Vail, CO weather in October
In October, Vail sees highs around 54°F and lows around 25°F: chilly, with some rain and some snow. There are about 7 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 8.6 in.
- Normal high
- 54°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 8.6 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 61°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 21°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 24% | 25% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:01 am / 6:48 pm | 7:32 am / 6:05 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)5 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 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 2.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 8.6 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202003: average high 60°F
- Coolest October2019: average high 48°F
- Wettest October2002: 4.0 in
- Driest October2003: 0.1 in
- Highest reading76°F (October 4, 1992)
- Lowest reading-6°F (October 31, 2019)
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 | 67°F | 54°F | 38°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 25°F | 15°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 7 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 21 | 5 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.2 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -16°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Steamboat Springs, CO63 mi · high 59°F · 9 wet days
- Drier: Pueblo, CO135 mi · high 70°F · 4 wet days
How Vail ranks in October
- Normal high363rd warmest of 378 cities; 16th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days159th driest of 378
What to pack for Vail in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 54°F
- Layers – afternoons near 54°F but nights near 25°F
- Waterproof boots – about 8.6 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
October has 786 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 Vail in October?
The normal high is 54°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -6°F (October 31, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Vail in October?
About 7 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 2003 (0.1 in).
Does it snow in Vail in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 8.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is October a good time to visit Vail?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Vail (50 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: Vail (USC00058575), 1.1 mi E of the city center, 8,304 ft (125 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Dillon 1 E (USC00052281), 18 mi E of the city center, 9,065 ft (886 ft higher 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).