October is one of the warmer months of the year in Missoula, with average highs near 11°C and lows around -1°C (mean 5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm of rainfall and 71% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Missoula. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Missoula was 1988 — when the month averaged 8.8°C — while the coldest was 2019 at 0.7°C. Typical October days reach 11°C with nights near -1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
October is about average for rainfall in Missoula, averaging 52 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2016 with 127 mm, while the driest was 1987 at 5 mm.
Relative humidity in Missoula during October averages 71%. The most humid October was 2016 at 83%, and the least humid was 1987 at 44%.
October receives about 2.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Missoula. The sunniest October was 1987 at 3.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2016 at 2.1.
Average wind speed in Missoula during October is 0.3 m/s. The windiest October was 1987 at 0.5 m/s, while the calmest were 2009, 2011 and 2016, among others at 0.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 5.1°C | 4.4°C | 4.5°C | 5.1°C | 6.2°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 11.4°C | 10.4°C | 10.5°C | 10.8°C | 12.4°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | -1.2°C | -1.5°C | -1.4°C | -0.6°C | 0.0°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 34 mm | 56 mm | 52 mm | 63 mm | 55 mm | +21 mm |
October temperatures in Missoula have risen by about 3.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -21.7°C (2020) to a record high of 28.6°C (1992).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm, with a wettest year of 127 mm.
A good time to visit Missoula
October is a good time to visit Missoula, with days averaging 11°C and nights around -1°C (mean 5°C, close to Missoula'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 | 10.9°C | 5.3°C | -0.3°C | 23.8°C | -5.3°C | 69 mm | 74% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2024 | 14.9°C | 8.1°C | 1.3°C | 23.7°C | -4.9°C | 22 mm | 63% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 12.2°C | 6.0°C | -0.2°C | 24.8°C | -12.3°C | 39 mm | 72% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2022 | 14.4°C | 8.1°C | 1.8°C | 23.1°C | -5.8°C | 39 mm | 67% | 0.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2021 | 12.5°C | 6.1°C | -0.4°C | 25.6°C | -5.7°C | 36 mm | 68% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 9.2°C | 3.5°C | -2.2°C | 24.9°C | -21.7°C | 127 mm | 77% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2019 ❄️ | 6.1°C | 0.7°C | -4.8°C | 19.0°C | -16.3°C | 51 mm | 71% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2018 | 10.7°C | 5.1°C | -0.5°C | 19.9°C | -4.6°C | 65 mm | 71% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 9.0°C | 3.3°C | -2.4°C | 17.7°C | -6.2°C | 53 mm | 72% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2016 🌧️ | 10.2°C | 5.3°C | 0.3°C | 17.2°C | -4.5°C | 127 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2015 | 14.9°C | 8.6°C | 2.3°C | 24.3°C | -2.5°C | 50 mm | 66% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2014 | 13.8°C | 7.6°C | 1.4°C | 22.5°C | -4.7°C | 58 mm | 73% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2013 | 10.0°C | 3.8°C | -2.5°C | 19.0°C | -6.6°C | 15 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2012 | 10.0°C | 4.3°C | -1.4°C | 21.5°C | -6.7°C | 82 mm | 72% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2011 | 10.7°C | 5.7°C | 0.6°C | 26.7°C | -5.4°C | 83 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2010 | 13.0°C | 6.9°C | 0.8°C | 25.9°C | -5.2°C | 47 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2009 | 6.5°C | 1.3°C | -3.9°C | 20.7°C | -14.8°C | 58 mm | 76% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 10.9°C | 5.1°C | -0.6°C | 26.3°C | -6.3°C | 38 mm | 69% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2007 | 10.4°C | 4.6°C | -1.2°C | 21.6°C | -5.4°C | 51 mm | 74% | 0.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 10.2°C | 4.3°C | -1.5°C | 22.0°C | -10.0°C | 59 mm | 71% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2005 | 11.8°C | 6.1°C | 0.5°C | 21.5°C | -3.9°C | 56 mm | 75% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2004 | 10.6°C | 4.8°C | -0.9°C | 21.6°C | -6.5°C | 53 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2003 | 13.7°C | 6.9°C | 0.2°C | 25.8°C | -14.9°C | 52 mm | 62% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2002 | 9.2°C | 3.0°C | -3.2°C | 15.7°C | -14.5°C | 16 mm | 62% | 0.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2001 | 9.9°C | 4.0°C | -1.8°C | 25.5°C | -6.5°C | 92 mm | 74% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2000 | 11.7°C | 5.2°C | -1.3°C | 23.4°C | -6.2°C | 49 mm | 72% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1999 | 12.0°C | 5.4°C | -1.2°C | 21.0°C | -5.2°C | 53 mm | 64% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1998 | 11.9°C | 5.4°C | -1.2°C | 22.0°C | -4.8°C | 25 mm | 66% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1997 | 9.3°C | 4.0°C | -1.3°C | 26.6°C | -6.3°C | 67 mm | 76% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 9.7°C | 3.9°C | -1.9°C | 23.9°C | -11.3°C | 56 mm | 74% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1995 | 8.0°C | 2.7°C | -2.5°C | 20.4°C | -9.4°C | 62 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1994 | 9.9°C | 4.1°C | -1.7°C | 21.2°C | -6.8°C | 97 mm | 73% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1993 | 11.2°C | 5.3°C | -0.6°C | 24.2°C | -9.2°C | 54 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1992 | 12.9°C | 6.4°C | -0.1°C | 28.6°C | -6.4°C | 43 mm | 69% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1991 | 11.2°C | 4.5°C | -2.2°C | 25.2°C | -15.6°C | 23 mm | 58% | 0.3 m/s | 3 |
| 1990 | 8.1°C | 2.7°C | -2.7°C | 21.4°C | -6.0°C | 75 mm | 76% | 0.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1989 | 10.8°C | 4.9°C | -1.0°C | 18.3°C | -5.5°C | 32 mm | 69% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1988 🔥 | 16.0°C | 8.8°C | 1.6°C | 25.3°C | -6.2°C | 46 mm | 62% | 0.3 m/s | 3 |
| 1987 | 15.2°C | 7.6°C | 0.0°C | 25.7°C | -7.2°C | 5 mm | 44% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1986 | 13.7°C | 6.7°C | -0.4°C | 19.1°C | -5.7°C | 20 mm | 67% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1985 | 8.2°C | 2.5°C | -3.2°C | 17.3°C | -11.9°C | 47 mm | 77% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1984 | 7.9°C | 2.6°C | -2.7°C | 24.7°C | -12.2°C | 55 mm | 71% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 11.9°C | 5.3°C | -1.3°C | 17.4°C | -4.8°C | 31 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 9.8°C | 4.1°C | -1.6°C | 21.3°C | -5.6°C | 40 mm | 77% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 8.8°C | 3.2°C | -2.4°C | 19.7°C | -7.3°C | 35 mm | 73% | 0.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 11°C with lows near -1°C (mean 5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 52 mm of rainfall in Missoula, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 127 mm in 2016.
The hottest October reached 28.6°C in 1992. The coldest dipped to -21.7°C in 2020.
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 9.3°C to 13°C and overnight lows from -2.2°C to 0.4°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Missoula and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 11°C daytime highs and -1°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 7th coolest month in Missoula, averaging 5°C.
For October in Missoula, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 11°C and lows of -1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 71% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in October is 0.3 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 0.5 m/s (1987).
The wettest October on record was 2016 with 127 mm. On average, October sees 52 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 Missoula 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.
