October is one of the warmer months of the year in Iqaluit, with average highs near -4.6°C and lows around -10.3°C (mean -7.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 62 mm of rainfall and 97% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Iqaluit. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Iqaluit was 2024 — when the month averaged -3.2°C — while the coldest was 1986 at -13.7°C. Typical October days reach -4.6°C with nights near -10.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
October is about average for rainfall in Iqaluit, averaging 62 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2025 with 138 mm, while the driest was 2009 at 31 mm.
Relative humidity in Iqaluit during October averages 97%. The most humid October was 1982 at 98%, and the least humid was 1988 at 95%.
October receives about 0.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Iqaluit. The sunniest Octobers were 1995 and 2021 at 1.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1984 and 2020 at 0.6.
Average wind speed in Iqaluit during October is 3.6 m/s. The windiest October was 1988 at 4.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1987 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -8.7°C | -8.3°C | -7.0°C | -7.4°C | -5.1°C | +3.6°C |
| Avg High | -5.7°C | -5.3°C | -4.0°C | -4.6°C | -2.5°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg Low | -11.6°C | -11.3°C | -9.9°C | -10.2°C | -7.7°C | +3.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 52 mm | 59 mm | 65 mm | 59 mm | 86 mm | +33 mm |
October temperatures in Iqaluit have risen by about 3.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -28.6°C (1986) to a record high of 4.9°C (2024).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 62 mm, with a wettest year of 138 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.6°C per decade while lows rose 0.8°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Iqaluit
October is a good time to visit Iqaluit, with days averaging -4.6°C and nights around -10.3°C (mean -7.4°C, warmer than Iqaluit's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. July and August 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 🌧️ | -1.5°C | -4.0°C | -6.4°C | 1.2°C | -14.2°C | 138 mm | 97% | 4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2024 🔥 | -1.1°C | -3.2°C | -5.4°C | 4.9°C | -13.8°C | 56 mm | 96% | 4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2023 | -3.6°C | -6.5°C | -9.5°C | 2.2°C | -20.4°C | 63 mm | 97% | 2.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | -3.6°C | -6.5°C | -9.4°C | 1.2°C | -19.5°C | 110 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2021 | -1.1°C | -3.8°C | -6.5°C | 2.1°C | -11.7°C | 35 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2020 | -4.3°C | -6.7°C | -9.2°C | 0.7°C | -21.4°C | 111 mm | 97% | 3.2 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2019 | -1.2°C | -3.3°C | -5.5°C | 3.1°C | -11.6°C | 43 mm | 95% | 3.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2018 | -7.6°C | -10.8°C | -13.9°C | -1.1°C | -19.8°C | 41 mm | 97% | 3.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2017 | -5.2°C | -8.1°C | -11.0°C | 1.1°C | -18.5°C | 74 mm | 97% | 3.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2016 | -5.3°C | -8.6°C | -11.8°C | 0.9°C | -24.4°C | 58 mm | 97% | 3.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2015 | -6.4°C | -9.6°C | -12.8°C | 1.2°C | -23.7°C | 36 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2014 | -4.8°C | -7.4°C | -10.1°C | 0.4°C | -20.5°C | 65 mm | 97% | 3.8 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2013 | -4.1°C | -6.8°C | -9.5°C | 0.4°C | -16.8°C | 72 mm | 97% | 3.2 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2012 | -4.3°C | -6.9°C | -9.6°C | 1.6°C | -20.2°C | 78 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2011 | -5.5°C | -8.6°C | -11.7°C | 0.4°C | -19.4°C | 61 mm | 97% | 3.6 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2010 | -2.0°C | -4.2°C | -6.5°C | 1.3°C | -13.9°C | 57 mm | 96% | 4.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2009 | -6.1°C | -9.2°C | -12.4°C | 0.3°C | -22.1°C | 31 mm | 96% | 3.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2008 | -4.4°C | -7.5°C | -10.5°C | 0.4°C | -19.8°C | 59 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2007 | -5.9°C | -9.0°C | -12.2°C | 0.4°C | -20.0°C | 58 mm | 96% | 3.