Duluth, MN weather in October
October in Duluth: chilly, with some rain. Highs 53°F, lows 39°F, about 10 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 53°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 60°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 33°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 29% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:07 am / 6:48 pm | 7:49 am / 5:54 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 h | 10.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am39°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 am43°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon48°Fdew point 35°F
- 3 pm50°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm45°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 pm42°Fdew point 35°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Duluth (6 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 40% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 49%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 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 3.2 in; a dry October brings about 1.8 in and a wet one about 4.1 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, 1991-20202017: average high 57°F
- Coolest October2002: average high 46°F
- Wettest October2005: 8.0 in
- Driest October1993: 0.3 in
- Highest reading89°F (October 2, 1992)
- Lowest reading14°F (October 31, 1996)
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 | 67°F | 53°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 39°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 13 | 4 | 1 |
| Daylight | 12.6 h | 10.9 h | 9.4 h |
Highs change by -14°F from September and -14°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Minneapolis, MN136 mi · high 58°F · 10 wet days
How Duluth ranks in October
- Normal high366th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 3 in Minnesota
- Wet days274th driest of 378
- Comfortable days305th most of 340
What to pack for Duluth in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 53°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 9; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 24. All frost dates for Duluth.
Heating and cooling
October has 596 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Duluth in October?
The normal high is 53°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 14°F (most recently on October 31, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Duluth in October?
About 10 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 2005 (8.0 in); the driest was in 1993 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Duluth in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.2 in.
Is October a good time to visit Duluth?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Duluth (48 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best month is August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Superior (USC00478349), 4.2 mi SSE of the city center, 607 ft (93 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Duluth (USW00014913), 6.1 mi NW of the city center, 1,428 ft (728 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Duluth International Airport (727450-14913), 5.7 mi NW of the city center, 1,422 ft (722 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.