Overview & Graphics

October 2019 started off on a warm and wet note. October 1st had highs well into the 80s and the low of 70 degrees at Rockford on 10/1 established a new all-time record high minimum temperature for the month of October there. A heavy rain event on October 2-3 brought overnight flash flooding to Chicago. After a generally mild first 11 days, the rest of October was primarily cooler than normal. There was also a break in the wet pattern until a heavy rain event on October 26th that produced 1-4" rainfall amounts along with pockets of flooding. The month closed out with winter-like cold and record setting accumulating snow on October 30-31, with this October finishing as the 2nd snowiest on record for both Chicago and Rockford. In addition, it was the 8th wettest October on record for Chicago. Due to yet another wet month, 2019 already ranked as the 5th wettest year on record in Chicago and the 8th wettest year on record in Rockford going into November. 

October 2019 Climate Summary	October 2019 Snowfall Records

Chicago and Rockford Monthly Summary

...A Look Back at the Climate for the Month of October 2019 for
Chicago and Rockford...

At Chicago, the average high temperature was 58.7 degrees, which is
3.6 degrees below normal. The average low temperature was 43.1
degrees, which is 0.3 degrees above normal. The average temperature
for the month was 50.9 degrees which is 1.6 degrees below normal.
During the month of October, 6.76 inches of precipitation were
recorded, which is 3.61 inches above normal.

Four records were set for Chicago for the month of October 2019:
* Record daily maximum precipitation of 1.76 inches set on the 2nd.
* Record daily maximum precipitation of 2.18 inches set on the 26th.
* Record daily maximum snowfall of 1.2 inches set on the 30th.
* Record daily maximum snowfall of 3.4 inches set on the 31st.

Two Top Ten Monthly Records:
** 2nd snowiest October on record since 1871 with 4.6 inches.
** 8th wettest October on record since 1871 with 6.76 inches.

At Rockford, the average high temperature was 59.3 degrees, which is
3.4 degrees below normal. The average low temperature was 40.5
degrees, which is 0.2 degrees below normal. The average temperature
for the month was 49.9 degrees, which is 1.8 degrees below normal.
During the month of October, 3.63 inches of precipitation were
recorded, which is 0.96 inches above normal.

Two records were set for Rockford for the month of October 2019:
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 70 degrees on the 1st.
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 70 degrees for the
  month.
* Record daily maximum snowfall of 3.1 inches set on the 31st.

One Top Ten Monthly Record:
** 2nd snowiest October on record since 1905 with 4.2 inches.

$$

Petr

Monthly Climate Report:   Chicago   |   Rockford  

Events

• October 2-3, 2019: Heavy rain brings overnight flash flooding to Chicago
• October 26, 2019: Rainfall of 2-4" results in pockets of flooding
• October 30-31, 2019: Snowiest Halloween on record for parts of northern IL

NWS Chicago Science and Past Events Page