October 2024 Climate Summary

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Overview and Graphics
Monthly Summary
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Overview and Graphics

October 2024 Climate Review:

The month of October 2024 averaged 2 to 4 degrees above normal. High temperatures some 5 to 6 degrees above normal were somewhat offset by low temperatures that were near average. This was largely due to the very dry air in place, which allowed for wide temperature swings from chilly morning lows to warm afternoon highs on a number of days. The warmest part of the month occurred during the first week when high temperatures at many locations reached the upper 80s to near 90 degrees. The first widespread frost occurred by the middle of the month as low temperatures dropped into the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Even for October, the month was unusually dry. In fact, October was on track to be one of the top driest months on record until rain finally arrived by the end of the month. Even with the rain that fell on Halloween, most of the forecast area received less than an inch of rainfall for the entire month. In the end, October 2024 turned out to be the 6th driest on record at Paducah, 10th driest at Evansville, and 8th driest at Cape Girardeau and Carbondale. It was also the 9th warmest October on record at Paducah.

The graphic below is an interpolated monthly rainfall map using actual observations. Please note that there are likely discrepancies in between observations, since the values are estimated based on nearest reports.

Map of monthly precipitation totals