Flagstaff, AZ weather in October
October in Flagstaff: cool and mostly dry. Highs 64°F, lows 32°F, rain or snow on about 5 days and about 1.5 in of snow. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 64°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.5 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 27°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 17% | 16% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:21 am / 6:11 pm | 6:47 am / 5:33 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Arizona time (no daylight saving)).
A typical October day
- 6 am33°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am54°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon62°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm64°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm55°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 25°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Grand Canyon NP Airport (59 mi away); average wind 6 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)16 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below18 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 1.5 in; a dry October brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 2.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.5 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202020: average high 71°F
- Coolest October2018: average high 57°F
- Wettest October2018: 4.2 in
- Driest October1999: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading83°F (October 2, 2020)
- Lowest reading11°F (October 12, 2008)
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 | 74°F | 64°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 32°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 24 | 16 | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.3 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by -10°F from September and -12°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Sedona, AZ24 mi · high 79°F · 3 wet days
- Drier: Peoria, AZ117 mi · high 87°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Bryce Canyon City, UT173 mi · high 58°F · 5 wet days
How Flagstaff ranks in October
- Normal high270th warmest of 378 cities; 13th of 13 in Arizona
- Wet days92nd driest of 378
What to pack for Flagstaff in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 64°F
- Layers – afternoons near 64°F but nights near 32°F
- A hat and gloves – about 18 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
October has 541 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 Flagstaff in October?
The normal high is 64°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 11°F (most recently on October 12, 2008).
Does it rain a lot in Flagstaff in October?
About 5 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.5 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2018 (4.2 in); the driest was in 1999, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Flagstaff in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 1.5 in.
Is October a good time to visit Flagstaff?
October ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Flagstaff (69 out of 100). It has about 16 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (USW00003103), 3.8 mi SSW of the city center, 7,003 ft (103 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Sunset Crater Nm (USC00028329), 13 mi NNE of the city center, 6,980 ft (80 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Grand Canyon NP Airport (USW00003195), 59 mi NNW of the city center, 6,606 ft (294 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).