Anchorage, AK weather in October
In October, Anchorage sees highs around 42°F and lows around 31°F: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Expect about 12 wet days. Snowfall averages about 5.6 in.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 31°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 1.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.6 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 43% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:06 am / 7:32 pm | 9:24 am / 6:01 pm |
| Daylight | 11.4 h | 8.6 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Alaska Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am33°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon39°Fdew point 30°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 30°F
- 6 pm39°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 pm36°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Anchorage Merrill Fld (2 mi away); average wind 3 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below18 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more5 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 1.8 in; a dry October brings about 1.2 in and a wet one about 2.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.6 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202018: average high 50°F
- Coolest October1996: average high 33°F
- Wettest October2002: 4.0 in
- Driest October2010: 0.4 in
- Highest reading64°F (October 9, 2006)
- Lowest reading1°F (October 27, 1996)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
October compared with September and November
| September | October | November | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 56°F | 42°F | 29°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 31°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.9 h | 10.0 h | 7.3 h |
Highs change by -14°F from September and -13°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Cooler: Denali Park, AK177 mi · high 34°F · 10 wet days
How Anchorage ranks in October
- Normal high376th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days324th driest of 378
- Comfortable days333rd most of 340
What to pack for Anchorage in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 31°F, highs near 42°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 5.6 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 18 freezing nights
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 1; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 18. All frost dates for Anchorage.
Heating and cooling
October has 888 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Anchorage in October?
The normal high is 42°F and the normal low is 31°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 1°F (October 27, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Anchorage in October?
About 12 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.8 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2002 (4.0 in); the driest was in 2010 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Anchorage in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 5.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is October a good time to visit Anchorage?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Anchorage (35 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is July.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Anchorage Intl Airport (USW00026451), 5.4 mi SW of the city center, 120 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Anchorage Merrill Fld (USW00026409), 1.5 mi E of the city center, 138 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Merrill Field Airport (702735-26409), 1.4 mi E of the city center, 126 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).