Rochester, MN weather in October
In October, Rochester sees highs around 58°F and lows around 38°F: cool, with some rain. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 0.9 in.
- Normal high
- 58°F
- Normal low
- 38°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.9 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 44°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 29% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:07 am / 6:51 pm | 7:45 am / 6:01 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 h | 10.3 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 am42°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 am48°Fdew point 39°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm56°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm50°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm46°Fdew point 38°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rochester Intl Airport (8 mi away); average wind 12 mph; clear or few clouds in 59% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 36%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F7 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 below9 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 2.4 in; a dry October brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 3.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.9 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202010: average high 65°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 50°F
- Wettest October2009: 7.6 in
- Driest October2011: 0.3 in
- Highest reading93°F (October 3, 1997)
- Lowest reading11°F (October 27, 2020)
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 | 72°F | 58°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 38°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 7 | 1 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -14°F from September and -16°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Cedar Rapids, IA145 mi · high 64°F · 10 wet days
How Rochester ranks in October
- Normal high346th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Minnesota
- Wet days267th driest of 378
- Comfortable days258th most of 340
What to pack for Rochester in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 38°F, highs near 58°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 6; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 22. All frost dates for Rochester.
Heating and cooling
October has 534 heating degree days and 6 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rochester in October?
The normal high is 58°F and the normal low is 38°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 11°F (October 27, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Rochester in October?
About 10 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.4 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (7.6 in); the driest was in 2011 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Rochester in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.9 in.
Is October a good time to visit Rochester?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rochester (54 out of 100). It has about 7 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: Rochester Intl Airport (USW00014925), 8.2 mi S of the city center, 1,304 ft (280 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Rochester International Airport (726440-14925), 8.2 mi S of the city center, 1,305 ft (281 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.