Yosemite Valley, CA weather in October
In October, Yosemite Valley sees highs around 71°F and lows around 41°F: mild and mostly dry. Rain falls on about 3 days. Great for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 71°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 3
- 1.6 in total
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 78°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 8% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:54 am / 6:41 pm | 7:22 am / 6:01 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.6 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)18 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 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 below2 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 in October
Normal precipitation is 1.6 in; a dry October brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 2.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202003: average high 81°F
- Coolest October1998: average high 67°F
- Wettest October1996: 5.5 in
- Driest October1995: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading92°F (October 2, 2012)
- Lowest reading20°F (October 27, 2007)
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 | 83°F | 71°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 41°F | 33°F |
| Wet days | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 18 | 6 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.2 h | 10.2 h |
Highs change by -12°F from September and -15°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Fresno, CA70 mi · high 79°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Mammoth Lakes, CA34 mi · high 61°F · 4 wet days
How Yosemite Valley ranks in October
- Normal high190th warmest of 378 cities; 54th of 60 in California
- Wet days64th driest of 378
What to pack for Yosemite Valley in October
- Layers – afternoons near 71°F but nights near 41°F
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 27; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 12. All frost dates for Yosemite Valley.
Heating and cooling
October has 291 heating degree days and 15 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Yosemite Valley in October?
The normal high is 71°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest October reading was 92°F (most recently on October 2, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Yosemite Valley in October?
About 3 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.6 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (5.5 in); the driest was in 1995, with no measurable precipitation.
Is October a good time to visit Yosemite Valley?
October ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Yosemite Valley (72 out of 100). It has about 18 comfortable days (judged by temperature only) and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Yosemite Park Hq (USC00049855), 0.8 mi NW of the city center, 4,018 ft (52 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Hetch Hetchy (USC00043939), 19 mi NW of the city center, 3,870 ft (96 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).