Minneapolis, MN weather in October
In October, Minneapolis sees highs around 58°F and lows around 41°F: cool, with some rain. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 0.8 in.
- Normal high
- 58°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.8 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 29% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:11 am / 6:54 pm | 7:50 am / 6:03 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 (Central Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am44°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 am48°Fdew point 39°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 38°F
- 3 pm56°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm53°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 38°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (7 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 33% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 52%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F8 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 in5 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 2.6 in; a dry October brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.8 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202011: average high 65°F
- Coolest October2002: average high 49°F
- Wettest October2009: 5.6 in
- Driest October2006: 0.4 in
- Highest reading90°F (October 3, 1997)
- Lowest reading13°F (October 27, 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 | 73°F | 58°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 54°F | 41°F | 28°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 8 | 1 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 10.9 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -15°F from September and -16°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Cedar Rapids, IA221 mi · high 64°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Duluth, MN136 mi · high 53°F · 10 wet days
How Minneapolis ranks in October
- Normal high344th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 3 in Minnesota
- Wet days266th driest of 378
- Comfortable days252nd most of 340
What to pack for Minneapolis in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 16; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 2. All frost dates for Minneapolis.
Heating and cooling
October has 489 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 Minneapolis in October?
The normal high is 58°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 13°F (October 27, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Minneapolis in October?
About 10 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.6 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (5.6 in); the driest was in 2006 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Minneapolis in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.8 in.
Is October a good time to visit Minneapolis?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Minneapolis (55 out of 100). It has about 8 comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (USW00014922), 6.9 mi SSE of the city center, 872 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: New Hope (USC00215838), 6.0 mi WNW of the city center, 910 ft (80 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Lower St Anthony Falls (USC00214884), 0.8 mi E of the city center, 754 ft (76 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (726580-14922), 6.8 mi SSE of the city center, 835 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.