October 2024 overall was much warmer and wetter than average. The average temperature was 53.8 degrees, about 5.3 degrees above average, which made it the second warmest October on record. Rainfall for the month was also way above average at 2.61″, which was the 9th wettest on record.

The rainfall for the month occurred on just 2 days, on the 19th and 20th. As an upper level low pressure system stalled over Arizona, numerous bands of rain moved across the area. Rainfall was fairly uniform across the valley, ranging from about 2.50 to 2.75 inches across the northern and eastern sections of the valley, to about 2.10 to 2.40 inches across the western and southern areas. At my northside location, rainfall totaled 2.61 inches, about an inch and a half above average. Daily rainfall on the 19th totaled 1.73 inches, a record for the date as well as a new record for any day in the month of October.

The first half of the month was quite warm and dry with mainly clear skies. Highs were in the 70s to low 80s with lows in the mid 30s to low 40s. It cooled off during the third week as the rains came, with highs down into the 50s to mid 60s and lows in the 30s to low 40s. Warm and dry conditions returned for the much of the last week as highs were in the mid 60s to low 70s with lows in the 30s. The last few days of the month saw a strong cold front bring much colder air into the region, as highs dropped in the upper 40s to mid 50s, and lows fell into the mid teens to mid 20s.

Highs during the month were about 5.6 degrees above average, with lows coming in at about 5.1 degrees above average. The warmest high for the month was 82 degrees on the 3rd, which was a record for the date. Another record high was set on the 4th with 81 degrees. The coldest high was 48 degrees on the 30th. The warmest low was 47 degrees on the 5th, while the coldest low of the month was 19 degrees on the 31st. The month also was notable because of the scant number of days with lows of 32 or less. Only 4 days in October had lows that cold, the lowest number on record for the month.

Winds for the month were a little below average, with only 3 days with gusts over 35 mph. The highest gust of 43 mph occurred on the 29th as a strong cold front blew through the region.

Here are the actual numbers for the month at the 4 NNW Taos location…

Average Temp . . . . 53.8 degrees, +5.3 degrees above average (2nd warmest)

Average High . . . . . 70.4 degrees, +5.6 degrees above average (6th warmest)

Average Low . . . . . 37.3 degrees, +5.1 degrees above average (3rd warmest)

Total Rain. . . . . . . . . 2.61 inches, +1.51 inches above average (9th wettest)

Total Snow. . . . . . . . Trace, -1.1 inches below average

OCT 2024 DAILY DATA for 4 NNW Taos

DATE	HIGH	LOW	DAILY DEP.	MON. DEP.	RAIN	REMARK
1	79	44	+6.4	+6.4
2	80	41	+5.6	+6.0
3	82*	40	+6.6	+6.2		*Record warm high
4	81*	41	+7.7	+6.6		*Record warm high
5	81	47	+11.1	+7.5
6	81	39	+7.4	+7.5
7	78	41	+7.6	+7.5
8	78	38	+6.4	+7.3
9	79	36	+5.9	+7.2
10	76	39	+6.2	+7.1
11	79	37	+6.6	+7.0
12	78	37	+7.3	+7.1
13	77	37	+7.5	+7.1
14	76	44	+10.4	+7.3
15	71	37	+4.9	+7.2
16	68	37	+3.8	+7.0
17	63	40	+2.8	+6.7
18	65	43	+6.3	+6.7
19	51	41	-1.0	+6.3	1.73″*	*Record daily rainfall
20	57	40	+3.4	+6.1	0.88″	1/4″ hail 658-704 PM
21	56	34	-0.9	+5.8
22	65	32	+3.1	+5.7
23	69	33	+6.0	+5.7
24	70	34	+7.2	+5.8
25	65	34	+4.8	+5.7
26	70	32	+6.5	+5.8
27	72	34	+9.0	+5.9
28	70	42	+11.9	+6.1
29	63	39	+7.4	+6.1	Trace
30	48	25	-5.6	+5.7	Trace
31	53	19	-5.6	+5.3
AVGS/ TOTAL	70.4	37.3	53.8	+5.3	2.61″

DAILY DEP. – Departure from the long term daily average temperature

MON. DEP. – Cumulative departure from the long term monthly average temperature

PCPN – Precipitation

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