Worcester had 7.1" in Oct 10 1979 .... ratter winter
11.4 in the Octobomb of 2011 (I had 22")... awful winter
But, other winters have had October storms with decent seasonal totals
It is just a running joke
I kiddingly use the 6" of snow at ORH in October = ratter as a joke. It has only happened twice in recorded history... 1979 and 2011 both were ratters, but statistically meaningless