Whitefish, MT weather in October
In October, Whitefish sees highs around 54°F and lows around 29°F: chilly, with frequent rain. There are about 11 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 54°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 1.4 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 63°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 26°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 28% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:36 am / 7:17 pm | 8:21 am / 6:20 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 h | 10.0 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 am34°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm53°Fdew point 34°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 33°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Kalispell Glacier Airport (8 mi away); average wind 4 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below20 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 1.4 in; a dry October brings about 0.8 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 0.4 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202014: average high 61°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 48°F
- Wettest October2016: 4.9 in
- Driest October2002: 0.08 in
- Highest reading86°F (October 2, 1992)
- Lowest reading-3°F (October 29, 2019)
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 | 70°F | 54°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 29°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 11 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 16 | 5 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.6 h | 10.8 h | 9.2 h |
Highs change by -16°F from September and -15°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Drier: Great Falls, MT154 mi · high 57°F · 7 wet days
How Whitefish ranks in October
- Normal high364th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 6 in Montana
- Wet days303rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days297th most of 340
What to pack for Whitefish in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 54°F
- Layers – afternoons near 54°F but nights near 29°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 20 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
October has 725 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Whitefish in October?
The normal high is 54°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -3°F (October 29, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Whitefish in October?
About 11 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 (4.9 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.08 in).
Does it snow in Whitefish in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is October a good time to visit Whitefish?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Whitefish (50 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best months are May and June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: Kalispell Glacier Airport (USC00244558), 8.1 mi SSE of the city center, 2,957 ft (78 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and frost dates: Whitefish (USC00248902), 1.0 mi WSW of the city center, 3,100 ft (65 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Glacier Park International Airport (727790-24146), 8.1 mi SSE of the city center, 2,963 ft (72 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).