Milwaukee, WI weather in October
In October, Milwaukee sees highs around 61°F and lows around 45°F: cool, with frequent rain. There are about 10 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 61°F
- Normal low
- 45°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 55°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 39°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:49 am / 6:33 pm | 7:25 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 (Central Time).
A typical October day
- 6 am47°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 am53°Fdew point 42°F
- Noon57°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm57°Fdew point 42°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 pm51°Fdew point 42°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (6 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F9 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph1 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 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 1.5 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.3 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 66°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 54°F
- Wettest October1991: 7.0 in
- Driest October1993: 0.4 in
- Highest reading87°F (October 6, 2007)
- Lowest reading24°F (October 31, 2020)
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 | 74°F | 61°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 56°F | 45°F | 33°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 9 | 2 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -13°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Springfield, IL241 mi · high 67°F · 9 wet days
- Drier: Carmel, IN231 mi · high 65°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI153 mi · high 55°F · 12 wet days
How Milwaukee ranks in October
- Normal high305th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in Wisconsin
- Wet days294th driest of 378
- Comfortable days240th most of 340
What to pack for Milwaukee in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 29; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 15. All frost dates for Milwaukee.
Heating and cooling
October has 383 heating degree days and 11 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Milwaukee in October?
The normal high is 61°F and the normal low is 45°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 24°F (October 31, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Milwaukee in October?
About 10 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 1991 (7.0 in); the driest was in 1993 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Milwaukee in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.3 in.
Is October a good time to visit Milwaukee?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Milwaukee (57 out of 100). It has about 9 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (USW00014839), 5.8 mi S of the city center, 670 ft (55 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: General Mitchell International Airport (726400-14839), 5.8 mi S of the city center, 667 ft (52 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).