Sioux Falls, SD weather in October
In October, Sioux Falls sees highs around 61°F and lows around 38°F: cool, with some rain. Rain or snow falls on about 8 days. Snowfall averages about 1.4 in.
- Normal high
- 61°F
- Normal low
- 38°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 2.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.4 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 31°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 23% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:24 am / 7:08 pm | 8:01 am / 6:19 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 (Central Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am41°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 38°F
- Noon56°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm53°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm47°Fdew point 38°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Sioux Falls (3 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 58% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 34%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 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 below10 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 2.4 in; a dry October brings about 0.9 in and a wet one about 3.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.4 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202011: average high 66°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 50°F
- Wettest October1998: 6.3 in
- Driest October2006: 0.3 in
- Highest reading90°F (October 11, 2015)
- Lowest reading12°F (October 27, 1997)
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 | 76°F | 61°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 52°F | 38°F | 25°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 10 | 2 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -15°F from September and -16°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Lincoln, NE190 mi · high 67°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Fargo, ND230 mi · high 56°F · 9 wet days
How Sioux Falls ranks in October
- Normal high307th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days206th driest of 378
- Comfortable days228th most of 340
What to pack for Sioux Falls in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 38°F, highs near 61°F
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 6; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 23. All frost dates for Sioux Falls.
Heating and cooling
October has 485 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 Sioux Falls in October?
The normal high is 61°F and the normal low is 38°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 12°F (most recently on October 27, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Sioux Falls in October?
About 8 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.4 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (6.3 in); the driest was in 2006 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Sioux Falls in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 1.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is October a good time to visit Sioux Falls?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Sioux Falls (58 out of 100). It has about 10 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Sioux Falls (USW00014944), 3.0 mi NNW of the city center, 1,430 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Joe Foss Field Airport (726510-14944), 3.3 mi NW of the city center, 1,419 ft (54 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.