Just when Borderland residents thought it was safe to bring out their winter clothing, the weather had other plans.
Unlike the month of September, October has been an unusually warm month.
Last year, snow flakes were flying by Oct. 10; this year people are still wearing shorts and sandals.
“It is quite a flip flop from last year,” said meteorologist Tom Lonka with the National Weather Service in Duluth.
Lonka described last year as the complete opposite of what Mother Nature has offered in 2010. Last year, September brought the warm, enjoyable temperatures and in October, there was snow on the ground.
This year, a jet stream can take the credit for the 70-degree temperatures.
“The jet stream is farther north and east,” Lonka said. “It is maintaining a fairly persistent westerly flow and is bringing this warm air up. Last week, there were four straight days when the temp got over 70 degrees. It was really nice out.”
The average high and low for this time of year are in the 50-degree range.
“International Falls came close to breaking a new record last Saturday,” Lonka said. “Oct. 9 was 77 degrees. The record was 80.”
“It goes to show that while this weather is unusual, it isn’t unheard of,” he added.
Lonka continued by saying that this October does stand out because it has been persistently mild. Last year around this time, the high was 41 degrees and the low was 17.
“That is pretty much the opposite of what we’re experiencing now.”
However, as the saying goes — all good things must come to an end. This weekend will be the gateway for a return to more normal October temperatures.
“Temperatures will be returning to more normal, even below normal next week,” Lonka warned. “We’ll be back to reality.”
Borderland will see temperatures in the low 50s and mid to higher 40s next week.
But Lonka assured that boots can stay put away for a while longer: “Next week will be dry and chilly — no snow, yet.”
For a more complete forecast, visit http://www.crh.noaa. gov/dlh.
