October is one of the warmer months of the year in New Bedford, with average highs near 16°C and lows around 11.6°C (mean 13.8°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 108 mm of rainfall and 78% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in New Bedford. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in New Bedford was 2021 — when the month averaged 16.5°C — while the coldest was 1988 at 11.5°C. Typical October days reach 16°C with nights near 11.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
October is a relatively wet time of year in New Bedford, averaging 108 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2005 with 247 mm, while the driest was 2013 at 23 mm.
Relative humidity in New Bedford during October averages 78%. The most humid October was 2005 at 84%, and the least humid was 1997 at 72%.
October receives about 3.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in New Bedford. The sunniest Octobers were 2001 and 2024 at 3.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2005 at 2.5.
Average wind speed in New Bedford during October is 5.5 m/s. The windiest October was 2019 at 6.4 m/s, while the calmest were 2013 and 2024 at 4.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 12.9°C | 13.4°C | 13.5°C | 14.5°C | 15.1°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg High | 15.2°C | 15.6°C | 15.7°C | 16.7°C | 17.2°C | +2°C |
| Avg Low | 10.6°C | 11.0°C | 11.3°C | 12.3°C | 13.1°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 94 mm | 101 mm | 96 mm | 129 mm | 128 mm | +34 mm |
October temperatures in New Bedford have risen by about 2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of 2.1°C (1988) to a record high of 24.7°C (2011).
Rainfall in October is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 108 mm, with a wettest year of 247 mm.
A good time to visit New Bedford
October is a good time to visit New Bedford, with days averaging 16°C and nights around 11.6°C (mean 13.8°C, warmer than New Bedford's yearly average) and higher 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 | 16.4°C | 14.5°C | 12.7°C | 23.3°C | 7.8°C | 171 mm | 79% | 6.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2024 | 17.0°C | 14.7°C | 12.4°C | 20.8°C | 7.9°C | 32 mm | 77% | 4.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2023 | 17.3°C | 15.3°C | 13.3°C | 22.6°C | 7.6°C | 64 mm | 83% | 4.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2022 | 16.9°C | 15.0°C | 13.2°C | 20.1°C | 9.8°C | 170 mm | 82% | 5.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 🔥 | 18.5°C | 16.5°C | 14.5°C | 21.9°C | 9.6°C | 163 mm | 82% | 5.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2020 | 16.8°C | 14.7°C | 12.7°C | 20.3°C | 4.3°C | 168 mm | 79% | 5.2 m/s | 3 |
| 2019 | 16.3°C | 14.3°C | 12.4°C | 23.4°C | 8.4°C | 181 mm | 82% | 6.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2018 | 16.1°C | 13.6°C | 11.1°C | 22.3°C | 3.1°C | 161 mm | 80% | 5.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 18.4°C | 16.4°C | 14.4°C | 22.6°C | 8.6°C | 149 mm | 83% | 5.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2016 | 16.5°C | 14.2°C | 11.9°C | 22.6°C | 5.6°C | 147 mm | 80% | 5.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2015 | 15.5°C | 13.3°C | 11.2°C | 19.8°C | 3.4°C | 119 mm | 77% | 5.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2014 | 17.1°C | 15.0°C | 12.9°C | 20.8°C | 6.7°C | 118 mm | 80% | 5.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2013 | 16.9°C | 14.7°C | 12.5°C | 22.9°C | 7.6°C | 23 mm | 76% | 4.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 17.1°C | 15.0°C | 12.9°C | 21.6°C | 5.9°C | 74 mm | 80% | 5.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2011 | 16.6°C | 14.6°C | 12.5°C | 24.7°C | 4.1°C | 179 mm | 76% | 5.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2010 | 16.1°C | 13.7°C | 11.4°C | 23.0°C | 5.4°C | 135 mm | 78% | 6.2 m/s | 3 |
