A week ago, we concluded the 4th coldest October on record and the coldest October this area has seen since 1976. We were stuck in a pattern that featured a persistent upper-level trough parked over Northeast Kansas. This allowed continuous pushes of cold air into the area. That is now behind us.

We have just finished the first full week of November 2009; inching closer to winter which officially starts December 21. Yet, you wouldn’t know winter was coming if you spent the last week outdoors. The temperatures have been dramatically above normal. Keep in mind that our normal high temperatures should be in the middle 50s this time of year. Here are the recorded highs in Topeka for the first full week of November.

Nov. 1 – 78
Nov. 2 – 61
Nov. 3 – 60
Nov. 4 – 63
Nov. 5 – 70
Nov. 6 – 76
Nov. 7 – 75

AVG. HIGH for the first week: 69 degrees
Normal High: 59 degrees

For the first week of November, we were about 10 degrees ABOVE normal. What a difference a month makes. What did you do differently this past week that you would normally not do because it was unseasonably warm? Feel free to comment.