Indianapolis, IN weather in October
In October, Indianapolis sees highs around 66°F and lows around 46°F: mild, with some rain. There are about 9 days with rain. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 66°F
- Normal low
- 46°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 3.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 72°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 31% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:40 am / 7:27 pm | 8:12 am / 6:44 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am49°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 am53°Fdew point 45°F
- Noon61°Fdew point 46°F
- 3 pm64°Fdew point 45°F
- 6 pm60°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 pm55°Fdew point 45°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Indianapolis (9 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F13 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more1 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 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 and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 3.2 in; a dry October brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 4.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 72°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 60°F
- Wettest October2001: 7.0 in
- Driest October1994: 0.9 in
- Highest reading92°F (October 2, 2019)
- Lowest reading25°F (October 28, 1997)
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 | 78°F | 66°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 57°F | 46°F | 35°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 13 | 13 | 5 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.1 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -12°F from September and -14°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Bowling Green, KY193 mi · high 72°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Lansing, MI220 mi · high 61°F · 12 wet days
How Indianapolis ranks in October
- Normal high238th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days240th driest of 378
- Comfortable days137th most of 340
What to pack for Indianapolis in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 9 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 26; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 13. All frost dates for Indianapolis.
Heating and cooling
October has 314 heating degree days and 21 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Indianapolis in October?
The normal high is 66°F and the normal low is 46°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 25°F (most recently on October 28, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Indianapolis in October?
About 9 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2001 (7.0 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Indianapolis in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.1 in.
Is October a good time to visit Indianapolis?
October ranks 4th of 12 months on our comfort score for Indianapolis (62 out of 100). It has about 13 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Indianapolis (USW00093819), 8.6 mi SW of the city center, 790 ft (72 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Indianapolis International Airport (724380-93819), 8.1 mi WSW of the city center, 792 ft (74 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).