AI-generatedIndianapolis at a glance
- Best time
- May – Jun, Aug – Oct
- Warmest month
- Jul · 29°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,140 h
- Rain a year
- 1,083 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 218 m
Climate in Indianapolis
Indianapolis has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while January is the coolest at 2 °C. With around 2,140 hours of sunshine a year, Indianapolis is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 8.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: May – June, August – October
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Good forSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 9°
- Midday, 13:00: about 17°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 18°
- Evening, 20:00: about 15°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
07:5319:07
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:37–08:30 · evening 18:31–19:24
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:26–07:37 · evening 19:24–19:34
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Indianapolis in October?
In October, Indianapolis is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 14 min07:53 – 19:07
- UV index
- 4 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 1 daydew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 18 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 53 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/Indiana/Indianapolis
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %40 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %68 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Indianapolis
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.4 of 11.2 hours of daylight in Indianapolis, 48 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Indianapolis
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 4 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 30 min
- Fair skin
- about 40 min
- Light brown skin
- about 55 min
- Olive skin
- about 70 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Indianapolis: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Indianapolis has about 9 rainy days with 80 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Indianapolis
How breezy and how cloudy Indianapolis is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Indianapolis typically peaks at 18 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 53 % of the sky over Indianapolis: variable cloud, with about 5.4 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Indianapolis
How often the day gets hot in Indianapolis (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Indianapolis has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 18 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Indianapolis
Snow is possible in Indianapolis, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Indianapolis.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Indianapolis
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening. Muggy on about 1 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (−6°), the warmest in July (20°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule in July; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in June and from August to September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 53 days a year, mostly from June to August.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 21 | 2° | −6° | 3.6 h | 9 | 83 |
| FebruaryFeb | 25 | 5° | −4° | 4.5 h | 9 | 71 |
| MarchMar | 37 | 11° | 1° | 5.4 h | 11 | 105 |
| AprilApr | 70 | 17° | 6° | 6.3 h | 12 | 118 |
| MayMay | 72 | 22° | 13° | 6.7 h | 14 | 123 |
| JuneJun | 80 | 27° | 18° | 7.9 h | 12 | 106 |
| JulyJul | 70 | 29° | 20° | 8.2 h | 12 | 92 |
| AugustAug | 77 | 28° | 19° | 7.7 h | 9 | 72 |
| SeptemberSep | 86 | 25° | 15° | 6.8 h | 7 | 73 |
| OctoberOct | 78 | 18° | 9° | 5.4 h | 9 | 80 |
| NovemberNov | 39 | 11° | 3° | 4.4 h | 8 | 78 |
| DecemberDec | 18 | 5° | −3° | 3.3 h | 10 | 83 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
39.77° N, 86.16° W · 218 m · America/Indiana/Indianapolis
Best time to visit Indianapolis
The best time to visit Indianapolis is from May to June and from August to October. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in April and in June and from September to October. The wettest month is May with 123 mm of precipitation.
Indianapolis through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Indianapolis in spring
Mar – May
Good
- 11–22 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 36 rainy days in all
Indianapolis in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 27–29 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Indianapolis in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 11–25 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days in all
Indianapolis in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 2–5 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Indianapolis for you.
Your best months: May, September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Indianapolis
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
September has the better holiday weather in Indianapolis: score 86 against 78. In September, days are 7 °C warmer than in October. September has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in September.
| Month | October | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 78 | 86better |
| Day high | 18° | 25° |
| Night low | 9° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 5.4 h | 6.8 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 9 | 7better |
| Rainfall | 80 mm | 73 mm |
| Muggy days | 1better | 5 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Apr, Jun, Sep – Oct
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
May
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Dec – Feb
Snow on 2 or more days
Indianapolis month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
21January2° · 4 h
In January, Indianapolis is freezing cold: daytime highs average 2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 9 days, totalling 83 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in January25February5° · 5 h
In February, Indianapolis is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−4 °C). Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 71 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in February37March11° · 5 h
In March, Indianapolis is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 105 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in March70April17° · 6 h
In April, Indianapolis is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 118 mm in total. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in April72May22° · 7 h
In May, Indianapolis is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 123 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in May80June27° · 8 h
In June, Indianapolis is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 106 mm in total. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in June70July29° · 8 h
In July, Indianapolis is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 92 mm in total. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in July77August28° · 8 h
In August, Indianapolis is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 72 mm in total. On about 8 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in August86September25° · 7 h
In September, Indianapolis is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 73 mm. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in September78October18° · 5 h
In October, Indianapolis is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in October39November11° · 4 h
In November, Indianapolis is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 78 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in November18December5° · 3 h
In December, Indianapolis is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 83 mm in total. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis in DecemberIndianapolis compared
Put Indianapolis side by side with another destination.
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Indianapolis vs. Cincinnati
In October the holiday weather in Indianapolis and Cincinnati is about equally good (score 78 vs. 78). During the day Cincinnati is 1 °C warmer than Indianapolis.
| in October | Indianapolis | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 78 | 78 |
| Daytime high | 18° | 19° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 9 | 9 |
| Best time | May – Jun, Aug – Oct | Apr – Jun, Aug – Oct |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Indianapolis ranks 18 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Greenville22°85
- 2Atlanta22°85
- 3Charlotte22°85
- 4Memphis23°84
- 5Raleigh22°84
- 6Omaha18°83
- 7St. Louis20°82
- 8Nashville22°82
- 18IndianapolisThis page18°78
Planning a trip to Indianapolis
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Indianapolis in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Indianapolis has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 78) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 20).
- 60
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 15 °C by day
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 74
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 23 °C by day
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 75
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 28 °C by day
- 7.9 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 78
October half-term
Oct
GoodBest holidays
- 18 °C by day
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 20
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 4 °C by day
- 3.5 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 8 h 15 min
- Distance
- 6,400 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (5 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Indianapolis lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Indianapolis
When is the best time to visit Indianapolis?
The best time to visit Indianapolis is from May to June and from August to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Indianapolis?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 20 °C. January is the coolest month at 2 °C.
When does it rain most in Indianapolis?
The wettest month is May with 123 mm of precipitation. The driest month is February with 71 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Indianapolis get?
Indianapolis gets around 2,140 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 8.2 hours a day; in December there are 3.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Indianapolis in?
Indianapolis uses the time zone America/Indiana/Indianapolis: UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Indianapolis?
A nonstop flight from London to Indianapolis takes about 8 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,400 km.
When is hurricane season in Indianapolis?
Indianapolis lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Indianapolis?
Indianapolis has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 78) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 20). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 60, May half-term 74, Summer holidays 75, October half-term 78, Christmas holidays 20.
Near Indianapolis
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Indianapolis
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Indianapolis's – good alternatives.