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2006 | -2.7°C | -5.7°C | -8.6°C | 1.6°C | -16.9°C | 72 mm | 97% | 3.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2005 | -2.4°C | -5.1°C | -7.8°C | 1.8°C | -17.1°C | 85 mm | 97% | 3.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2004 | -2.8°C | -5.7°C | -8.5°C | 1.0°C | -14.8°C | 85 mm | 97% | 4.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2003 | -3.4°C | -6.0°C | -8.7°C | 1.4°C | -24.0°C | 63 mm | 96% | 3.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2002 | -3.0°C | -5.4°C | -7.8°C | 1.6°C | -16.8°C | 61 mm | 96% | 3.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2001 | -4.1°C | -6.9°C | -9.6°C | 1.1°C | -19.5°C | 52 mm | 97% | 3.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2000 | -5.7°C | -9.2°C | -12.6°C | -0.7°C | -20.5°C | 82 mm | 98% | 3.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1999 | -6.0°C | -8.9°C | -11.9°C | 0.6°C | -22.3°C | 38 mm | 95% | 3.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1998 | -4.5°C | -7.3°C | -10.1°C | 4.2°C | -21.2°C | 55 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1997 | -4.8°C | -7.7°C | -10.5°C | 0.6°C | -20.2°C | 94 mm | 97% | 4 m/s | 1 |
| 1996 | -6.1°C | -9.0°C | -11.9°C | -0.3°C | -20.8°C | 67 mm | 97% | 4.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -4.5°C | -7.7°C | -11.0°C | 0.3°C | -20.5°C | 38 mm | 97% | 3.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1994 | -3.6°C | -6.4°C | -9.2°C | 3.6°C | -16.6°C | 42 mm | 95% | 3.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1993 | -5.5°C | -8.2°C | -10.9°C | 0.8°C | -23.4°C | 69 mm | 97% | 4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1992 | -4.1°C | -7.0°C | -9.9°C | 0.4°C | -19.5°C | 70 mm | 98% | 3.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1991 | -6.7°C | -9.9°C | -13.1°C | -0.5°C | -21.8°C | 80 mm | 98% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1990 | -7.4°C | -11.0°C | -14.5°C | 0.0°C | -21.5°C | 42 mm | 97% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1989 | -6.7°C | -10.4°C | -14.0°C | -0.1°C | -23.0°C | 40 mm | 97% | 2.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1988 | -2.7°C | -5.2°C | -7.6°C | 0.5°C | -13.3°C | 71 mm | 95% | 4.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1987 | -5.4°C | -8.5°C | -11.7°C | -1.9°C | -19.4°C | 67 mm | 97% | 2.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1986 ❄️ | -10.4°C | -13.7°C | -17.0°C | 0.0°C | -28.6°C | 40 mm | 96% | 3.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -4.5°C | -7.3°C | -10.1°C | 0.5°C | -22.3°C | 62 mm | 96% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1984 | -4.9°C | -8.0°C | -11.1°C | 1.8°C | -21.2°C | 51 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1983 | -6.2°C | -9.0°C | -11.8°C | 0.1°C | -20.6°C | 37 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -6.8°C | -9.7°C | -12.7°C | -0.2°C | -24.2°C | 51 mm | 98% | 3.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -3.6°C | -6.2°C | -8.8°C | 2.2°C | -19.9°C | 51 mm | 96% | 3.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around -4.6°C with lows near -10.3°C (mean -7.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 62 mm of rainfall in Iqaluit, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 138 mm in 2025.
The hottest October reached 4.9°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to -28.6°C in 1986.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 3.2°C. Daytime highs moved from -5.2°C to -2.2°C and overnight lows from -10.9°C to -7.4°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Iqaluit and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -4.6°C daytime highs and -10.3°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 7th coolest month in Iqaluit, averaging -7.4°C.
For October in Iqaluit, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -4.6°C and lows of -10.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 97% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 3.6 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 4.3 m/s (1988).
The wettest October on record was 2025 with 138 mm. On average, October sees 62 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 Iqaluit 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.
