Rockford, IL weather in October
Expect cool weather with some rain in Rockford in October, with highs near 62°F and lows near 42°F. Rain falls on about 10 days.
- Normal high
- 62°F
- Normal low
- 42°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.6 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 55°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:53 am / 6:38 pm | 7:28 am / 5:51 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.4 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am45°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 am52°Fdew point 43°F
- Noon59°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm60°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 pm50°Fdew point 41°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport (5 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F11 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below5 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 2.6 in; a dry October brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.2 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 69°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 55°F
- Wettest October2009: 5.9 in
- Driest October2005: 0.2 in
- Highest reading90°F (October 9, 2010)
- Lowest reading18°F (October 19, 1992)
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 | 75°F | 62°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 54°F | 42°F | 31°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 11 | 2 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.1 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -15°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Springfield, IL173 mi · high 67°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI224 mi · high 55°F · 12 wet days
How Rockford ranks in October
- Normal high292nd warmest of 378 cities; 8th of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days271st driest of 378
- Comfortable days208th most of 340
What to pack for Rockford in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 17; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 2. All frost dates for Rockford.
Heating and cooling
October has 412 heating degree days and 11 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rockford in October?
The normal high is 62°F and the normal low is 42°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 18°F (October 19, 1992).
Does it rain a lot in Rockford in October?
About 10 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 2009 (5.9 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Rockford in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.2 in.
Is October a good time to visit Rockford?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rockford (59 out of 100). It has about 11 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport (USW00094822), 5.4 mi S of the city center, 730 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Rockford Airport (725430-94822), 5.4 mi S of the city center, 725 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).