Columbus, OH weather in October
Expect mild weather with frequent rain in Columbus in October, with highs near 66°F and lows near 45°F. Rain falls on about 10 days. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 66°F
- Normal low
- 45°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 72°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:28 am / 7:14 pm | 7:59 am / 6:31 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am48°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 am53°Fdew point 45°F
- Noon61°Fdew point 45°F
- 3 pm64°Fdew point 44°F
- 6 pm60°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 pm55°Fdew point 45°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (7 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 41% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 48%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F13 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more1 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below2 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 2.9 in; a dry October brings about 1.6 in and a wet one about 3.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.2 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 72°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 61°F
- Wettest October2006: 6.7 in
- Driest October1994: 0.9 in
- Highest reading94°F (October 2, 2019)
- Lowest reading26°F (October 20, 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 | 78°F | 66°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 57°F | 45°F | 35°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 13 | 13 | 5 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.1 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -12°F from September and -14°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Louisville, KY189 mi · high 71°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Lansing, MI208 mi · high 61°F · 12 wet days
How Columbus ranks in October
- Normal high240th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days283rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days141st most of 340
What to pack for Columbus in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 27; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 14. All frost dates for Columbus.
Heating and cooling
October has 323 heating degree days and 18 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Columbus in October?
The normal high is 66°F and the normal low is 45°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 26°F (October 20, 1991).
Does it rain a lot in Columbus in October?
About 10 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.9 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (6.7 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Columbus in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.2 in.
Is October a good time to visit Columbus?
October ranks 4th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbus (62 out of 100). It has about 13 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (USW00014821), 6.6 mi ENE of the city center, 810 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Wright Patterson AFB (USW00013840), 56 mi W of the city center, 823 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Port Columbus International Airport (724280-14821), 6.8 mi ENE of the city center, 810 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.