West Yellowstone, MT weather in October
In October, West Yellowstone sees highs around 51°F and lows around 28°F: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 4.1 in.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.1 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 60°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 24°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 28% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:22 am / 7:05 pm | 8:00 am / 6:15 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 and dew point under 60°F4 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 in10 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 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 2.4 in; a dry October brings about 1.5 in and a wet one about 3.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.1 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202003: average high 60°F
- Coolest October2019: average high 40°F
- Wettest October2016: 6.6 in
- Driest October1999: 0.6 in
- Highest reading82°F (October 2, 2010)
- Lowest reading-9°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 | 68°F | 51°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 28°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 10 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 18 | 4 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -17°F from September and -17°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Billings, MT148 mi · high 60°F · 8 wet days
- Drier: Sun Valley, ID174 mi · high 56°F · 5 wet days
How West Yellowstone ranks in October
- Normal high371st warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 6 in Montana
- Wet days289th driest of 378
- Comfortable days306th most of 340
What to pack for West Yellowstone in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 51°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.1 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
October has 792 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 West Yellowstone in October?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -9°F (October 30, 1991).
Does it rain a lot in West Yellowstone 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 2016 (6.6 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in West Yellowstone in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 4.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is October a good time to visit West Yellowstone?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for West Yellowstone (43 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Hebgen Dam (USC00244038), 18 mi NW of the city center, 6,489 ft (178 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain: Whiskey Creek (USS0011E30S), 4.2 mi SSW of the city center, 6,800 ft (133 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Yellowstone (726664-94173), 35 mi ESE of the city center, 7,782 ft (1,115 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).