Skagway, AK weather in October
Skagway is chilly in October, with rain on most days: highs average 48°F and nights drop to about 39°F. There are about 17 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 1.1 in. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 17
- 3.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.1 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 54°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 56% | 52% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:06 am / 6:35 pm | 8:18 am / 5:10 pm |
| Daylight | 11.5 h | 8.9 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Alaska Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow17 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in9 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below5 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 3.6 in; a dry October brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 4.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.1 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202015: average high 52°F
- Coolest October2012: average high 43°F
- Wettest October1999: 6.3 in
- Driest October2016: 1.1 in
- Highest reading63°F (October 1, 2018)
- Lowest reading22°F (October 12, 1997)
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 | 57°F | 48°F | 38°F |
| Normal low | 46°F | 39°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 17 | 17 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.8 h | 10.2 h | 7.7 h |
Highs change by -9°F from September and -10°F into November.
How Skagway ranks in October
- Normal high373rd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days373rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days337th most of 340
What to pack for Skagway in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 17 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 17; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 1. All frost dates for Skagway.
Heating and cooling
October has 667 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Skagway in October?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 22°F (October 12, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Skagway in October?
About 17 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.6 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (6.3 in); the driest was in 2016 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Skagway in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 1.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is October a good time to visit Skagway?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Skagway (39 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are June and July.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Skagway Airport (USW00025335), 0.4 mi WSW of the city center, 20 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Skagway (USC00508525), 0.2 mi S of the city center, 35 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Skagway Airport (703620-25335), 0.6 mi WSW of the city center, 24 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).