Rochester, NY weather in October
In October, Rochester sees highs around 61°F and lows around 43°F: cool, with frequent rain. Expect about 14 wet days.
- Normal high
- 61°F
- Normal low
- 43°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 3.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 55°F |
| Normal low | 48°F | 39°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 46% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:07 am / 6:52 pm | 7:44 am / 6:03 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 h | 10.3 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am47°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 am52°Fdew point 44°F
- Noon57°Fdew point 44°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 43°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 43°F
- 9 pm50°Fdew point 43°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph1 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 snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below3 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 3.2 in; a dry October brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 4.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202017: average high 68°F
- Coolest October1992: average high 55°F
- Wettest October2017: 6.7 in
- Driest October1994: 1.3 in
- Highest reading88°F (October 1, 2019)
- Lowest reading24°F (October 14, 1993)
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 | 74°F | 61°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 54°F | 43°F | 34°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 14 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 16 | 10 | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -12°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Paterson, NJ235 mi · high 67°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Allentown, PA207 mi · high 66°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY197 mi · high 52°F · 15 wet days
How Rochester ranks in October
- Normal high306th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 10 in New York
- Wet days357th driest of 378
- Comfortable days220th most of 340
What to pack for Rochester in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 14 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 25; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 8. All frost dates for Rochester.
Heating and cooling
October has 404 heating degree days and 8 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rochester in October?
The normal high is 61°F and the normal low is 43°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 24°F (October 14, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Rochester in October?
About 14 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (6.7 in); the driest was in 1994 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Rochester in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.1 in.
Is October a good time to visit Rochester?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rochester (56 out of 100). It has about 10 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (USW00014768), 4.0 mi SW of the city center, 533 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Rochester International Airport (725290-14768), 4.0 mi SW of the city center, 540 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).