October is one of the warmer months of the year in Washington, with average highs near 18.1°C and lows around 6°C (mean 12.1°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 73 mm of rainfall and 74% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Washington. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Washington was 2021 — when the month averaged 15.9°C — while the coldest was 1988 at 7.6°C. Typical October days reach 18.1°C with nights near 6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
October is one of the drier months in Washington, averaging 73 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2012 with 135 mm, while the driest was 1982 at 20 mm.
Relative humidity in Washington during October averages 74%. The most humid October was 2018 at 84%, and the least humid was 2001 at 62%.
October receives about 3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Washington. The sunniest October was 2024 at 3.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 2.2.
Average wind speed in Washington during October is 0.1 m/s. The windiest October was 2024 at 0.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2014, 2016 and 2018, among others at 0 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.6°C | 11.5°C | 11.8°C | 12.6°C | 13.2°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg High | 17.5°C | 18.0°C | 17.8°C | 18.4°C | 19.5°C | +2°C |
| Avg Low | 5.6°C | 5.1°C | 5.9°C | 6.9°C | 7.0°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 70 mm | 57 mm | 75 mm | 93 mm | 64 mm | -6 mm |
October temperatures in Washington have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -4.5°C (1981) to a record high of 33.2°C (2019).
Rainfall in October is one of the drier months, averaging 73 mm, with a wettest year of 135 mm.
A good time to visit Washington
October is a good time to visit Washington, with days averaging 18.1°C and nights around 6°C (mean 12.1°C, warmer than Washington's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. August and July 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 | 19.2°C | 12.6°C | 5.9°C | 29.4°C | 0.5°C | 70 mm | 69% | 0.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2024 | 21.3°C | 14.0°C | 6.7°C | 28.5°C | 1.0°C | 24 mm | 65% | 0.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 19.4°C | 13.5°C | 7.6°C | 29.7°C | 0.2°C | 86 mm | 72% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 17.0°C | 10.5°C | 4.0°C | 23.5°C | -1.5°C | 54 mm | 71% | 0.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2021 🔥 | 21.2°C | 15.9°C | 10.5°C | 28.3°C | 3.3°C | 65 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2020 | 18.7°C | 12.9°C | 7.1°C | 27.4°C | -2.3°C | 86 mm | 74% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2019 | 20.8°C | 14.2°C | 7.6°C | 33.2°C | 1.4°C | 108 mm | 70% | 0.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2018 | 17.3°C | 12.1°C | 7.0°C | 28.8°C | -2.1°C | 96 mm | 84% | 0 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 21.0°C | 14.8°C | 8.6°C | 28.7°C | -0.5°C | 109 mm | 72% | 0.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2016 | 19.9°C | 13.8°C | 7.7°C | 27.5°C | 0.2°C | 103 mm | 76% | 0 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2015 | 18.0°C | 12.0°C | 6.1°C | 24.7°C | -2.8°C | 69 mm | 72% | 0.1 m/s | 3 |
| 2014 | 18.1°C | 12.6°C | 7.0°C | 27.2°C | 1.5°C | 80 mm | 75% | 0 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2013 | 18.6°C | 12.9°C | 7.1°C | 29.8°C | -2.5°C | 49 mm | 75% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2012 🌧️ | 17.0°C | 11.5°C | 6.1°C | 26.9°C | -1.4°C | 135 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2011 | 15.4°C | 10.5°C | 5.6°C | 27.4°C | -2.5°C | 119 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2010 | 17.7°C | 11.8°C | 5.9°C | 26.4°C | -0.8°C | 62 mm | 72% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2009 | 15.9°C | 10.4°C | 4.9°C | 25.1°C | -3.0°C | 97 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2008 | 17.0°C | 10.7°C | 4.3°C | 28.4°C | -4.5°C | 43 mm | 69% | 0.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2007 | 21.7°C | 15.5°C | 9.2°C | 31.6°C | -1.0°C | 63 mm | 69% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2006 | 15.9°C | 10.4°C | 5.0°C | 25.7°C | -2.2°C | 127 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2005 | 18.7°C | 12.9°C | 7.1°C | 30.3°C | -1.2°C | 107 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2004 | 17.6°C | 12.2°C | 6.7°C | 23.7°C | -0.1°C | 78 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2003 | 16.3°C | 10.3°C | 4.3°C | 24.3°C | -2.7°C | 72 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2002 | 16.2°C | 11.0°C | 5.9°C | 28.7°C | -1.3°C | 83 mm | 81% | 0 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2001 | 18.9°C | 12.3°C | 5.6°C | 28.0°C | -2.8°C | 41 mm | 62% | 0.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2000 | 19.6°C | 12.7°C | 5.8°C | 27.3°C | -3.1°C | 43 mm | 71% | 0.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1999 | 18.9°C | 11.9°C | 4.8°C | 25.6°C | -1.9°C | 45 mm | 67% | 0.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 18.6°C | 12.1°C | 5.7°C | 26.6°C | -0.6°C | 49 mm | 71% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1997 | 18.0°C | 11.2°C | 4.5°C | 27.9°C | -4.2°C | 35 mm | 71% | 0.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1996 | 16.5°C | 10.7°C | 4.9°C | 23.1°C | -0.5°C | 79 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1995 | 19.5°C | 12.9°C | 6.3°C | 27.1°C | -0.6°C | 102 mm | 72% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1994 | 18.3°C | 11.3°C | 4.3°C | 24.5°C | -1.6°C | 25 mm | 68% | 0.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1993 | 16.6°C | 10.4°C | 4.3°C | 26.1°C | -1.4°C | 68 mm | 73% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1992 | 16.7°C | 10.3°C | 3.9°C | 24.1°C | -4.1°C | 34 mm | 70% | 0.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1991 | 19.1°C | 12.4°C | 5.7°C | 27.0°C | -1.4°C | 30 mm | 67% | 0.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1990 | 17.5°C | 11.8°C | 6.1°C | 25.2°C | -4.1°C | 105 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1989 | 17.2°C | 11.3°C | 5.4°C | 25.5°C | -1.9°C | 92 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1988 ❄️ | 13.2°C | 7.6°C | 2.0°C | 27.8°C | -4.5°C | 58 mm | 72% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1987 | 14.9°C | 8.7°C | 2.5°C | 22.0°C | -2.0°C | 38 mm | 72% | 0.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1986 | 17.6°C | 12.1°C | 6.5°C | 26.3°C | -0.5°C | 92 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1985 | 19.5°C | 13.4°C | 7.4°C | 26.7°C | -2.4°C | 74 mm | 71% | 0 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1984 | 21.2°C | 15.5°C | 9.8°C | 26.3°C | 3.0°C | 88 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1983 | 18.1°C | 12.1°C | 6.2°C | 27.0°C | -3.6°C | 99 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 19.3°C | 13.0°C | 6.6°C | 27.6°C | -4.3°C | 20 mm | 69% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.9°C | 10.4°C | 4.0°C | 25.7°C | -4.5°C | 69 mm | 70% | 0 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 18.1°C with lows near 6°C (mean 12.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 73 mm of rainfall in Washington, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 135 mm in 2012.
The hottest October reached 33.2°C in 2019. The coldest dipped to -4.5°C in 1981.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 19°C to 19.6°C and overnight lows from 6.8°C to 6.9°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Washington and one of the drier months, so plan for around 18.1°C daytime highs and 6°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 7th coolest month in Washington, averaging 12.1°C.
For October in Washington, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 18.1°C and lows of 6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 74% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in October is 0.1 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 0.2 m/s (2024).
The wettest October on record was 2012 with 135 mm. On average, October sees 73 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 Washington 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.
