October is one of the warmer months of the year in Fort Smith, with average highs near 23.4°C and lows around 10.3°C (mean 16.9°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 113 mm of rainfall and 71% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Fort Smith. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Fort Smith was 2024 — when the month averaged 21.2°C — while the coldest was 2009 at 13°C. Typical October days reach 23.4°C with nights near 10.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
October is a relatively wet time of year in Fort Smith, averaging 113 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 1984 with 295 mm, while the driest was 1989 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Fort Smith during October averages 71%. The most humid October was 2009 at 86%, and the least humid was 2024 at 48%.
October receives about 3.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Fort Smith. The sunniest October was 2024 at 4.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 2.6.
Average wind speed in Fort Smith during October is 1.7 m/s. The windiest Octobers were 2017, 2021 and 2023, among others at 1.9 m/s, while the calmest was 1986 at 1.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 16.4°C | 16.4°C | 16.5°C | 17.2°C | 18.3°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg High | 22.7°C | 23.1°C | 22.9°C | 23.8°C | 25.1°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg Low | 10.0°C | 9.7°C | 10.1°C | 10.6°C | 11.5°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 123 mm | 111 mm | 115 mm | 103 mm | 116 mm | -7 mm |
October temperatures in Fort Smith have risen by about 2.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -5.3°C (1993) to a record high of 34.2°C (2021).
Rainfall in October is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 113 mm, with a wettest year of 295 mm.
One of the best times to visit Fort Smith
October is one of the best times to visit Fort Smith. Expect days averaging 23.4°C and nights around 10.3°C (mean 16.9°C) — warmer than Fort Smith's yearly average — with higher rainfall (113 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25.3°C | 19.2°C | 13.0°C | 30.5°C | 2.7°C | 110 mm | 71% | 1.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2024 🔥 | 29.6°C | 21.2°C | 12.8°C | 34.2°C | 3.3°C | 33 mm | 48% | 1.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2023 | 24.5°C | 17.8°C | 11.0°C | 33.0°C | -3.2°C | 116 mm | 68% | 1.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2022 | 24.8°C | 17.6°C | 10.4°C | 33.0°C | -2.8°C | 139 mm | 55% | 1.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2021 | 24.9°C | 18.8°C | 12.7°C | 34.2°C | 5.6°C | 152 mm | 72% | 1.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2020 | 21.7°C | 15.3°C | 9.0°C | 29.5°C | 0.6°C | 145 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2019 | 21.5°C | 15.2°C | 8.8°C | 31.9°C | -2.4°C | 216 mm | 76% | 1.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2018 | 21.4°C | 16.4°C | 11.3°C | 31.2°C | 2.0°C | 162 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2017 | 24.6°C | 17.4°C | 10.2°C | 33.5°C | -1.9°C | 88 mm | 65% | 1.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2016 | 28.0°C | 20.9°C | 13.9°C | 32.2°C | 6.3°C | 36 mm | 67% | 1.7 m/s | 4 |
| 2015 | 25.5°C | 18.5°C | 11.6°C | 33.7°C | 5.6°C | 52 mm | 62% | 1.6 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2014 | 23.3°C | 17.2°C | 11.2°C | 31.7°C | 0.4°C | 156 mm | 78% | 1.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2013 | 22.2°C | 16.1°C | 10.1°C | 31.7°C | 1.1°C | 127 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2012 | 22.5°C | 16.0°C | 9.5°C | 29.9°C | -1.1°C | 61 mm | 68% | 1.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2011 | 24.6°C | 17.1°C | 9.5°C | 32.2°C | -0.3°C | 87 mm | 62% | 1.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2010 | 24.6°C | 17.3°C | 9.9°C | 29.4°C | 1.2°C | 45 mm | 63% | 1.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2009 ❄️ | 18.3°C | 13.0°C | 7.7°C | 27.1°C | 0.9°C | 248 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2008 | 22.2°C | 15.5°C | 8.7°C | 26.7°C | -2.0°C | 56 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 4 |
