Cedar Rapids, IA weather in October
In October, Cedar Rapids sees highs around 64°F and lows around 42°F: cool, with some rain. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 0.6 in. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 64°F
- Normal low
- 42°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.6 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 72°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:03 am / 6:48 pm | 7:38 am / 6:02 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 am44°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 am51°Fdew point 42°F
- Noon58°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm60°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 41°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cedar Rapids Muni Airport (9 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 63% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 32%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F12 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 in6 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 3.0 in; a dry October brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 4.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.6 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202010: average high 70°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 55°F
- Wettest October2009: 7.3 in
- Driest October1994: 0.2 in
- Highest reading94°F (October 3, 1997)
- Lowest reading17°F (October 27, 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 | 77°F | 64°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 53°F | 42°F | 29°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 12 | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.1 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -16°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: St. Louis, MO246 mi · high 69°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN145 mi · high 58°F · 10 wet days
How Cedar Rapids ranks in October
- Normal high261st warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days265th driest of 378
- Comfortable days152nd most of 340
What to pack for Cedar Rapids in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 12; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 29. All frost dates for Cedar Rapids.
Heating and cooling
October has 392 heating degree days and 14 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Cedar Rapids in October?
The normal high is 64°F and the normal low is 42°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 17°F (October 27, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Cedar Rapids in October?
About 10 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.0 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (7.3 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Cedar Rapids in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.6 in.
Is October a good time to visit Cedar Rapids?
October ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Cedar Rapids (61 out of 100). It has about 12 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Cedar Rapids #1 (USC00131319), 4.0 mi NE of the city center, 813 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Cedar Rapids Muni Airport (USW00014990), 9.4 mi SSW of the city center, 868 ft (60 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Eastern Iowa Regional Airport (725450-14990), 9.6 mi SSW of the city center, 840 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.