NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
During October, warmer than average conditions were observed across the country with the exception of the Northwest. There were relatively few snow-producing storms during the month, and no major snow events impacting the contiguous United States. According to NOAA's National Snow Analysis, at the beginning of October, 0.0 percent of the contiguous U.S. had snow on the ground. Despite minor early-month snow episodes in the Northern Plains and Rockies, and a minor late-month event in northern New England, the month closed with a scant 0.8 percent of the Lower 48 covered with snow — the highest elevations of the Central and Northern Rockies.
According to NOAA data analyzed by the Rutgers Global Snow Lab, the monthly snow cover extent across the contiguous U.S. was 22,400 square miles, about 50,000 square miles below the 1981-2010 average. This was the 16th smallest October snow cover extent in the 49-year period of record. The October U.S. snow cover extent can vary greatly, with the smallest on record being no snow cover (1977 and 1988) to the largest on record being 212,000 square miles (2009). During the month, below-average snow cover was observed across the Rockies and Northern Plains, which is historically where snow cover typically occurs, if any, during October. The Alaska snow cover extent during October was 250,000 square miles, about 93,000 square miles below the 1981-2010 average, and the 3rd smallest October snow cover extent on record for Alaska. Below-normal snowfall cover was nearly universal across the state.