The trend of warmer temperatures and less precipitation than usual in Red Deer continued in September.
Data up to Sept. 28 showed a monthly mean temper of 12 C, which is 2.1 C higher than normal of 9.9 C.
“That makes it the 18th warmest September of record,” said Rob Griffith, lead meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, about the preliminary data available for September.
The temperature ranged from a high of 27.6 C on Sept. 16 to a high of 8.3 C on Sept. 20. Overnight lows ranged from 11.2 C on Sept 1 to -1.6 C on Sept 28.
When it came to precipitation, the city saw 17.8 mm as of Sept. 28. The normal is 50.2 mm making it the 17th driest September on record.
But Griffith said about four millimetres more fell Sept. 29 which would push it from 35 per cent of normal to about 40 per cent.
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The warm, dry September came after Red Deer had its 12th warmest summer on record with a mean temperature of 15.9 C for June, July and August.
After facing its sixth wettest June, the city had its seventh driest July, and its 45th driest August.
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The average high for the beginning of October is about 15 C, and Red Deer should reach that temperature during the first few days of this week before dipping to 13 C on Wednesday and 11 C on Thursday, and climbing back up to 21 C on Friday.
“As we get into the next long weekend it looks like temperatures in the low 20s, and looks to continue into at least the middle of next week at this time.”
Griffith said low 20s are definitely warm for October, but temperatures will continue to drop as the month progresses.
He said if people have plants outdoors that need to be protected from frost they should make sure to keep an eye on the temperature because Environment and Climate Change Canada’s frost forecasts or advisories came to an end for the season on Sept. 30.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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