Washington, D.C.

What is the weather like in Washington, D.C. in October?

In October, Washington, D.C. is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 18.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 81 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Washington, D.C..

More details for October

Daylight

11 h 15 min07:16 – 18:31

UV index

4 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months

Muggy days

2 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months

Wind

15 km/haverage daily peakAll months

Cloud cover

49 %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/New_York

Sea temperature in Washington, D.C.

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

• cold
• fresh
• refreshing
• pleasant
• warm
• very warm

Sunshine hours in Washington, D.C.

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year

2,240 hours

Sunniest month

Jul · 7.8 h a day

Least sunshine

Dec · 4.6 h a day

In October, the sun shines for about 5.6 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Washington, D.C., 50 % 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 Washington, D.C.

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).

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Rain in Washington, D.C.: 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.

Per year

1,060 mm on 115 days

Wettest month

Sep · 106 mm

Driest month

Nov · 70 mm

In October, Washington, D.C. has about 8 rainy days with 81 mm of rain in total.

Wind and clouds in Washington, D.C.

How breezy and how cloudy Washington, D.C. 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.

Year average

15 km/h · light breeze

Windiest month

Mar · 18 km/h

Calmest month

Aug · 12 km/h

In October, the wind in Washington, D.C. typically peaks at 15 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average

56 % · variable cloud

Clearest month

Oct · 49 %

Cloudiest month

May · 61 %

In October, cloud covers on average 49 % of the sky over Washington, D.C.: variable cloud, with about 5.6 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 Washington, D.C.

How often the day gets hot in Washington, D.C. (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.

Hot days a year

55 days

Hottest month

Jul · 31 °C

Hot months

Jul – Aug

Heat calendar

• pleasant
• some hot or muggy days
• often muggy
• often hot
• hot and muggy

In October, Washington, D.C. has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 20 °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 Washington, D.C.

Snow is possible in Washington, D.C., 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 days a year

6 days

Fresh snow a year

38 cm

Snow possible

Jan – Feb

Snow calendar

• hardly any
• possible
• likely
• very likely

In October, it hardly ever snows in Washington, D.C..

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.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

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

38.90° N, 77.04° W · 7 m · America/New_York

Best time to visit Washington, D.C.

Which month for what?

USA in October: the best places

In October, Washington, D.C. ranks 6 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

1. Charlotte22°85
2. 2Greenville22°85
3. 3Raleigh22°84
4. 4Richmond21°82
5. 5Asheville19°82
6. 6WashingtonThis page20°19°81
7. 7Baltimore19°18°79
8. 8Philadelphia19°18°79

Planning a trip to Washington, D.C.

Frequently asked questions about Washington, D.C.

Places with a climate like Washington, D.C.

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Washington, D.C.'s – good alternatives.

1. 83% similar79PhiladelphiaUSA19°18°Best time: Apr – Jun, Aug – Oct
2. 73% similar34Ocean City, MarylandUSA19°19°Best time: Jun – Sep
3. 71% similar45Virginia BeachUSA20°20°Best time: Jun – Sep
4. 69% similar77New YorkUSA18°18°Best time: Apr – Oct