Pittsburgh, PA weather in October
October in Pittsburgh: cool, with frequent rain. Highs 63°F, lows 44°F, about 11 wet days. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 63°F
- Normal low
- 44°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 49°F | 39°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:16 am / 7:02 pm | 7:48 am / 6:18 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 43°F
- 9 am52°Fdew point 44°F
- Noon59°Fdew point 44°F
- 3 pm61°Fdew point 43°F
- 6 pm58°Fdew point 43°F
- 9 pm54°Fdew point 43°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Pittsburgh Allegheny Co Airport (7 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 45% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F12 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 in7 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 2.8 in; a dry October brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 3.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.4 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 70°F
- Coolest October2002: average high 59°F
- Wettest October2019: 7.2 in
- Driest October1991: 0.6 in
- Highest reading89°F (October 3, 2019)
- Lowest reading23°F (October 20, 1992)
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 | 75°F | 63°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 55°F | 44°F | 34°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 12 | 4 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.1 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -12°F from September and -12°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Charleston, WV169 mi · high 69°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Richmond, VA241 mi · high 71°F · 8 wet days
How Pittsburgh ranks in October
- Normal high283rd warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in Pennsylvania
- Wet days316th driest of 378
- Comfortable days155th most of 340
What to pack for Pittsburgh in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 27; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 13. All frost dates for Pittsburgh.
Heating and cooling
October has 371 heating degree days and 11 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Pittsburgh in October?
The normal high is 63°F and the normal low is 44°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 23°F (October 20, 1992).
Does it rain a lot in Pittsburgh in October?
About 11 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.8 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (7.2 in); the driest was in 1991 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Pittsburgh in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.4 in.
Is October a good time to visit Pittsburgh?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Pittsburgh (60 out of 100). It has about 12 comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Pittsburgh Intl Airport (USW00094823), 12 mi WNW of the city center, 1,203 ft (438 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr (USC00362574), 6.6 mi NW of the city center, 717 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Pittsburgh Allegheny Co Airport (USW00014762), 7.1 mi SSE of the city center, 1,248 ft (483 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Pittsburgh International Airport (725200-94823), 12 mi WNW of the city center, 1,119 ft (354 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.