For the last full week of October, , near average temperatures over most of the lower 48; above normal over the 4 corners states and along each coastline. This is partly a consequence of higher than normal Ocean temperatures nearly everywhere for this time of the year.

An active weather week is in store with a strong Pacific Jet stream bringing a series of storms and heavy rain to the Pacific NW thru mid week followed by a short break Wednesday and Thursday and then a return to rain by the weekend. A Pacific low will cross the southern Canadian Rockies on Tuesday and its cold front will plunge south into the northern Plains, generating a big cool trough that will expand and shift east through the week. Very strong northerly winds will develop over the northern plains Thursday in the wake of the cold front, with a risk of heavy wet snow over ND. Precipitation from the front will move south and east during the week, reaching the eastern seaboard Friday. Some severe weather (strong thunderstorms, risk of a few tornadoes) is likely along the front, especially over the SE Thursday and Friday. The SW will remain warm to very warm thru the week. Looks like an near average week for ND consumption. Last week was quite cool in the big markets of the Midwest and the NE so there was some heating demand and I expect this weeks injection report will be below the 5 year average, but not much. Still, the tendency has been consistent since the summer. Soon to be hurricane Raphael looks to threaten Bermuda Tuesday and Newfoundland Thursday, on its way to England.