Warmth, wind, and storms of October 2024
By Jared Shelton News-Press NOW meteorologist
Halloween was cool and breezy across the Mid-Missouri River Valley, but much of October was on the toasty side. More than half of the lower 48 states felt periodic waves of fall warmth during the past 31 days, and the Central Plains region was no exception.
High temperatures in St. Joseph ran well above average for a total of 20 days in October, with eight days near normal and only three days below average. A daily record high of 96 degrees was set on Oct. 5, followed by a record warmest low temperature of 73 degrees set on Oct. 28, an impressive 11 degrees warmer than the average high this time of year.
The most recent episode of fall warmth was directly related to stiff southerly winds, which blew across the rolling plains and bluffs at 20 to 40 mph for two days. A maximum wind gust of 52 miles per hour was recorded at Rosecrans Memorial Airport on Oct. 29, a fairly impressive figure considering it was not thunderstorm-related.
Speaking of thunderstorms, this October was not without its episodes of severe weather. The most notable occasion took place on Oct. 30 when a round of early-afternoon storms blew through parts far Northwest Missouri, Northeast Kansas and Southeast Nebraska. Falls City sustained widespread wind damage with a maximum gust clocked at a blistering 91 miles per hour.
The same storm later moved into northern Holt, Atchison and Nodaway counties in far Northwest Missouri, producing swaths of straight-line wind damage. The community of Craig was hit particularly hard with three semis toppled along Interstate 29, and a roof partially blown off a school building. Numerous other instances of structural, tree and power line damage also were reported in parts of Nodaway County.
Damaging thunderstorms were not a welcome sight, however they did bring splashes of needed moisture as October was rather dry throughout the Show Me State. Drought conditions covered approximately 60% of Missouri on Oct. 1, increasing significantly to 94% by Oct. 31 after dry periods and high temperatures zapped moisture from surface soils throughout the region.
As November unfolds, the first week of fall’s final month is forecast to bring some degree of drought relief to the area as a wet pattern is likely to bring rounds of beneficial rain.
