MikJournal Moment 10/06/2019

Lexington's historic 39-day dry streak, from August 28 through October 5, is likely coming to an end today. Records go back to 1872, but many annual records were incomplete. However, in 1908, from August 22 to September 27, no measurable precipitation was recorded. Therefore, it was generally accepted that this 37-day dry streak was the previous record.

The region's first widespread, soaking rainfall in well over a month, will benefit many residents in Kentucky. Hopefully, areas of central Kentucky will receive enough rainfall to alleviate worsening fire dangers to parts of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Earlier this month, temperature records fell across the region. The first few days of October produced all-time record high temperatures for the month of October...

October 1-3
Louisville...97; 97; 96
Lexington...97; 96; 96
Bowling Green...97; 98; 97

We know how warm it has been? Here's another first for Lexington...
It's what is called the Heating Degree Day, based on an average temperature of 65 degrees. Any day's average temperature that falls below the 65-degree average is added daily and tallied at the end of the month or year. At no time during September did the average temperature fall below the 65-degree average, or 0 HDD. That has never happened in September at Lexington's climate reporting stations.

How dry has it been? Well, we remember how wet the past year and a half have been. But, since July 1, here is a look at the cumulative below-normal rainfall anomalies for select locations in central Kentucky (through October 5)...

Louisville...-7.11"
Lexington...-5.60"
Covington...-3.48"