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Mild autumn continues for Los Alamos, White Rock

October was a record-setting month in Los Alamos and White Rock when it came to temperatures as a continued warm and dry pattern settled over the region.

More than a dozen temperature records were either tied or established last month, said Scot Johnson, a meteorologist in Meteorology and Air Quality (RRES-MAQ). And less than average precipitation was recorded in the two communities.

In Los Alamos, the average high temperature was 67 degrees Fahrenheit, or 6 F above normal, said Johnson. It was much the same in White Rock: the mean maximum temperature was 71 F, or 5 F above normal. And the mean minimum temperatures were above average, said Johnson, with Los Alamos' mean minimum of 41 F some 5 F above the norm and White Rock's mean minimum of 37 F, 2 F above normal.

Los Alamos had five high temperature records set last month, including highs of 78 F on Oct. 18 and 77 F the next day. The low temperatures of 48 F and 45 F respectively, on Oct. 23 and 24 also were the highest minimum temperatures for the day, said Johnson.

To the east in White Rock, six high temperature records were established, including on consecutive days from Oct. 19 through 23. The high temperature of 81 F on Oct. 19 broke the old mark of 76 F set in 1995. And on Oct. 29, the high temperature of 75 F broke the previous record for the day established two years ago, said Johnson.

White Rock's overnight low of 52 F on Oct. 10 set a high minimum temperature record, and a low of 17 F on Oct. 26 established a low minimum temperature record, he added.

Less than one inch (0.90) of precipitation was recorded last month at the Technical Area 6 measuring station in Los Alamos. The total is 58 percent of normal and contrasts with the 1.64 inches of precipitation recorded in October 2002. For the year, Johnson said Los Alamos has recorded 8.84 inches of precipitation, or slightly more than 50 percent of normal.

White Rock recorded 1.13 inches of precipitation in October, or about 84 percent of normal. The figure is less than the 1.74 inches of precipitation in October 2002, said Johnson. Through the end of October, 7.7 inches of precipitation, or 65 percent of normal, has been recorded in White Rock.

Johnson said the forecast for November, provided by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, includes higher than normal temperatures and normal precipitation in the area. Indices of the El Niño Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation are nearly neutral and are not expected to vary significantly in the coming months, nor are they expected to have a significant impact on weather this winter, he said. NCEP's forecast for winter 2003-2004 has not changed since last month and includes higher than normal temperatures and normal precipitation.

More information about weather in the region can be found at http://weather.lanl.gov online.

-- Steve Sandoval

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