Billings, MT weather in October
October in Billings: cool, with some rain and some snow. Highs 60°F, lows 34°F, about 8 wet days and about 4.5 in of snow. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 60°F
- Normal low
- 34°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 1.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.5 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 29°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 26% | 24% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:12 am / 6:54 pm | 7:52 am / 6:02 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).
A typical October day
- 6 am41°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am45°Fdew point 31°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 32°F
- 3 pm57°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm52°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm47°Fdew point 31°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Billings Logan Intl Airport (3 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 42% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 37%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F12 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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below11 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 1.4 in; a dry October brings about 0.7 in and a wet one about 1.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.5 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202010: average high 72°F
- Coolest October2019: average high 51°F
- Wettest October2016: 3.5 in
- Driest October1999: 0.1 in
- Highest reading93°F (October 2, 2011)
- Lowest reading-10°F (October 30, 1991)
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 | 75°F | 60°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 34°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 13 | 12 | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 10.9 h | 9.5 h |
Highs change by -15°F from September and -13°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Cooler: Big Sky, MT143 mi · high 53°F · 10 wet days
How Billings ranks in October
- Normal high317th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 6 in Montana
- Wet days217th driest of 378
- Comfortable days171st most of 340
What to pack for Billings in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 34°F, highs near 60°F
- Layers – afternoons near 60°F but nights near 34°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.5 in of snow in a typical year
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 1; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 19. All frost dates for Billings.
Heating and cooling
October has 549 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Billings in October?
The normal high is 60°F and the normal low is 34°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -10°F (October 30, 1991).
Does it rain a lot in Billings in October?
About 8 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.4 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2016 (3.5 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.1 in).
Does it snow in Billings in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 4.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is October a good time to visit Billings?
October ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Billings (61 out of 100). It has about 12 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: Billings WTP (USC00240802), 1.2 mi SE of the city center, 3,097 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Billings Logan Intl Airport (USW00024033), 2.6 mi NW of the city center, 3,581 ft (459 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Billings Logan International Airport (726770-24033), 2.7 mi NW of the city center, 3,590 ft (468 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.