October.