Tacoma, WA weather in October
In October, Tacoma sees highs around 61°F and lows around 47°F: cool, with frequent rain. Rain falls on about 15 days.
- Normal high
- 61°F
- Normal low
- 47°F
- Wet days
- 15
- 4.1 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 43°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 54% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:08 am / 6:50 pm | 7:51 am / 5:55 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 h | 10.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am45°Fdew point 43°F
- 9 am51°Fdew point 47°F
- Noon57°Fdew point 47°F
- 3 pm59°Fdew point 47°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 46°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Tacoma Mcchord AFB (7 mi away); average wind 5 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F7 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow15 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in9 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 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 in October
Normal precipitation is 4.1 in; a dry October brings about 3.0 in and a wet one about 5.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202014: average high 64°F
- Coolest October2013: average high 57°F
- Wettest October2016: 10.6 in
- Driest October2002: 0.4 in
- Highest reading82°F (October 12, 1991)
- Lowest reading26°F (October 31, 2002)
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 | 71°F | 61°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 53°F | 47°F | 41°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 15 | 19 |
| Comfortable days | 24 | 7 | 1 |
| Daylight | 12.6 h | 10.9 h | 9.3 h |
Highs change by -10°F from September and -9°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Drier: Leavenworth, WA87 mi · high 62°F · 9 wet days
How Tacoma ranks in October
- Normal high313th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 9 in Washington
- Wet days363rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days260th most of 340
What to pack for Tacoma in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 15 days
Heating and cooling
October has 352 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 Tacoma in October?
The normal high is 61°F and the normal low is 47°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 26°F (October 31, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Tacoma in October?
About 15 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.1 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2016 (10.6 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.4 in).
Is October a good time to visit Tacoma?
October ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Tacoma (52 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Tacoma #1 (USC00458278), 1.6 mi ESE of the city center, 25 ft (225 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Mcmillin Rsvr (USC00455224), 12 mi SE of the city center, 579 ft (329 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Tacoma Mcchord AFB (USW00024207), 7.3 mi SSW of the city center, 289 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mcchord AFB Airport (742060-24207), 7.3 mi SSW of the city center, 322 ft (72 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).