Detroit, MI weather in October
In October, Detroit sees highs around 61°F and lows around 45°F: cool, with frequent rain. Rain falls on about 11 days.
- Normal high
- 61°F
- Normal low
- 45°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.5 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 55°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:29 am / 7:14 pm | 8:04 am / 6:27 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 43°F
- 9 am52°Fdew point 44°F
- Noon58°Fdew point 43°F
- 3 pm60°Fdew point 43°F
- 6 pm56°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 pm53°Fdew point 43°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Detroit City Airport (6 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 44% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 46%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph1 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 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below1 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 2.5 in; a dry October brings about 1.7 in and a wet one about 3.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 68°F
- Coolest October2006: average high 58°F
- Wettest October2001: 6.8 in
- Driest October2005: 0.1 in
- Highest reading89°F (October 8, 2007)
- Lowest reading27°F (October 30, 2008)
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 | 61°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 56°F | 45°F | 34°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 10 | 2 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.1 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -13°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Cincinnati, OH236 mi · high 68°F · 9 wet days
- Drier: Carmel, IN228 mi · high 65°F · 7 wet days
How Detroit ranks in October
- Normal high302nd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days306th driest of 378
- Comfortable days213th most of 340
What to pack for Detroit in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 31; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 17. All frost dates for Detroit.
Heating and cooling
October has 381 heating degree days and 10 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Detroit in October?
The normal high is 61°F and the normal low is 45°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 27°F (October 30, 2008).
Does it rain a lot in Detroit in October?
About 11 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.5 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2001 (6.8 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.1 in).
Is October a good time to visit Detroit?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Detroit (59 out of 100). It has about 10 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Detroit City Airport (USW00014822), 5.7 mi NNE of the city center, 626 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Detroit Metro Airport (USW00094847), 16 mi WSW of the city center, 631 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Flint Bishop Intl Airport (USW00014826), 57 mi NW of the city center, 770 ft (172 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Detroit City Airport (725375-14822), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 623 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.