October is one of the warmer months of the year in Nelson, with average highs near 8.1°C and lows around -1°C (mean 3.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 63 mm of rainfall and 77% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Nelson. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Nelson was 2022 — when the month averaged 7.8°C — while the coldest was 2009 at -0.2°C. Typical October days reach 8.1°C with nights near -1°C. The long-term October temperature trend is broadly flat.
October is about average for rainfall in Nelson, averaging 63 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2016 with 190 mm, while the driest was 1987 at 7 mm.
Relative humidity in Nelson during October averages 77%. The most humid October was 2016 at 89%, and the least humid was 1987 at 53%.
October receives about 2.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Nelson. The sunniest October was 2002 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2016 at 1.6.
Average wind speed in Nelson during October is 0.3 m/s. The windiest October was 1987 at 0.5 m/s, while the calmest were 1985 and 2016 at 0.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.9°C | 3.1°C | 3.4°C | 3.5°C | 4.1°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 8.7°C | 7.6°C | 8.1°C | 7.7°C | 8.6°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Low | -0.8°C | -1.4°C | -1.3°C | -0.8°C | -0.4°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 47 mm | 58 mm | 57 mm | 82 mm | 71 mm | +24 mm |
October temperatures in Nelson have risen by about 2.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -23.3°C (1984) to a record high of 24.6°C (1992).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 63 mm, with a wettest year of 190 mm.
A good time to visit Nelson
October is a good time to visit Nelson, with days averaging 8.1°C and nights around -1°C (mean 3.6°C, warmer than Nelson's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. August and July are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7.2°C | 2.8°C | -1.6°C | 18.0°C | -6.4°C | 76 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2024 | 8.0°C | 3.7°C | -0.6°C | 17.5°C | -4.2°C | 90 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2023 | 9.6°C | 4.8°C | 0.0°C | 20.4°C | -9.8°C | 37 mm | 77% | 0.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2022 🔥 | 13.2°C | 7.8°C | 2.4°C | 21.5°C | -4.3°C | 46 mm | 73% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2021 | 7.1°C | 2.8°C | -1.5°C | 15.5°C | -10.3°C | 95 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2020 | 6.7°C | 2.7°C | -1.3°C | 19.3°C | -15.0°C | 85 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2019 | 4.3°C | 0.0°C | -4.2°C | 9.9°C | -13.9°C | 53 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 7.6°C | 3.0°C | -1.6°C | 14.8°C | -5.4°C | 83 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2017 | 6.8°C | 2.5°C | -1.8°C | 15.1°C | -4.9°C | 77 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2016 🌧️ | 5.7°C | 2.6°C | -0.5°C | 11.2°C | -4.3°C | 190 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 | 11.2°C | 6.4°C | 1.7°C | 18.9°C | -3.6°C | 58 mm | 76% | 0.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2014 | 9.6°C | 5.5°C | 1.3°C | 17.1°C | -4.9°C | 95 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2013 | 8.2°C | 3.2°C | -1.8°C | 13.3°C | -5.9°C | 24 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2012 | 7.0°C | 2.8°C | -1.5°C | 19.2°C | -8.9°C | 128 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2011 | 7.4°C | 3.4°C | -0.5°C | 16.3°C | -6.4°C | 64 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2010 | 9.7°C | 5.1°C | 0.4°C | 21.4°C | -3.9°C | 52 mm | 76% | 0.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 ❄️ | 3.6°C | -0.2°C | -4.1°C | 13.7°C | -14.5°C | 93 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2008 | 8.3°C | 3.7°C | -0.9°C | 23.8°C | -5.2°C | 47 mm | 69% | 0.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2007 | 6.9°C | 2.8°C | -1.3°C | 16.7°C | -5.1°C | 61 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2006 | 9.3°C | 4.1°C | -1.2°C | 17.8°C | -13.6°C | 28 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2005 | 8.3°C | 4.1°C | -0.2°C | 16.1°C | -3.2°C | 74 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2004 | 8.9°C | 4.0°C | -0.9°C | 18.5°C | -7.2°C | 53 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2003 | 11.0°C | 5.9°C | 0.7°C | 23.6°C | -13.1°C | 89 mm | 72% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2002 | 9.2°C | 3.4°C | -2.4°C | 16.8°C | -12.0°C | 11 mm | 61% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2001 | 6.2°C | 2.0°C | -2.3°C | 17.8°C | -5.9°C | 70 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2000 | 8.9°C | 4.1°C | -0.6°C | 15.4°C | -3.8°C | 41 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1999 | 7.7°C | 3.1°C | -1.4°C | 15.2°C | -6.7°C | 65 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1998 | 8.8°C | 4.3°C | -0.2°C | 15.1°C | -5.7°C | 54 mm | 75% | 0.4 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 6.2°C | 2.4°C | -1.5°C | 13.9°C | -6.0°C | 77 mm | 86% | 0.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1996 | 6.0°C | 1.6°C | -2.9°C | 17.8°C | -15.2°C | 81 mm | 82% | 0.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1995 | 5.9°C | 1.9°C | -2.1°C | 14.5°C | -9.1°C | 67 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1994 | 8.5°C | 3.5°C | -1.4°C | 15.6°C | -4.6°C | 52 mm | 75% | 0.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1993 | 10.3°C | 5.3°C | 0.3°C | 19.9°C | -4.1°C | 40 mm | 71% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1992 | 9.1°C | 4.4°C | -0.4°C | 24.6°C | -5.0°C | 41 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1991 | 8.8°C | 3.5°C | -1.8°C | 20.2°C | -13.6°C | 17 mm | 63% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1990 | 4.5°C | 0.9°C | -2.6°C | 10.7°C | -5.3°C | 85 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1989 | 8.5°C | 3.9°C | -0.8°C | 16.7°C | -7.1°C | 47 mm | 75% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1988 | 12.3°C | 7.1°C | 1.9°C | 22.6°C | -5.5°C | 25 mm | 68% | 0.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1987 | 12.4°C | 6.4°C | 0.5°C | 22.6°C | -5.6°C | 7 mm | 53% | 0.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 | 12.7°C | 6.8°C | 1.0°C | 18.9°C | -4.1°C | 20 mm | 67% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1985 | 4.8°C | 1.0°C | -2.7°C | 14.4°C | -6.9°C | 97 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | 5.8°C | 1.1°C | -3.5°C | 18.8°C | -23.3°C | 45 mm | 77% | 0.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1983 | 7.7°C | 3.4°C | -0.8°C | 12.0°C | -3.4°C | 40 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 7.3°C | 3.1°C | -1.1°C | 16.7°C | -6.2°C | 48 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.4°C | 2.4°C | -1.7°C | 11.9°C | -5.2°C | 95 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 8.1°C with lows near -1°C (mean 3.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 63 mm of rainfall in Nelson, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 190 mm in 2016.
The hottest October reached 24.6°C in 1992. The coldest dipped to -23.3°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 2.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 6.4°C to 9°C and overnight lows from -2°C to -0.3°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Nelson and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 8.1°C daytime highs and -1°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 7th coolest month in Nelson, averaging 3.6°C.
For October in Nelson, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 8.1°C and lows of -1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 77% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 0.3 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 0.5 m/s (1987).
The wettest October on record was 2016 with 190 mm. On average, October sees 63 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Nelson behaves each October, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
