Grand Forks, ND weather in October
October in Grand Forks: chilly, with some rain. Highs 53°F, lows 35°F, rain or snow on about 8 days and about 1.5 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 53°F
- Normal low
- 35°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.5 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 62°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 28°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 25% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:27 am / 7:08 pm | 8:11 am / 6:11 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 (Central Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am38°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 am43°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 36°F
- 3 pm53°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 pm42°Fdew point 35°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Grand Forks Af (17 mi away); average wind 11 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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below13 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 2.0 in; a dry October brings about 0.9 in and a wet one about 2.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.5 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202011: average high 61°F
- Coolest October2002: average high 42°F
- Wettest October1998: 5.8 in
- Driest October1992: 0.03 in
- Highest reading93°F (October 1, 1992)
- Lowest reading5°F (October 31, 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 | 70°F | 53°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 35°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 5 | 1 |
| Daylight | 12.6 h | 10.8 h | 9.3 h |
Highs change by -17°F from September and -18°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Aberdeen, SD183 mi · high 59°F · 8 wet days
How Grand Forks ranks in October
- Normal high365th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in North Dakota
- Wet days223rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days295th most of 340
What to pack for Grand Forks in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 35°F, highs near 53°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 1; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 20. All frost dates for Grand Forks.
Heating and cooling
October has 656 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Grand Forks in October?
The normal high is 53°F and the normal low is 35°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 5°F (October 31, 1991).
Does it rain a lot in Grand Forks in October?
About 8 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.0 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (5.8 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.03 in).
Does it snow in Grand Forks in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 1.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is October a good time to visit Grand Forks?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Grand Forks (50 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: Grand Forks Univ (NWS) (USC00323621), 3.0 mi W of the city center, 830 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Grand Forks Intl Airport (USW00014916), 7.1 mi W of the city center, 842 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Grand Forks Af (USW00094925), 17 mi W of the city center, 906 ft (76 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Grand Forks AFB Airport (727575-94925), 17 mi W of the city center, 913 ft (83 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).