Big Sky, MT weather in October
Big Sky is chilly in October, with some rain: highs average 53°F and nights drop to about 25°F. Rain falls on about 10 days.
- Normal high
- 53°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 1.8 in total
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 61°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:23 am / 7:06 pm | 8:03 am / 6:14 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 (Mountain Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)6 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°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 below27 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in October
Normal precipitation is 1.8 in; a dry October brings about 1.2 in and a wet one about 2.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202010: average high 59°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 44°F
- Highest reading81°F (October 1, 1992)
- Lowest reading-9°F (October 31, 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 | 68°F | 53°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 25°F | 16°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 20 | 6 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 10.9 h | 9.5 h |
Highs change by -15°F from September and -16°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Billings, MT143 mi · high 60°F · 8 wet days
- Drier: Sun Valley, ID183 mi · high 56°F · 5 wet days
How Big Sky ranks in October
- Normal high367th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 6 in Montana
- Wet days268th driest of 378
What to pack for Big Sky in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 53°F
- Layers – afternoons near 53°F but nights near 25°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
October has 812 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Big Sky in October?
The normal high is 53°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -9°F (October 31, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Big Sky in October?
About 10 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.8 in.
Is October a good time to visit Big Sky?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Big Sky (50 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June, July and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and rain: Big Sky 2WNW (USC00240775), 2.1 mi ESE of the city center, 6,590 ft (630 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).