South Bend, IN weather in October
Expect cool weather with frequent rain in South Bend in October, with highs near 62°F and lows near 42°F. Rain falls on about 12 days.
- Normal high
- 62°F
- Normal low
- 42°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.7 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 | 35% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:41 am / 7:27 pm | 8:15 am / 6:41 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am47°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 am51°Fdew point 43°F
- Noon58°Fdew point 44°F
- 3 pm60°Fdew point 43°F
- 6 pm57°Fdew point 43°F
- 9 pm51°Fdew point 43°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 50% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 43%.
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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below3 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 3.7 in; a dry October brings about 2.2 in and a wet one about 4.6 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 56°F
- Wettest October2017: 9.1 in
- Driest October2005: 1.2 in
- Highest reading90°F (October 1, 2019)
- Lowest reading26°F (October 24, 2018)
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 | 74°F | 62°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 53°F | 42°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 11 | 2 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.1 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -12°F from September and -14°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Cincinnati, OH200 mi · high 68°F · 9 wet days
- Drier: Carmel, IN118 mi · high 65°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI246 mi · high 55°F · 12 wet days
How South Bend ranks in October
- Normal high300th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days325th driest of 378
- Comfortable days202nd most of 340
What to pack for South Bend in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 12 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 19; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 5. All frost dates for South Bend.
Heating and cooling
October has 414 heating degree days and 9 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is South Bend in October?
The normal high is 62°F and the normal low is 42°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 26°F (most recently on October 24, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in South Bend in October?
About 12 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.7 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (9.1 in); the driest was in 2005 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in South Bend in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.2 in.
Is October a good time to visit South Bend?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for South Bend (58 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, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport (USW00014848), 3.8 mi WNW of the city center, 773 ft (81 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: South Bend Regional Airport (725350-14848), 3.8 mi WNW of the city center, 772 ft (80 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.