| 2009 | 14.9°C | 12.6°C | 10.4°C | 19.7°C | 6.5°C | 168 mm | 79% | 5.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2008 | 15.0°C | 12.8°C | 10.6°C | 19.3°C | 3.8°C | 60 mm | 78% | 5.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2007 | 17.8°C | 15.6°C | 13.4°C | 23.1°C | 5.4°C | 54 mm | 81% | 5.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2006 | 15.6°C | 13.2°C | 10.8°C | 20.5°C | 5.9°C | 93 mm | 77% | 6.2 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2005 🌧️ | 16.1°C | 14.1°C | 12.1°C | 21.6°C | 4.3°C | 247 mm | 84% | 5.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2004 | 15.0°C | 13.3°C | 11.5°C | 19.2°C | 8.0°C | 74 mm | 81% | 5.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2003 | 15.3°C | 13.0°C | 10.8°C | 20.4°C | 4.7°C | 107 mm | 77% | 5.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2002 | 15.1°C | 13.0°C | 10.9°C | 22.7°C | 5.0°C | 76 mm | 74% | 5.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2001 | 16.6°C | 14.1°C | 11.6°C | 20.8°C | 6.1°C | 36 mm | 77% | 5.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2000 | 15.2°C | 12.8°C | 10.5°C | 21.9°C | 3.3°C | 50 mm | 79% | 5.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1999 | 15.9°C | 13.4°C | 10.8°C | 20.3°C | 6.2°C | 147 mm | 78% | 5.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 15.2°C | 13.0°C | 10.7°C | 21.6°C | 7.1°C | 94 mm | 76% | 5.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1997 | 15.3°C | 13.1°C | 10.8°C | 22.6°C | 4.1°C | 67 mm | 72% | 4.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1996 | 14.5°C | 12.2°C | 9.9°C | 18.0°C | 5.0°C | 205 mm | 81% | 5.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1995 | 17.7°C | 15.2°C | 12.7°C | 21.2°C | 6.5°C | 113 mm | 79% | 5.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1994 | 15.2°C | 13.0°C | 10.9°C | 18.3°C | 7.7°C | 30 mm | 75% | 4.7 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1993 | 14.9°C | 12.7°C | 10.5°C | 19.0°C | 6.6°C | 122 mm | 76% | 5.7 m/s | 3 |
| 1992 | 14.2°C | 11.9°C | 9.6°C | 18.6°C | 4.6°C | 46 mm | 76% | 5.3 m/s | 3 |
| 1991 | 16.0°C | 13.9°C | 11.7°C | 19.9°C | 5.7°C | 95 mm | 81% | 5.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1990 | 17.5°C | 15.1°C | 12.7°C | 22.3°C | 4.0°C | 96 mm | 78% | 5.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1989 | 15.8°C | 13.4°C | 10.9°C | 20.5°C | 7.2°C | 153 mm | 80% | 5.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1988 ❄️ | 13.7°C | 11.5°C | 9.3°C | 20.1°C | 2.1°C | 98 mm | 74% | 6.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1987 | 14.5°C | 12.0°C | 9.5°C | 18.7°C | 5.2°C | 59 mm | 78% | 5.2 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1986 | 15.0°C | 12.8°C | 10.5°C | 23.1°C | 6.0°C | 111 mm | 77% | 5.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1985 | 16.1°C | 13.7°C | 11.3°C | 20.7°C | 3.7°C | 44 mm | 74% | 5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1984 | 15.9°C | 13.8°C | 11.7°C | 19.6°C | 5.5°C | 105 mm | 80% | 4.9 m/s | 3 |
| 1983 | 15.8°C | 13.7°C | 11.6°C | 22.1°C | 4.4°C | 115 mm | 76% | 5.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 15.2°C | 13.0°C | 10.7°C | 20.6°C | 5.7°C | 87 mm | 78% | 5.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.4°C | 12.0°C | 9.6°C | 17.4°C | 5.6°C | 78 mm | 77% | 5.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 16°C with lows near 11.6°C (mean 13.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 108 mm of rainfall in New Bedford, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 247 mm in 2005.
The hottest October reached 24.7°C in 2011. The coldest dipped to 2.1°C in 1988.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 2°C. Daytime highs moved from 15.5°C to 17.2°C and overnight lows from 11°C to 13.2°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in New Bedford and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 16°C daytime highs and 11.6°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 8th coolest month in New Bedford, averaging 13.8°C.
For October in New Bedford, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 16°C and lows of 11.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 78% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 5.5 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 6.4 m/s (2019).
The wettest October on record was 2005 with 247 mm. On average, October sees 108 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 New Bedford 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.
