As frozen leaves scatter across Fargo-Moorhead area streets, some may think it's too cold to be October.
They would be right -- it is too cold.
With an average daily temperature of about 38 degrees, this has been the fourth coldest October in Fargo's recorded history.
Wednesday morning, residents of Williston, N.D., experienced a record low temperature of 9 degrees below zero. Tuesday night, Dickinson reported 3 below, Minot 12 above zero and Bismarck 14 above. Grand Forks reported a low of 16 and Fargo had 18 degrees.
Fargo's normal average temperature for October is 45.3 degrees.
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A 7-to-8 degree difference may not seem like a lot, but over a month that's big departure from the norm, said Bill Barrett, a hydro meteorological technician with the National Weather Service, Grand Forks.
Fargo's coldest recorded October was in 1925 with an average temperature of 34.6 degrees, followed by 1917 with an average of 35.1 degrees, and 1919 with 36.5 degrees.
The National Weather Service in Grand Forks looked at the six coldest Octobers in the area and found that very cold winters followed, Barrett said.
"Very often October is an indication of what's to come," he said.
The Climate Prediction Center in Washington, D.C., predicted warmer-than-average temperatures for this winter due to El Niño.
While El Niño cycles frequently result in above-average temperatures, Barrett said, "There is reason to think it could go the other way," resulting in way-below-average temperatures.
"We'll just have to wait and see," he said, adding that he is not authorized to make an official prediction.
People are already preparing themselves for a snowy, cold winter.
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Scott Iverson, a sales representative with Fargo's RDO Equipment Co., said the store is selling more large snow-removal machines -- such as 25 to 40 horsepower utility tractors -- than usual.
Gloves, boots and hats are very important at this time of year, said Ray Martinez, a skilled laborer with Northern Improvement.
While most of the serious construction projects have been completed by now, the weather is on everybody's mind, he said.
"Everybody's miserable this time of year," he said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Lisa Schneider at (701) 241-5529
