New Bedford, MA weather in October
Expect cool weather with frequent rain in New Bedford in October, with highs near 64°F and lows near 42°F. Rain falls on about 13 days.
- Normal high
- 64°F
- Normal low
- 42°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.6 in total
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:40 am / 6:26 pm | 7:14 am / 5:40 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 am48°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 am56°Fdew point 47°F
- Noon60°Fdew point 46°F
- 3 pm60°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 pm51°Fdew point 46°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Plymouth Muni Airport (22 mi away); average wind 8 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 (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)14 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below4 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 in October
Normal precipitation is 4.6 in; a dry October brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 5.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202017: average high 69°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 60°F
- Wettest October2005: 11.5 in
- Driest October2013: 0.8 in
- Highest reading86°F (October 9, 2011)
- Lowest reading23°F (October 23, 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 | 74°F | 64°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 52°F | 42°F | 33°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 23 | 14 | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.1 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -10°F from September and -10°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Drier: Yonkers, NY161 mi · high 66°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Rutland, VT171 mi · high 58°F · 13 wet days
How New Bedford ranks in October
- Normal high272nd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days347th driest of 378
What to pack for New Bedford in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 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 New Bedford.
Heating and cooling
October has 390 heating degree days and 7 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is New Bedford in October?
The normal high is 64°F and the normal low is 42°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 23°F (October 23, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in New Bedford in October?
About 13 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.6 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (11.5 in); the driest was in 2013 (0.9 in).
Is October a good time to visit New Bedford?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for New Bedford (62 out of 100). It has about 14 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: New Bedford Muni Airport (USW00094726), 3.0 mi NNW of the city center, 80 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: E Wareham (USC00192451), 16 mi ENE of the city center, 30 ft (69 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Plymouth Muni Airport (USW00054769), 22 mi NNE of the city center, 149 ft (50 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 50 mi N of the city center, 12 ft (87 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).