The purchase came towards the end of an exceptionally dry autumn.
The first proper winter storm followed the driest and warmest autumn since 1864.
Three weeks ago, after a dry autumn, a major winter storm blew across the north-central section of the state.
Fifteen of those dry autumns were followed by below-normal crops.
With a dry autumn this year, there was no treacherous ice on the roof or tops of the walls.
Britain has enjoyed an usually mild and dry autumn.
Leaves may fall earlier in a dry autumn but the tree is unharmed.
So what's not to like about a dry autumn?
A dry autumn doesn't have as many downsides as you might think.
In 1891 a particularly dry autumn had delayed the planting of the fields.