Portland, ME weather in October
Portland is cool in October, with frequent rain: highs average 60°F and nights drop to about 41°F. There are about 11 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 60°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 5.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 46°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:38 am / 6:22 pm | 7:15 am / 5:33 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 h | 10.3 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 am44°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 am52°Fdew point 42°F
- Noon57°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm57°Fdew point 42°F
- 6 pm52°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 42°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Portland Intl Jetport (2 mi away); average wind 7 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F6 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below6 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 5.3 in; a dry October brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 6.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 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, 1991-20202017: average high 66°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 56°F
- Wettest October1996: 16.9 in
- Driest October1994: 0.6 in
- Highest reading85°F (October 9, 2011)
- Lowest reading21°F (October 31, 2020)
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 | 71°F | 60°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 52°F | 41°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 17 | 6 | 1 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -11°F from September and -12°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Newport, RI159 mi · high 65°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY190 mi · high 52°F · 15 wet days
How Portland ranks in October
- Normal high326th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in Maine
- Wet days313th driest of 378
- Comfortable days284th most of 340
What to pack for Portland in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 15; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 2. All frost dates for Portland.
Heating and cooling
October has 459 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Portland in October?
The normal high is 60°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 21°F (most recently on October 31, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Portland in October?
About 11 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.3 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (16.9 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Portland in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.2 in.
Is October a good time to visit Portland?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Portland (52 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days. The best months are June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Portland Intl Jetport (USW00014764), 2.4 mi WSW of the city center, 45 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Portland International Jetport Airport (726060-14764), 2.8 mi WSW of the city center, 44 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).