Tucson, AZ weather in October
October in Tucson: warm and dry. Highs 86°F, lows 59°F, about 3 wet days.
- Normal high
- 86°F
- Normal low
- 59°F
- Wet days
- 3
- 0.7 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 91°F | 82°F |
| Normal low | 65°F | 53°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 10% | 9% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:17 am / 6:08 pm | 6:39 am / 5:34 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.9 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 am60°Fdew point 39°F
- 9 am72°Fdew point 40°F
- Noon82°Fdew point 37°F
- 3 pm85°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm79°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 pm70°Fdew point 37°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Davis Monthan AFB (5 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 78% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 15%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F6 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more13 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow3 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in October
Normal precipitation is 0.7 in; a dry October brings about 0.02 in and a wet one about 0.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202020: average high 93°F
- Coolest October2000: average high 79°F
- Wettest October2000: 5.0 in
- Driest October1999: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading103°F (October 2, 2020)
- Lowest reading32°F (October 27, 2020)
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 | 95°F | 86°F | 75°F |
| Normal low | 70°F | 59°F | 48°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 6 | 17 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.4 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -9°F from September and -11°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Cooler: Sedona, AZ189 mi · high 79°F · 3 wet days
How Tucson ranks in October
- Normal high20th warmest of 378 cities; 9th of 13 in Arizona
- Wet days50th driest of 378
- Comfortable days289th most of 340
What to pack for Tucson in October
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 86°F
- Layers – afternoons near 86°F but nights near 59°F
Heating and cooling
October has 18 heating degree days and 256 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Tucson in October?
The normal high is 86°F and the normal low is 59°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest October reading was 103°F (most recently on October 2, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Tucson in October?
About 3 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.7 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2000 (5.0 in); the driest was in 1999, with no measurable precipitation.
Is October a good time to visit Tucson?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Tucson (49 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days and about 13 days at 90°F or hotter. The best months are January, February and March.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Tucson Intl Airport (USW00023160), 6.5 mi SSW of the city center, 2,549 ft (68 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Davis Monthan AFB (USW00023109), 4.6 mi SSE of the city center, 2,654 ft (173 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Tucson International Airport (722740-23160), 6.4 mi SSW of the city center, 2,551 ft (70 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.