diff --git a/.github/workflows/documentation.yml b/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
index 0b2fad9184..762752c7e5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
-          python-version: '3.8'
+          python-version: '3.10'
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade sphinx sphinx-gallery sphinx_rtd_theme
diff --git a/.github/workflows/testing.yml b/.github/workflows/testing.yml
index 7a0cbab6e8..944c81335f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/testing.yml
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
-          python-version: '3.8'
+          python-version: '3.10'
       - name: Get METplus Image
         run: .github/jobs/docker_setup.sh
         env:
diff --git a/environment.yml b/environment.yml
index e660f9d5d1..721909cca6 100644
--- a/environment.yml
+++ b/environment.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ name: metplus_base
 channels:
   - conda-forge
 dependencies:
-  - python=3.8.6
+  - python=3.10.4
   - python-dateutil
 prefix: /home/met_test/.conda/envs/metplus_base
diff --git a/internal/tests/pytests/util/metplus_check/test_metplus_check.py b/internal/tests/pytests/util/metplus_check/test_metplus_check.py
index 832512dfb5..01a7e36a9d 100644
--- a/internal/tests/pytests/util/metplus_check/test_metplus_check.py
+++ b/internal/tests/pytests/util/metplus_check/test_metplus_check.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 )
 @pytest.mark.util
 def test_metplus_check_python(user, torf):
+    # check that version is above minimum python requirement
     assert metplus_check.metplus_check_python_version(user) == torf
 
 
diff --git a/metplus/PYTHON_VERSION b/metplus/PYTHON_VERSION
index b916322161..e90bfef7ab 100644
--- a/metplus/PYTHON_VERSION
+++ b/metplus/PYTHON_VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.8.6
\ No newline at end of file
+3.10.4
\ No newline at end of file