By October, summer has firmly given way to fall across D.C. Days grow shorter, temperatures trend cooler and, by late month, fall foliage nears its peak. Even as the slide toward the cold season accelerates, October remains squarely within the region’s second “nice day” season. Tropical downpours become less common than in September, but can still occasionally factor into the forecast.
Normal and record daily temperatures
With 90-degree heat usually — though not always — behind us, October delivers a true fall feel. The average temperature drops to 60.8 degrees, down sharply from September.
Average highs and lows fall from about 75 and 58 degrees at the start of the month to 64 and 46 degrees by Halloween.
Extremes can still occur, with a record high of 98 degrees (Oct. 2, 2019) and a record low of 26 degrees (Oct. 30, 1873).
Record daily precipitation
As moisture levels decline into the cold season, October’s extreme rainfall totals are typically lower than in preceding months.
The wettest October day on record brought 3.98 inches on Oct. 4, 1877, and only a handful of days have reached 3 inches or more.
Even the lowest daily record exceeds an inch — 1.02 inches on Oct. 9, 1977.
Monthly temperatures by the year
October is typically a mild month, with the warmest on record occurring in 2007 (67 degrees), followed by 2021 (66.3 degrees).
The coolest October came in 1876, averaging 51.9 degrees.
Like most other months in D.C., October has warmed over time, with average temperatures rising by about 4 degrees since 1900.
Monthly precipitation by the year
October has trended somewhat wetter over time, with average rainfall increasing from about 3 inches historically to more than 3.5 inches today.
The wettest October on record came in 2005, with 9.41 inches of rain. Just five years earlier, only 0.02 inches fell, making it one of the driest months on record.
The driest October — and driest of any month — occurred in 1963, when only a trace of precipitation was recorded.
Nice day season and dry weather
Much like September, “nice days” are frequent — and in today’s climate, October has a slight edge. A nice day is one with no rain, minimal wind and highs between 65 and 85 degrees.
With less tropical influence, the month can also be quite dry. The two driest months on record in Washington both occurred in October.
Most recently, 2024 saw a 38-day stretch without measurable precipitation beginning Oct. 3 — the longest dry streak on record.
Events of note
Oct. 2, 2019. The hottest October temperature on record — 98 degrees — was observed. It marked the 62nd day at or above 90 degrees that year.
Oct. 5, 1836. Snow fell in the area, dusting homes in Loudoun County. Temperatures dropped to 38 degrees on Capitol Hill.
Oct. 7–8, 2005. More than 7 inches of rain fell in two days as the remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy passed, ending an ongoing drought.
Oct. 10, 1979. The earliest measurable snowfall on record fell in D.C., with 0.3 inches officially observed. Up to 1 to 2 inches fell in western suburbs.
Oct. 12, 1846. The remnants of the “Great Havana Hurricane” pushed a storm surge up the Potomac River, with tides rising to 6.9 feet above low water datum.
Oct. 15, 1954. After making landfall in North Carolina, Hurricane Hazel raced north and produced a record wind gust of 98 mph at National Airport, with sustained winds of 78 mph.
Oct. 17, 1942. Following more than half a foot of rain in preceding days, the Potomac River crested at its highest level on record at Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, reaching about 10 feet above flood stage and flooding hundreds of homes.
Oct. 29, 2012. The remnants of Hurricane Sandy brought 3.85 inches of rain (4.84 inches total for the storm) along with wind gusts over 60 mph.
Oct. 30, 1925. The largest October snowfall in Washington occurred, with 2 inches of snow (2.2 inches total for the storm) falling on this date.