| 2007 | 22.8°C | 16.9°C | 11.1°C | 29.7°C | 2.1°C | 135 mm | 79% | 1.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2006 | 22.0°C | 15.6°C | 9.2°C | 32.6°C | 0.4°C | 102 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2005 | 24.6°C | 17.5°C | 10.4°C | 32.5°C | 1.0°C | 45 mm | 64% | 1.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2004 | 24.9°C | 19.0°C | 13.0°C | 30.3°C | 4.4°C | 194 mm | 74% | 1.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2003 | 25.2°C | 18.2°C | 11.1°C | 31.1°C | 2.8°C | 65 mm | 68% | 1.6 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2002 | 22.0°C | 15.8°C | 9.7°C | 33.6°C | 2.5°C | 84 mm | 70% | 1.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 22.2°C | 15.2°C | 8.3°C | 28.6°C | 0.2°C | 114 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2000 | 25.1°C | 18.4°C | 11.7°C | 33.4°C | -0.9°C | 107 mm | 66% | 1.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1999 | 26.3°C | 18.2°C | 10.1°C | 31.6°C | -0.1°C | 52 mm | 57% | 1.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1998 | 22.5°C | 16.7°C | 10.9°C | 27.5°C | 2.3°C | 167 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1997 | 22.8°C | 16.5°C | 10.2°C | 33.7°C | -0.9°C | 156 mm | 74% | 1.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1996 | 21.8°C | 15.7°C | 9.6°C | 26.0°C | 1.1°C | 99 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1995 | 23.8°C | 16.4°C | 9.0°C | 29.5°C | 2.1°C | 58 mm | 64% | 1.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1994 | 23.8°C | 17.5°C | 11.1°C | 32.5°C | -0.6°C | 91 mm | 72% | 1.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1993 | 19.9°C | 13.9°C | 7.8°C | 28.0°C | -5.3°C | 112 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1992 | 24.2°C | 16.9°C | 9.6°C | 29.0°C | 3.3°C | 38 mm | 68% | 1.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1991 | 24.2°C | 17.5°C | 10.8°C | 30.0°C | 0.3°C | 244 mm | 71% | 1.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1990 | 21.4°C | 14.6°C | 7.8°C | 29.0°C | 0.2°C | 90 mm | 75% | 1.7 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1989 | 25.0°C | 17.4°C | 9.8°C | 32.2°C | -2.6°C | 25 mm | 64% | 1.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1988 | 22.1°C | 15.2°C | 8.2°C | 30.7°C | 4.3°C | 40 mm | 65% | 1.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1987 | 22.2°C | 14.9°C | 7.6°C | 28.0°C | 1.0°C | 66 mm | 66% | 1.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1986 | 21.0°C | 15.9°C | 10.7°C | 29.4°C | 2.4°C | 109 mm | 83% | 1.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1985 | 22.7°C | 17.2°C | 11.7°C | 28.0°C | 3.3°C | 174 mm | 77% | 1.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1984 🌧️ | 22.0°C | 16.8°C | 11.5°C | 26.4°C | 3.9°C | 295 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1983 | 24.4°C | 17.8°C | 11.2°C | 33.1°C | 2.8°C | 106 mm | 68% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 24.0°C | 16.8°C | 9.7°C | 32.9°C | 0.1°C | 80 mm | 63% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 21.0°C | 15.3°C | 9.6°C | 31.3°C | -2.9°C | 211 mm | 77% | 1.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 23.4°C with lows near 10.3°C (mean 16.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 113 mm of rainfall in Fort Smith, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 295 mm in 1984.
The hottest October reached 34.2°C in 2021. The coldest dipped to -5.3°C in 1993.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 2.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 22.8°C to 25.8°C and overnight lows from 10.7°C to 12°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Fort Smith and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 23.4°C daytime highs and 10.3°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 7th coolest month in Fort Smith, averaging 16.9°C.
For October in Fort Smith, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 23.4°C and lows of 10.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 71% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in October is 1.7 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 1.9 m/s (2009).
The wettest October on record was 1984 with 295 mm. On average, October sees 113 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 Fort Smith 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.
