Mackinac Island, MI weather in October
In October, Mackinac Island sees highs around 56°F and lows around 39°F: cool, with rain on most days. Rain or snow falls on about 16 days. Snowfall averages about 0.5 in. Pack rain gear.
- Normal high
- 56°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 16
- 4.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.5 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 63°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 44°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 49% | 52% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:36 am / 7:19 pm | 8:17 am / 6:26 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 h | 10.2 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 am42°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 am46°Fdew point 41°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 41°F
- 3 pm54°Fdew point 40°F
- 6 pm50°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 40°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Pellston Rgnl Airport (21 mi away); average wind 8 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 snow16 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in9 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 4.1 in; a dry October brings about 2.7 in and a wet one about 5.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.5 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 62°F
- Coolest October2020: average high 51°F
- Wettest October2012: 7.0 in
- Driest October2000: 0.9 in
- Highest reading88°F (October 5, 2005)
- Lowest reading13°F (October 24, 1999)
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 | 70°F | 56°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 39°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 16 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 6 | 1 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 10.9 h | 9.5 h |
Highs change by -14°F from September and -12°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Warren, MI245 mi · high 61°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Sister Bay, WI129 mi · high 55°F · 12 wet days
How Mackinac Island ranks in October
- Normal high354th warmest of 378 cities; 8th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days370th driest of 378
- Comfortable days293rd most of 340
What to pack for Mackinac Island in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 56°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 16 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 23; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 6. All frost dates for Mackinac Island.
Heating and cooling
October has 542 heating degree days and 3 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Mackinac Island in October?
The normal high is 56°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 13°F (October 24, 1999).
Does it rain a lot in Mackinac Island in October?
About 16 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.1 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2012 (7.0 in); the driest was in 2000 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Mackinac Island in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.5 in.
Is October a good time to visit Mackinac Island?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Mackinac Island (49 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Cheboygan (USC00201492), 15 mi SSE of the city center, 588 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: St Ignace Mackinac Br (USC00207274), 5.0 mi W of the city center, 595 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Pellston Rgnl Airport (USW00014841), 21 mi SSW of the city center, 705 ft (107 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Pellston Regional Arpt Of Emmet County Arpt (727347-14841), 21 mi SSW of the city center, 706 ft (108 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).