According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and based on preliminary data from the National Climatic Data Center, October 2009 was the wettest month of October on record overall across the United States.

The nation averaged precipitation amounts of 4.15 inches, nearly doubled the long-term average of 2.04 inches from 1901-2000.  

Over 40 states recorded above average precipitation during the month of October!

(NOAA)

Three states recorded their wettest month of October on record! (Iowa, Arkansas, and Louisiana)

Only 3 states: Florida, Utah, and Arizona recorded below normal precipitation.

Nearly 45 percent of the contiguous United States experienced moderately-to-extremely wet conditions at the end of October, according to the Palmer Index, which is the largest such footprint since February 2005.  

The very wet month of October has helped many states along the mid- and Lower Mississippi Valley achieve or near their wettest years on record and has decreased drought overall with only 12 percent of the country experiencing drought conditions, which is the second smallest drought footprint of the decade, according to the NOAA report. (El Nino is the likely cause of extremely wet weather across the South)

 Related Articles:

• NOAA Full Report
• Record October rains; many locations over 10 inches