October is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem, with average highs near 34.1°C and lows around 19.4°C (mean 26.8°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 151 mm of rainfall and 78% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Salem was 2016 — when the month averaged 29.8°C — while the coldest was 2000 at 23.8°C. Typical October days reach 34.1°C with nights near 19.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 26.2°C | 26.3°C | 26.9°C | 27.1°C | 27.3°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 33.5°C | 33.6°C | 34.7°C | 34.5°C | 34.4°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | 18.8°C | 19.1°C | 19.2°C | 19.7°C | 20.3°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 121 mm | 148 mm | 183 mm | 143 mm | 163 mm | +42 mm |
October temperatures in Salem have risen by about 1.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of 15.2°C (2000) to a record high of 38.3°C (2016).
Rainfall in October is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 151 mm, with a wettest year of 349 mm.
A good time to visit Salem
October is a good time to visit Salem, with days averaging 34.1°C and nights around 19.4°C (mean 26.8°C, close to Salem's yearly average) and higher rainfall. January and December are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36.2°C | 21.2°C | 28.7°C | 138 mm | 79% | 1.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2024 | 35.2°C | 20.9°C | 28.0°C | 274 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 36.8°C | 21.2°C | 29.0°C | 104 mm | 74% | 1.4 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2022 | 32.5°C | 17.1°C | 24.8°C | 158 mm | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2021 | 32.1°C | 21.1°C | 26.6°C | 190 mm | 85% | 1.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2020 | 33.6°C | 20.3°C | 26.9°C | 114 mm | 80% | 1.6 m/s | 5 |
| 2019 | 32.1°C | 21.4°C | 26.7°C | 179 mm | 85% | 1.4 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2018 | 34.9°C | 18.1°C | 26.5°C | 106 mm | 75% | 1.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2017 | 31.6°C | 20.8°C | 26.2°C | 110 mm | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2016 🔥 | 38.3°C | 21.3°C | 29.8°C | 43 mm | 59% | 1.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2015 | 34.9°C | 18.5°C | 26.7°C | 100 mm | 73% | 1.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2014 | 34.8°C | 19.6°C | 27.2°C | 192 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2013 | 34.5°C | 18.9°C | 26.7°C | 108 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2012 | 36.3°C | 19.2°C | 27.7°C | 264 mm | 80% | 1.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2011 | 33.3°C | 19.8°C | 26.6°C | 198 mm | 81% | 1.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2010 | 34.0°C | 19.5°C | 26.7°C | 133 mm | 80% | 1.5 m/s | 5 |
| 2009 | 36.6°C | 20.4°C | 28.5°C | 61 mm | 67% | 1.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2008 | 35.2°C | 16.1°C | 25.7°C | 183 mm | 77% | 1.4 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2007 | 35.4°C | 20.0°C | 27.7°C | 200 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2006 | 36.6°C | 21.1°C | 28.8°C | 185 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2005 🌧️ | 32.6°C | 20.9°C | 26.7°C | 349 mm | 84% | 1.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2004 | 32.1°C | 18.4°C | 25.2°C | 213 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2003 | 35.4°C | 19.6°C | 27.5°C | 177 mm | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2002 | 37.1°C | 20.1°C | 28.6°C | 177 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2001 | 33.4°C | 20.5°C | 26.9°C | 128 mm | 80% | 1.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2000 ❄️ | 32.4°C | 15.2°C | 23.8°C | 157 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1999 | 32.0°C | 18.3°C | 25.2°C | 239 mm | 84% | 1.2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1998 | 32.1°C | 17.3°C | 24.7°C | 87 mm | 82% | 1.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1997 | 34.9°C | 19.9°C | 27.4°C | 167 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1996 | 32.5°C | 17.9°C | 25.2°C | 87 mm | 80% | 1.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1995 | 34.4°C | 19.2°C | 26.8°C | 106 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1994 | 33.5°C | 19.8°C | 26.6°C | 179 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1993 | 34.2°C | 19.3°C | 26.8°C | 179 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1992 | 32.3°C | 19.1°C | 25.7°C | 86 mm | 81% | 1.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1991 | 33.7°C | 20.0°C | 26.8°C | 193 mm | 80% | 1.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1990 | 36.5°C | 19.8°C | 28.2°C | 156 mm | 74% | 2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1989 | 34.0°C | 19.7°C | 26.9°C | 113 mm | 76% | 1.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1988 | 34.1°C | 18.5°C | 26.3°C | 41 mm | 72% | 1.4 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1987 | 34.5°C | 21.0°C | 27.8°C | 113 mm | 79% | 1.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1986 | 33.1°C | 18.4°C | 25.8°C | 96 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | 5 |
| 1985 | 34.3°C | 16.4°C | 25.3°C | 63 mm | 74% | 1.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1984 | 31.4°C | 17.3°C | 24.4°C | 178 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 5 |
| 1983 | 33.3°C | 18.5°C | 25.9°C | 91 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 35.4°C | 19.5°C | 27.5°C | 123 mm | 71% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 31.3°C | 19.9°C | 25.6°C | 271 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 34.1°C with lows near 19.4°C (mean 26.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 151 mm of rainfall in Salem, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 349 mm in 2005.
The hottest October reached 38.3°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to 15.2°C in 2000.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 1.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 33.1°C to 34.6°C and overnight lows from 18.3°C to 20.3°C over the same span.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 34.1°C daytime highs and 19.4°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 5th coolest month in Salem, averaging 26.8°C.
For October in Salem, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 34.1°C and lows of 19.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 78% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 1.5 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 2 m/s (1990).
The wettest October on record was 2005 with 349 mm. On average, October sees 151 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 Salem 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.
