Lakeland, FL weather in October
Expect warm weather with some rain in Lakeland in October, with highs near 87°F and lows near 66°F. Rain falls on about 8 days.
- Normal high
- 87°F
- Normal low
- 66°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 2.6 in total
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 91°F | 84°F |
| Normal low | 70°F | 61°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 23% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:20 am / 7:14 pm | 7:38 am / 6:44 pm |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 11.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am70°Fdew point 66°F
- 9 am76°Fdew point 66°F
- Noon82°Fdew point 66°F
- 3 pm83°Fdew point 65°F
- 6 pm79°Fdew point 65°F
- 9 pm75°Fdew point 66°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Tampa Intl Airport (36 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 29% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 42%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)4 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more5 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 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 2.6 in; a dry October brings about 0.9 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202018: average high 91°F
- Coolest October2011: average high 82°F
- Wettest October2019: 7.3 in
- Driest October2010: 0.1 in
- Highest reading97°F (October 8, 2017)
- Lowest reading38°F (October 29, 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 | 92°F | 87°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 72°F | 66°F | 58°F |
| Wet days | 15 | 8 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 4 | 16 |
| Daylight | 12.3 h | 11.5 h | 10.8 h |
Highs change by -5°F from September and -6°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Cooler: Daytona Beach, FL99 mi · high 82°F · 11 wet days
How Lakeland ranks in October
- Normal high12th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 23 in Florida
- Wet days215th driest of 378
What to pack for Lakeland in October
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 87°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 8 days
Heating and cooling
October has 4 heating degree days and 367 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Lakeland in October?
The normal high is 87°F and the normal low is 66°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest October reading was 97°F (most recently on October 8, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Lakeland in October?
About 8 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.6 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (7.3 in); the driest was in 2010 (0.1 in).
Is October a good time to visit Lakeland?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lakeland (49 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days (judged by temperature only) and about 5 days at 90°F or hotter. The best months are January, February and December.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Plant City (USC00087205), 12 mi W of the city center, 110 ft (86 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Lakeland 2 (USC00084802), 5.1 mi SW of the city center, 139 ft (57 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Tampa Intl Airport (USW00012842), 36 mi W of the city center, 19 ft (177 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).