Extremes in October marked weather here

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Ironwood — October in Ironwood was a month of extremes, including a 60-degree temperature swing within a week.

The high temperature for the month was 82 on Oct. 11, setting a record for that day, followed by the low reading of 23 on Oct. 18.

The National Weather Service office in Marquette released its October wrap-up this week.

Kevin Crupi, of the NWS, noted while less than an inch of rain fell for the first three weeks of October in Ironwood, the final week produced 2.75 inches of precipitation.

An upper ridge of air was the dominant weather pattern across the Upper Peninsula, resulting in a warmer than average month.

The average reading of 44.5 degrees in Ironwood compares with the long-term norm of 43.4.

The monthly precipitation of 3.67 inches was below the 114-year average of 3.98 inches.

There was only a trace of snow in October, compared to the 6.6 inches that normally falls.

Elsewhere across the U.P. in October:

—The highest reported temperature was 91 at Pelkie in Baraga County on Oct. 11.

—The lowest temperature was 19 near Covington in Baraga County on Oct. 2, Wakefield and Stambaugh, in Iron County, on Oct. 18.

—The highest average temperature was 47.7 degrees at Copper Harbor.

—The most monthly precipitation was 4.25 inches at Chatham in Alger

County.

—The greatest monthly snowfall was 5.3 inches at Chatham.

—Watersmeet had 3.60 inches of rain and a trace of snowfall.

—Greenland, in Ontonagon County, averaged 44.7 degrees and had 2.72 inches of rain.

—Bergland dam, in Ontonagon County, had an average temperature of 44.2 and 2.5 inches of rain.