Summary:
- September was a stunner of a month for many locations in the west; with a rapid shift into more October like temperatures. The month was saw record-breaking precipitation amounts northward, while much of California and the southwest were dry.
- The cool month slowed heat accumulation to below the average of the last few years but remains above the long-term averages for most locations across the west. Harvest continues strong in some regions while slowly ending in others.
- The forecast through mid-month indicates continued much cooler than average conditions then warming to average conditions for October later in the month. The circulation over the North Pacific is likely to continue with on and off frontal passages with precipitation forecast to be slightly above average for the PNW, while the rest of the west will likely stay near average to drier than average.
- While October appears headed to a cooler than average month, the relative warmth of the North Pacific continues to influence forecasts the first half of winter, with the western US likely seeing a warmer than average period. The precipitation forecast calls for near-average conditions throughout the west, although there is some indication of a drier period for portions of northern California and southern Oregon.
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