Lincoln, NE weather in October
October in Lincoln: mild, with some rain. Highs 67°F, lows 41°F, about 7 wet days and about 0.9 in of snow. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 67°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.9 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 74°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 48°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 24% | 20% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:23 am / 7:09 pm | 7:56 am / 6:24 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am45°Fdew point 39°F
- 9 am52°Fdew point 41°F
- Noon61°Fdew point 41°F
- 3 pm65°Fdew point 40°F
- 6 pm58°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 pm51°Fdew point 41°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lincoln Muni Airport (6 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 69% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 26%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F14 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below7 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry October brings about 0.9 in and a wet one about 2.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.9 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202010: average high 72°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 56°F
- Wettest October2017: 4.9 in
- Driest October1999: 0.03 in
- Highest reading94°F (October 3, 2018)
- Lowest reading8°F (October 27, 1997)
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 | 80°F | 67°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 54°F | 41°F | 28°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 14 | 4 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.1 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -15°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Cooler: Sioux Falls, SD190 mi · high 61°F · 8 wet days
How Lincoln ranks in October
- Normal high226th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 2 in Nebraska
- Wet days152nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days123rd most of 340
What to pack for Lincoln in October
- Layers – afternoons near 67°F but nights near 41°F
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 13; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 29. All frost dates for Lincoln.
Heating and cooling
October has 367 heating degree days and 20 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Lincoln in October?
The normal high is 67°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 8°F (October 27, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Lincoln in October?
About 7 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (4.9 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.03 in).
Does it snow in Lincoln in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.9 in.
Is October a good time to visit Lincoln?
October ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Lincoln (64 out of 100). It has about 14 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lincoln Muni Airport (USW00014939), 5.5 mi NW of the city center, 1,190 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Lincoln Municipal Airport (725510-14939), 6.1 mi WNW of the city center, 1,170 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.