Missoula, MT weather in October
In October, Missoula sees highs around 56°F and lows around 32°F: cool, with some rain. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 0.9 in.
- Normal high
- 56°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 1.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.9 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 28°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 28% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:34 am / 7:16 pm | 8:17 am / 6:22 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 (Mountain Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am36°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon49°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm55°Fdew point 33°F
- 6 pm50°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm44°Fdew point 33°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Missoula Intl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 4 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F6 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 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below15 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 1.2 in; a dry October brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 1.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 0.9 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202014: average high 63°F
- Coolest October2019: average high 50°F
- Wettest October2020: 3.0 in
- Driest October2013: 0.06 in
- Highest reading84°F (October 2, 2010)
- Lowest reading-7°F (October 25, 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 | 73°F | 56°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 42°F | 32°F | 25°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 10 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.6 h | 10.9 h | 9.4 h |
Highs change by -17°F from September and -16°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Boise, ID249 mi · high 65°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Sun Valley, ID220 mi · high 56°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: West Yellowstone, MT207 mi · high 51°F · 10 wet days
How Missoula ranks in October
- Normal high358th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 6 in Montana
- Wet days279th driest of 378
- Comfortable days285th most of 340
What to pack for Missoula in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 56°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 1; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 16. All frost dates for Missoula.
Heating and cooling
October has 649 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 Missoula in October?
The normal high is 56°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -7°F (October 25, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Missoula in October?
About 10 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.2 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2020 (3.0 in); the driest was in 2013 (0.06 in).
Does it snow in Missoula in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is October a good time to visit Missoula?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Missoula (53 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days. The best months are May and June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: Missoula Intl Airport (USW00024153), 5.7 mi NW of the city center, 3,192 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Missoula 2 Ne (USC00245735), 2.2 mi NE of the city center, 3,420 ft (212 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Missoula International Airport (727730-24153), 5.8 mi NW of the city center, 3,195 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).