October 2020 Climate Data for Memphis, TN

October is a month that Memphis typically starts seeing cold fronts move through as summer months move into the rearview mirror. Temperature swings multiple times over this month indicate that happened, with repetitive warm spells followed by cool spells. Overall, the monthly average ended up a bit over a degree below normal with a large gap between the warmest temperature (85) and the coolest temperature (39). There were no frost or freeze days anywhere in the metro during the month despite upper 30s to end the month.

This month, a good deal of rain fell, resulting in about 3/4″ of rain above normal. However, a great deal of that total (about 93%) fell on just 2 days – both due to tropical remnants. Between those two events, a run of 17 days produced only 0.04″. The first rainy day occurred on the 10th as the remnants of former Hurricane Delta moved through north MS. The wettest day of the month was the 28th when 2.68″ fell at the airport.  This was the result of former Hurricane Zeta moving into MS and AL, but it’s moisture combining with a stalled front to drop 2-3″ across the region. Both systems made landfall in Louisiana and curved northeast to the south of Memphis. The only weather alerts issued in the Memphis metro in October were a pair of Flood Advisories as rain became heavy on the 28th.