Lansing, MI weather in October
October in Lansing: cool, with frequent rain. Highs 61°F, lows 41°F, rain on about 12 days.
- Normal high
- 61°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 67°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 46°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:35 am / 7:20 pm | 8:11 am / 6:32 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 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 am45°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 am49°Fdew point 43°F
- Noon56°Fdew point 43°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 42°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 42°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lansing Capital City Airport (4 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 32% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 58%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 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 snow12 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 3.2 in; a dry October brings about 2.1 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.2 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 65°F
- Coolest October2006: average high 56°F
- Wettest October2017: 8.7 in
- Driest October2005: 0.6 in
- Highest reading87°F (October 1, 2002)
- Lowest reading20°F (October 17, 2002)
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 | 47°F |
| Normal low | 52°F | 41°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 16 | 10 | 2 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -14°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Dayton, OH206 mi · high 66°F · 9 wet days
- Drier: Carmel, IN207 mi · high 65°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI212 mi · high 55°F · 12 wet days
How Lansing ranks in October
- Normal high314th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days329th driest of 378
- Comfortable days223rd most of 340
What to pack for Lansing in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 12 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 13; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 29. All frost dates for Lansing.
Heating and cooling
October has 446 heating degree days and 8 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Lansing in October?
The normal high is 61°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 20°F (most recently on October 17, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Lansing in October?
About 12 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (8.7 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Lansing in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.2 in.
Is October a good time to visit Lansing?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lansing (57 out of 100). It has about 10 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lansing Capital City Airport (USW00014836), 3.5 mi NNW of the city center, 841 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Capital City Airport (725390-14836), 3.8 mi NW of the city center, 857 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.