October 2023 Climate Report for Memphis, TN

The ongoing drought continued in October with only just above 1.5″ of rain for the month (almost 2.5″ below normal). The drought was particularly bad in the counties to the south, and creeped northward into most of the Mid-South throughout the month. All of the metro is now somewhere between a moderate drought to an extreme drought. Most of the rain (1.26″) occurred at the end of the month. We saw a trace amount on the 4th, 0.3″ on the 5th, then only trace amounts on the 15th and 19th, followed by 0.03″ on the 27th, 0.29″ on the 28th, 0.42″ on the 29th, and 0.52″ on the 30th. In addition, the Mississippi River at Memphis set a new record low river stage at -12.04′ on the 17th, 1.23 feet lower than the previous record of -10.81 set October 21st of last year.

Memphis International Airport, Memphis, TN

Temperature 

Average temperature: 67.0 degrees (2.4 degrees above average) 

Average high temperature: 77.4 degrees (2.3 degrees above average) 

Average low temperature: 56.7 degrees (2.7 degrees above average) 

Warmest temperature: 92 degrees (1st) 

Coolest temperature: 33 degrees (31st) 

Heating Degrees Days: 88 (28 below average)

Cooling Degree Days: 158 (102 above average) 

Records set or tied: Record high tied (86) and record high minimum (69) on the 24th

Comments: None

Precipitation 

Monthly total: 1.57″ (2.41″ below average) 

Days with measurable precipitation: 5 (2.5 days below average) 

Wettest 24-hour period: 0.94″ (29th-30th) 

Snowfall: None

Records set or tied: None

Comments: None

Miscellaneous 

Peak wind: North/40 mph (6th) 

Average wind: 7.4 mph 

Average relative humidity: 61%

Average sky cover: 49%

Average temperature: 63.6 degrees 

Average high temperature: 76.1 degrees 

Average low temperature: 53.3 degrees 

Warmest temperature: 91.3 degrees (1st) 

Coolest temperature: 29.2 degrees (31st) 

Comments: High temp of 91.3 (1st) was a record for that day (since 2005); 29.2 (31st) was a record low for that day (since 2005)

Precipitation 

Monthly total: 1.56″ (automated rain gauge), 1.86″ (CoCoRaHS rain gauge) 

Days with measurable precipitation: 5

Wettest date: 0.55″ (28th) (via automated gauge) 

Snowfall: None

Comments: None

Miscellaneous 

Peak wind: South/24 mph (26th)

Average relative humidity: 72% 

MWN forecast temperatures within 2 degrees of actual: 69% 

MWN average dewpoint error: 2.04 degrees 

MWN forecast dewpoints within 2 degrees of actual: 69%