Published: October 02, 2008 04:05 pm         

Weather Watch

By MARK HANOK

September turned out to be about two and a half degrees warmer than normal in Otsego County, with precipitation around an inch below normal.

Now that October is here, we’ll get into a cooler weather pattern with a northwesterly flow aloft. However, temperatures will only be getting back to normal, and with high pressure dominating the weather scene through all of next week, dry weather will continue. There’s no very cool weather in sight, and temperatures are likely to get back to above normal levels by the end of next week and the long Columbus Day weekend. Precipitation is likely to average below normal through the first half of October.

The timing couldn’t be much better for the weekend, as temperatures continue much above normal in the northern Rockies - a key indicator for spectacular weather in Otsego County. As an upper-level trough lifts northward on Friday and a cool northwesterly flow prevails, skies will be partly sunny with highs only 55 to 60 degrees. On Saturday high pressure building southward from the Great Lakes, will bring mostly sunny skies and cool, dry air; highs from 57 to 62 degrees. The beautiful weather will continue on Sunday: brilliant sunshine, azure-blue skies, and highs in the low 60’s.

Mostly sunny skies will continue Monday and Tuesday with highs from 60 to 65 degrees. A large Canadian high will push southward from central Canada on Wednesday and reinforce the magnificent fall weather through at least the end of the week.

Mark Hanok is an Otego based meteorologist.