Lowell, MA weather in October
Expect cool weather with frequent rain in Lowell in October, with highs near 62°F and lows near 40°F. Rain falls on about 11 days.
- Normal high
- 62°F
- Normal low
- 40°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 5.0 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 34% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:42 am / 6:27 pm | 7:17 am / 5:39 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 am46°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 am52°Fdew point 42°F
- Noon59°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm60°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm55°Fdew point 43°F
- 9 pm51°Fdew point 43°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Manchester Airport (22 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 31% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 51%.
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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below7 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 5.0 in; a dry October brings about 2.5 in and a wet one about 6.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202017: average high 70°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 59°F
- Wettest October2005: 14.2 in
- Driest October1994: 0.5 in
- Highest reading87°F (October 6, 2007)
- Lowest reading19°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 | 76°F | 62°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 52°F | 40°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 11 | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -14°F from September and -11°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Cooler: Stowe, VT144 mi · high 56°F · 15 wet days
How Lowell ranks in October
- Normal high291st warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days314th driest of 378
- Comfortable days212th most of 340
What to pack for Lowell in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 40°F, highs near 62°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 10; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 30. All frost dates for Lowell.
Heating and cooling
October has 440 heating degree days and 4 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Lowell in October?
The normal high is 62°F and the normal low is 40°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 19°F (October 31, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Lowell in October?
About 11 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.0 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (14.2 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.5 in).
Does it snow in Lowell in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.1 in.
Is October a good time to visit Lowell?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lowell (57 out of 100). It has about 11 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Lowell (USC00194313), 2.5 mi WNW of the city center, 110 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Reading (USC00196783), 12 mi SE of the city center, 110 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Manchester Airport (USW00014710), 22 mi NNW of the city center, 225 ft (108 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 24 mi SE of the city center, 12 ft (105 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Gen E L Logan International Airport (725090-14739), 24 mi SE of the city center, 11 ft (106 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.