October is one of the warmer months of the year in Rockford, with average highs near 15.9°C and lows around 4.6°C (mean 10.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 77 mm of rainfall and 76% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Rockford. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Rockford was 2021 — when the month averaged 13.9°C — while the coldest was 1987 at 6.4°C. Typical October days reach 15.9°C with nights near 4.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
October is about average for rainfall in Rockford, averaging 77 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 1985 with 172 mm, while the driest was 2005 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in Rockford during October averages 76%. The most humid October was 1986 at 86%, and the least humid was 2024 at 60%.
October receives about 2.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Rockford. The sunniest Octobers were 2010 and 2024 at 3.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2009 at 2.2.
Average wind speed in Rockford during October is 3.1 m/s. The windiest October was 1990 at 3.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2011, 2013 and 2021, among others at 2.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.4°C | 9.8°C | 10.3°C | 10.5°C | 11.6°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg High | 15.1°C | 15.7°C | 15.8°C | 16.0°C | 17.4°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Low | 3.8°C | 4.0°C | 4.8°C | 5.1°C | 5.9°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 83 mm | 71 mm | 70 mm | 90 mm | 66 mm | -17 mm |
October temperatures in Rockford have risen by about 2.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -8.7°C (2019) to a record high of 30.6°C (2025).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 77 mm, with a wettest year of 172 mm.
A good time to visit Rockford
October is a good time to visit Rockford, with days averaging 15.9°C and nights around 4.6°C (mean 10.3°C, warmer than Rockford'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 | 19.1°C | 13.3°C | 7.5°C | 30.6°C | -1.6°C | 46 mm | 71% | 3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2024 | 20.1°C | 13.3°C | 6.5°C | 28.7°C | -1.4°C | 22 mm | 60% | 3.3 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 16.6°C | 11.5°C | 6.3°C | 29.2°C | -5.1°C | 93 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2022 | 16.2°C | 10.0°C | 3.7°C | 24.1°C | -4.4°C | 40 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2021 🔥 | 18.8°C | 13.9°C | 9.1°C | 30.1°C | -0.6°C | 124 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 13.4°C | 7.7°C | 2.1°C | 24.3°C | -4.3°C | 68 mm | 77% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2019 | 13.7°C | 8.7°C | 3.8°C | 26.7°C | -8.7°C | 148 mm | 83% | 3.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2018 | 13.9°C | 8.9°C | 3.9°C | 27.7°C | -4.8°C | 127 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 17.2°C | 12.1°C | 7.0°C | 27.6°C | -3.8°C | 153 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2016 | 17.7°C | 12.4°C | 7.1°C | 25.8°C | 0.7°C | 82 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 | 16.7°C | 11.3°C | 5.9°C | 24.9°C | -3.8°C | 48 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2014 | 15.2°C | 9.8°C | 4.4°C | 23.1°C | -3.0°C | 73 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2013 | 15.9°C | 10.2°C | 4.4°C | 26.4°C | -4.5°C | 80 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2012 | 15.5°C | 9.5°C | 3.5°C | 24.2°C | -3.4°C | 90 mm | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2011 | 16.8°C | 11.1°C | 5.4°C | 25.8°C | -2.1°C | 52 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2010 | 17.5°C | 11.4°C | 5.2°C | 27.4°C | -4.8°C | 53 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2009 | 12.3°C | 7.9°C | 3.4°C | 20.8°C | -5.2°C | 145 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 15.0°C | 9.8°C | 4.6°C | 26.3°C | -4.3°C | 60 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2007 | 18.5°C | 13.1°C | 7.7°C | 28.8°C | -1.5°C | 63 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2006 | 13.5°C | 7.8°C | 2.2°C | 25.9°C | -3.8°C | 101 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2005 | 17.9°C | 12.1°C | 6.4°C | 30.0°C | -0.2°C | 12 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2004 | 17.5°C | 11.6°C | 5.7°C | 25.7°C | -2.4°C | 65 mm | 73% | 3.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2003 | 17.3°C | 10.7°C | 4.2°C | 27.4°C | -3.3°C | 41 mm | 70% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2002 | 13.3°C | 8.2°C | 3.1°C | 25.5°C | -4.0°C | 68 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 14.8°C | 9.7°C | 4.5°C | 24.9°C | -3.1°C | 118 mm | 78% | 3.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 18.1°C | 12.0°C | 6.0°C | 25.1°C | -3.0°C | 27 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1999 | 16.3°C | 9.8°C | 3.4°C | 23.3°C | -4.9°C | 23 mm | 71% | 3.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 16.6°C | 11.2°C | 5.9°C | 22.9°C | -1.7°C | 116 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 3 |
| 1997 | 17.1°C | 10.9°C | 4.8°C | 30.2°C | -5.7°C | 40 mm | 71% | 3.2 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1996 | 16.1°C | 10.0°C | 3.9°C | 24.3°C | -5.7°C | 81 mm | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1995 | 15.8°C | 10.2°C | 4.6°C | 25.4°C | -1.3°C | 124 mm | 77% | 3.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1994 | 16.5°C | 10.7°C | 4.9°C | 25.2°C | -1.8°C | 36 mm | 75% | 3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1993 | 13.6°C | 8.1°C | 2.5°C | 24.4°C | -4.1°C | 25 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 3 |
| 1992 | 14.5°C | 8.6°C | 2.8°C | 24.0°C | -6.1°C | 25 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1991 | 14.7°C | 9.2°C | 3.7°C | 23.1°C | -5.4°C | 156 mm | 77% | 3.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1990 | 15.4°C | 9.2°C | 3.0°C | 26.1°C | -2.8°C | 81 mm | 74% | 3.7 m/s | 3 |
| 1989 | 16.2°C | 10.1°C | 4.1°C | 24.0°C | -2.9°C | 32 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1988 | 12.4°C | 6.7°C | 1.1°C | 23.0°C | -6.5°C | 56 mm | 67% | 3.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1987 ❄️ | 12.2°C | 6.4°C | 0.7°C | 20.1°C | -4.0°C | 30 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 3 |
| 1986 | 14.8°C | 9.7°C | 4.7°C | 21.1°C | -0.8°C | 55 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1985 🌧️ | 15.1°C | 9.9°C | 4.7°C | 22.4°C | -1.0°C | 172 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1984 | 17.7°C | 11.7°C | 5.8°C | 23.8°C | -3.2°C | 171 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1983 | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 5.0°C | 27.3°C | -1.1°C | 68 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 17.2°C | 11.1°C | 5.0°C | 26.9°C | -3.7°C | 97 mm | 73% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 13.9°C | 8.4°C | 2.8°C | 21.1°C | -6.0°C | 65 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 15.9°C with lows near 4.6°C (mean 10.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 77 mm of rainfall in Rockford, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 172 mm in 1985.
The hottest October reached 30.6°C in 2025. The coldest dipped to -8.7°C in 2019.
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 16°C to 18.2°C and overnight lows from 4.7°C to 6.6°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Rockford and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 15.9°C daytime highs and 4.6°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 7th coolest month in Rockford, averaging 10.3°C.
For October in Rockford, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 15.9°C and lows of 4.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 76% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 3.1 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 3.7 m/s (1990).
The wettest October on record was 1985 with 172 mm. On average, October sees 77 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 Rockford 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.
