October Clues To Winter

Like the past several months, this month is below average for rain.

It's been argued that the weather pattern that develops in October is one that repeats itself during the winter.

We went back in the archives since 1950 to check what happened during the winters after above and below average rain in October.

Here's what we found. October averages a little more than two inches of rain. Since 1950, Sioux Falls has been above that 19 times and below it 43 times. 

Of the following winters of above average October precip, Sioux Falls averages nearly 47 inches of snow.  And when below, Sioux Falls averages nearly 39 inches. Keep in mind, average snow in Sioux Falls is around 41 inches.

But it's not necessarily how much rain falls in a certain location as to how much snow we'll get, but it's a matter of picking up on the weather pattern that develops.