Charleston, WV weather in October
Charleston is mild in October, with frequent rain: highs average 69°F and nights drop to about 45°F. There are about 10 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 0.6 in. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 69°F
- Normal low
- 45°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.6 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 74°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:22 am / 7:09 pm | 7:51 am / 6:28 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.6 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 46°F
- 9 am53°Fdew point 48°F
- Noon63°Fdew point 47°F
- 3 pm66°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm62°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 pm55°Fdew point 48°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Charleston Yeager Airport (3 mi away); average wind 3 mph; clear or few clouds in 54% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 38%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F15 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 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 2.9 in; a dry October brings about 1.7 in and a wet one about 4.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.6 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 75°F
- Coolest October2011: average high 65°F
- Wettest October2002: 6.1 in
- Driest October1997: 0.8 in
- Highest reading94°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 | 80°F | 69°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 57°F | 45°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 10 | 15 | 8 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.2 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -11°F from September and -12°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Concord, NC211 mi · high 74°F · 8 wet days
- Drier: Charlotte, NC220 mi · high 73°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Pittsburgh, PA169 mi · high 63°F · 11 wet days
How Charleston ranks in October
- Normal high208th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in West Virginia
- Wet days286th driest of 378
- Comfortable days64th most of 340
What to pack for Charleston in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 26; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 13. All frost dates for Charleston.
Heating and cooling
October has 271 heating degree days and 23 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Charleston in October?
The normal high is 69°F and the normal low is 45°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 23°F (October 20, 1992).
Does it rain a lot in Charleston 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 2002 (6.1 in); the driest was in 1997 (0.8 in).
Does it snow in Charleston in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.6 in.
Is October a good time to visit Charleston?
October ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Charleston (65 out of 100). It has about 15 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Charleston Yeager Airport (USW00013866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 910 ft (314 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Huntington Tri State Airport (USW00003860), 50 mi W of the city center, 824 ft (228 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Yeager Airport (724140-13866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 912 ft (316 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.