One of the wettest starts to October ever

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To say that it’s been a wet week or so is an understatement.  The metro has officially seen over 3 inches of rain in the first week of the month, which is the 4th wettest start on record.  But it’s not an isolated incident as much of central and southern Minnesota has started the month with 2 to 5 inches of rainfall.  If the axis of heaviest rain amounts ended up over the metro instead of just to the north and west from Cambridge to Monticello to Hutchinson, then it would have been the wettest start on record.  While it has certainly been a wet start and now many area rivers are running high, or even in minor flood stage, the rain was needed.  Many areas finished the month of September 2 or 3 inches below average… this certainly made up for it.

What’s even more interesting to note is the years in our top 7 list.  4 of the top 7 wettest starts to October are in the 21st century.  I remind you that records in the metro date back to 1872.  Sort of a random and weird stat and could be a total coincidence, but is this the sign of a much larger and longer pattern change for the early part of October??  No one can say for sure, but it is certainly interesting…