The average temperature was 54.6 degrees, which was 7.2 degrees higher than the 47.4 degrees historical average, and only 1.2 degrees off of the record warmth in October 1947 when the average temperature was 55.8 degrees.

The weather in Alpena last month resembled September more than it did October as the mild temperatures locked-in on the area, and rain was sparse.

The warm air may have slowed the change in the color of the leaves in Northeast Michigan, but provided people more time to get outdoors and enjoy the warmth. In total, there were 11 days when the high temperature was 70 degrees, or more, with the mercury touching 80 degrees on Oct. 11.

For the month, the average high temperature was 64.3 degrees, which is almost seven degrees warmer than the long-term average.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Bill Wicker, left, prepares to land a salmon that is being reeled in by his friend Bill Voss. The two men were fishing in the Thunder Bay River Monday while in town from Westland. The weather was chilly and wet, but the two men shook off the elements to enjoy a day of fishing.

The average low temperature for last month was 45 degrees, which easily eclipsed the long-term average of 37.2 degrees.

The low temperature in Alpena was 29 degrees in the early morning hours of Oct. 23.

National Weather Service Meteorologist in Gaylord Sabrina Jauernic said the numbers speak for themselves. She said seven degrees above average in temperatures is significant and that the first two weeks of October set the stage for the high average temperatures that were recorded, as four of the first five days of the month were all in the upper 70s. After a brief cool down, temperatures warmed again the week of Oct. 10.

The coolest temperatures were during the final week of the month, which drove the averages down somewhat.

“It was significant, but not record setting,” Jauernic said of last month’s warmth.

Alpena received most of its 2.62 inches of rain on Oct. 2 and Oct. 14 when there was more than a half-inch each day. In all, Alpena received less rain than the 3.10 inches it receives on average.

Alpena received no measurable snow last month, but Jauernic said that may change in the coming days as the season’s coolest temperatures this fall begin to arrive. She said this week temperatures will dip to the 40s during the day, and high 20s and low 30s at night. In Alpena, she said, there could be a few snowflakes mixed in with rain, but produce little, if any, accumulation.

“There might be a little slush on the road one morning, but it won’t last,” she said. “Things will begin to warm back up this weekend and through next week when we should get back into the 50s.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.