Keystone, SD weather in October
October in Keystone: cool, with some rain and some snow. Highs 55°F, lows 29°F, about 7 wet days and about 6.3 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 55°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.3 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 62°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 25°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 23% | 21% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:51 am / 6:35 pm | 7:28 am / 5:45 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 (Mountain Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am36°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am46°Fdew point 27°F
- Noon51°Fdew point 26°F
- 3 pm51°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm43°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm39°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Custer Co Airport (15 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 51% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 39%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F8 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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below21 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 1.6 in; a dry October brings about 0.7 in and a wet one about 1.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.3 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202003: average high 63°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 44°F
- Wettest October2013: 6.4 in
- Driest October1999: 0.2 in
- Highest reading85°F (October 3, 1992)
- Lowest reading-8°F (October 29, 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 | 69°F | 55°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 29°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 8 | 2 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -14°F from September and -10°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Rapid City, SD16 mi · high 60°F · 7 wet days
How Keystone ranks in October
- Normal high359th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days178th driest of 378
- Comfortable days248th most of 340
What to pack for Keystone in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 55°F
- Layers – afternoons near 55°F but nights near 29°F
- Waterproof boots – about 6.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 21 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
October has 701 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Keystone in October?
The normal high is 55°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -8°F (October 29, 1991).
Does it rain a lot in Keystone in October?
About 7 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.6 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (6.4 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Keystone in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 6.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is October a good time to visit Keystone?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Keystone (55 out of 100). It has about 8 comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Pactola Dam (USC00396427), 12 mi NNW of the city center, 4,720 ft (385 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Custer Co Airport (USW00094032), 15 mi SW of the city center, 5,545 ft (1,210 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Ellsworth AFB (USW00024006), 24 mi NE of the city center, 3,215 ft (1,120 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Rapid City Regional Airport (726620-24090), 21 mi ENE of the city center, 3,162 ft (1,173 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.