October was yet another exceptionally warm and dry month in the Front Range, with most areas landing more than six degrees above average while receiving very little if any precipitation. The period of May to October only produced 4.64″ of precipitation in Boulder, the driest such stretch in recorded history. It’s no surprise that drought has further expanded across the region. In contrast to our boring weather, space-related activity was booming in October with multiple nights of auroras lighting up Colorado’s skies and a multi-week comet display. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during October and how it relates to climatology.
October 2024 Temperatures:
The All-time Driest May to October on Record in Boulder:
October 2024 Precipitation:
October 2024 Snowfall:
2024 90-degree day count timeline (Final version)
How does October 2024 fit into the last 74 years?
How does October 2024 fit into the last 12 months?
Latest Drought Tracker (as of November 5th)
Our top posts of October 2024
October 2024 retold via our Twitter X timeline
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Q: Where is the smoke coming from today in the #Denver area?
A: The~2500-acre #YellowLakeFire burning southeast of Salt Lake City in Utah.
Check the latest Colorado smoke forecast here –>https://t.co/BMCFXMP4n9#COWX #UTfire #UTwx #Smoke pic.twitter.com/UFTmAqHI4h
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 1, 2024
We'll just leave this here… #COWx #Boulderwx pic.twitter.com/csL2jbIFKo
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 3, 2024
Which sunny day is your favorite day of the upcoming forecast? #COwx pic.twitter.com/ahi93NpAyl
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 3, 2024
From a weakly organized swirl of spotty thunderstorms to a Cat 5 monster with 160 MPH winds in just over two days. Florida (and the Yucatán) are in big trouble. Earth is frightening these days… #FLwx #Milton pic.twitter.com/vCbwbFz4np
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 7, 2024
Thick wildfire smoke is looming just northeast of Denver Monday afternoon. It'll be moving in this evening alongside a push of northeasterly winds. Current ETA is between 6 and 8PM to Boulder and Denver. You may want to close the windows for this one… #COWx pic.twitter.com/lN105ZZQ8f
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 7, 2024
HEADS UP! This is THE night for Northern Lights!
The Kp index is above 8 right NOW– which is right in line with how strong it was back in May. Clouds and smoke will be on the increase through the night in the Front Range, but we should have several hours of excellent aurora… pic.twitter.com/wtdvCHwAYw
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 10, 2024
Colorado Aurora Update: The Northern Lights are already roaring and the Front Range should have excellent viewing for several hours after sunset Thursday! 🌈🫢✨
Here's a quick update on the latest solar observations, declining weather conditions, and the best time and places… pic.twitter.com/CtLyNEUkvG
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 11, 2024
Just NE of Parker! pic.twitter.com/JUlcPkK6nx
— Nick Smego 🦃 ❄️ 🎄 (@COWeatherguy) October 11, 2024
A quiet Friday evening in western Boulder County 🌄 #cowx #colorado #boulder pic.twitter.com/K26vH0HKXR
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 12, 2024
A frontal boundary is stalled just east of the #Denver Metro area this morning. We're close to 70°F already at 10AM, but the northeast corner of Colorado is in the 30s! 🥶
This front will be washing out today and the coldest air will never fully make it into Denver. High… pic.twitter.com/ET3MUjZpTj
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 15, 2024
Colorado Forecast Update: After a month-long dry spell, rain/snow will finally return to the Front Range this weekend, but not nearly as much as we need ☔️☃️☹️
Here's the latest on yet another likely disappointing precip event –> https://t.co/PGTUU2OXIu #COwx #COsnow #Colorado pic.twitter.com/bNU6gDZKr9
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 17, 2024
15 to 25 degrees cooler this evening compared to yesterday. Autumn feels 🙌#COWX pic.twitter.com/llfN5Xruzz
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 19, 2024
(Northern) #COWx this past weekend… pic.twitter.com/fCpQrHtxRc
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 21, 2024
The A3 comet over the front range tonight with some bonus shelf clouds. @bouldercolorado @bouldercounty @BoulderCountyOS @BoulderCAST @NWSBoulder pic.twitter.com/R8nKM8JTAK
— Jonathan Lurie (@jonlurie) October 22, 2024
A Lenticular Sunrise Warning is in effect for the next few minutes. Make sure to head outside and take a look! #COWX pic.twitter.com/2Aahqtov20
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 24, 2024
We're getting close to #Boulder's all-time latest first freezing temperature on record this year, but probably won't set this record due to a pattern shift next week…
🥶 Current record: November 2 (1902)
🧊 Likely first 32°F this season: Oct 31st, maybe Oct 30th#COwx… pic.twitter.com/3bJ3wTNryl— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 24, 2024
Another stunning fall weekend… perhaps the last one for a while. Enjoy this time lapse of a Chinook arch wave cloud over #Boulder. Happy Sunday! #cowx pic.twitter.com/jliDXLWULh
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 27, 2024
🌡️ NEW RECORD HIGH SET ON MONDAY🏆
Another heat record bites the dust! Boulder hit 81°F on Monday, eclipsing the existing daily record high of 80° from 2016. This was the 6th latest (in the year) 80-degree day for the city with records dating back to the 1897. #COWx #Boulderwx pic.twitter.com/bbSw2Cz78d
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 29, 2024
Chilly & mostly dry today, but wet snow arrives Wednesday morning followed by a hard freeze Wednesday night!☃️
We are only making minor adjustments to timing & snowfall amounts. This is all covered in our Tuesday AM *Premium* forecast discussion–> https://t.co/uUvl8R5rYQ #COWx pic.twitter.com/aItxS0pspU
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 29, 2024
Freezing fog and freezing drizzle ongoing in the Foothills below 8000 feet this morning. Fortunately temperatures are above freezing in the Metro area and it's just regular ol' drizzle down here. #COWX pic.twitter.com/4lb98Fp4MA
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 30, 2024
Happy Halloween from the BoulderCAST team! 👻🎃🕷️
The evening will be lovely but chilly for any festivities. Unlike last year, there's no snow on the ground! #COWx #Colorado #Denver #Boulder pic.twitter.com/5Br5D5ktxQ
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 31, 2024
❄️ Still no accumulating snow yet in Boulder or Denver, but next week shows early promise! This & more in today's *Premium* weekend outlook –> https://t.co/oWPRR6OoZH #COWx pic.twitter.com/34oalbPlIo
— BoulderCAST Weather 🏔️❄️ (@BoulderCAST) October 31, 2024
Feature image of aurora compliments of Nick Smego (@COWeatherguy on X)
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Great synopsis of the May-October time, thanks for putting this all together.
One thing I think would be very interesting is to see the same plots you show, where you sort them from least to most, would be to sort them by year, then we could potentially see climate change…
Thanks,
Mike