We are thinking about a trip to Colombia late Oct to late Nov, but I recently read that this is rainy seasin in Bogota and Medellin. Can someone please offer input as to the rain is a short daily shower or hours on end. Thank you

If it rains it can be VERY INTENSE so as to cause flooding and landslides.I was in Medellin in mid-May, also rainy season, shortly after the city had experienced some major floods. We had several days of intense afternoon thunderstorms (including one which caused people to hole up inside a Starbucks!) You will likely lose several afternoons to rain, and sometimes travel to outlying areas (such as Jardin) can be disrupted by landslides and road closures (although they are very quick to re open the major highways)>.
Do get trip insurance if you go, especially if you plan to fly or take long distance bus rides.

Thank you. I was afraid that might be the case

Maybe just stick to Bogota..at least there is plenty to do inside with the museums. And if you get a few days of good weather, you could take a trip to Villa de Leyva.

Or delay your tip to early December (before the Colombians go on vacation), when the weather starts to improve. The Christmas displays in the Colombian cities are great.

The coast is not as subject to the 'bimodal" wet season as the Andes, by November it should be better there. Maybe do a week there and then a week in one of the Andes cities.