SEPTEMBER WEATHER PROVED TOPSY-TURVY

Despite unseasonably cold weather that produced three record-low temperatures, September became the eighth consecutive month this year with above-normal monthly average temperatures, said Al Robertson, professor of earth science and climatologist at Southeast Missouri State University.

Robertson said: "It was a topsy-turvy month: very hot during the first half and very cool during the second half, and a warmup during the last three days of the month.

"Until the cold air arrived on the 18th, we were on a record warm pace. At one time, the monthly average was as high as 6 degrees above the norm."

The cold air ended what could have been a record warm September. But 10 days of chilly weather from Sept. 18-27 failed to drag the monthly temperature average below the long-term average of 70.5 degrees, Robertson said. The average temperature last month was 70.8 degrees, three-tenths of a degree above the long-term average.

"That makes it the eighth consecutive month this year when the monthly average was above the long-term average, and January was only four-tenths of a degree below the long-term average," said Robertson.

The three record-low temperatures at the airport occurred on Sept. 28, 38 degrees, also a low for the month, breaking the record of 39 degrees in 1985; Sept. 21, 39 degrees, breaking the record of 42 degrees in 1983; and Sept. 20, 39 degrees, breaking the record of 44 degrees in 1962.

Robertson said the cold also set two record minimum highs: 62 degrees on Sept. 19, and 61 degrees on Sept. 20.

Robertson said the chilly weather was in sharp contrast to the summer-like heat during the first half of September. He said that on 10 of the first 18 days of month, the afternoon high was 90 degrees or higher, including six consecutive afternoons, Sept. 9-15, of 90-degree-plus temperatures.

The high for the month, 95, occurred on Sept. 11. On 13 mornings the overnight low remained in the 70s.

Robertson said the average temperature the first 10 days of the month was 78.2 degrees, up 4 degrees from the long-term average of 72.2. During the second 10 days of Sept. 11-20, the average was 73.5 degrees, up 3 degrees from the long-term average of 70.5 degrees.

The average plunged 5.4 degrees during the final 10 days, from the long-term average of 66.1 degrees to 60.7 degrees.

Little rain last month may doom the chances of a colorful fall this year in the area.

Robertson said rain at the airport last month totaled 2.58 inches, down 1.04 inches from the long-term monthly average of 3.62 inches. There were only eight rainy days last month, including 1.12 inches on Sept. 4, and .49 of an inch on Sept. 18.

A dry September continues a trend that began in May and was interrupted in August. But Robertson said August rain at the airport was higher than that in Cape Girardeau and other nearby areas.

Through Sept. 30, precipitation at the airport this year totals 31.06 inches. That's 3.55 inches below the long-term average of 34.41 inches.

The National Weather Services predicts seasonable temperatures and average precipitation in its outlook for October. That trend is expected to continue through the end of the year, according to the weather service's 90-day outlook.

With the arrival of October, attention focuses on the date of the first killing frost that will end the growing season. This year farmers are hoping it will come later than normal to allow late-planted soybeans to mature.

Robertson said the average date for the first killing freeze (30 degrees or below) in the area is Oct. 31. Last year it occurred on Oct. 26.