Your October weather guide
MildWeather in New York in October
October is a good time for New York if you want mild weather for exploring rather than summer heat. Average daytime highs are 17.4°C, falling to 9.5°C at night, so layers matter more than light holiday clothes. The catch is rain, with about 9 rainy days during the month. For a UK traveller, it suits a city break with flexible plans and indoor alternatives, but not a trip built around reliable warmth.
Long-term climate averages for New York City, not a forecast · 1991-2020
New York, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for New York City.
- Average daytime high
- 17.4°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 23°C
- Average night-time low
- 9.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 5°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +2.8°C
- London averages 14.6°C in October
- Sea temperature
- 16.9°C
- year to year: 16°C to 18°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.3h
- 49% of 10.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 9
- 98 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 5%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 32.3°C
- 2019-10-02
- Record low 1991-2020
- 0.1°C
- 2015-10-19
- Flight from London
- ≈ 7 h 42 min
- 5579 km, long-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How October compares
October is the 6th warmest month of the year in New York and ranks 127th of 134 destinations we compare for October - see where else is hot in October. Within United States it is 6th of 6 (United States in October). Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, New York is 2.8°C warmer by day and 1.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in October
The typical October day in New York peaks at 17.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 23.1°C or more. Roughly 1 in 19 days top 25°C and 1 in 500 pass 30°C. Nights average 9.5°C; one night in ten drops to 4.6°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day here reached 32.3°C (2019-10-02) and the coldest night 0.1°C (2015-10-19).
Rain in October
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 9 days with 1 mm or more, 98 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 2005 with 317 mm, the driest 2000 with 15 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
Sea temperature in October
The sea averages 16.9°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 16.0°C to 18.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (23.1°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:07 and sets about 18:16 local time in mid-October. Average cloud cover is 51%.
Is October a good time to visit New York?
October is not the strongest month here: mild days and frequent rain. The best months for New York on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Comfortable walking weather, but pack for cold evenings
The daytime average makes October a reasonable choice for spending time outdoors without planning around strong midday heat. It is not consistently warm, though: the warmer days can reach 23.1°C or more, while the coldest nights fall to 4.6°C or below. Pack layers you can remove when it warms up, plus a jacket that feels comfortable after dark. If you tend to feel the cold, bring a warmer layer rather than relying on a thin jumper. October suits travellers who prefer mild conditions and do not mind adjusting their clothing; it is less convincing if warmth is the main reason for going.
Leave room for rain and make use of daylight
Rain is a genuine planning consideration, not something to dismiss because the temperatures look comfortable. Bring a waterproof outer layer and shoes you are happy to walk in when pavements are wet. Keep outdoor plans movable and have indoor alternatives ready, rather than making the whole trip depend on dry weather. There are about 5.3 hours of sunshine within 10.9 hours of daylight, so do not expect clear skies throughout the day. Put the outdoor time you care most about into daylight hours, and check the forecast before committing to a long stretch outside. This is a month for adaptable plans rather than guaranteed sunshine.
A little perspective
New York through the year
October is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.2°C | -4.6°C | 4.9°C | 4.0 | 82 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 4.5°C | -4.3°C | 3.5°C | 4.6 | 78 | 9 | 0% |
| March | 8.8°C | -0.4°C | 4.4°C | 4.9 | 107 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 15.1°C | 5.4°C | 7.8°C | 5.2 | 92 | 11 | 3% |
| May | 20.5°C | 11.1°C | 12.9°C | 5.5 | 86 | 11 | 20% |
| Junebest | 25.5°C | 16.6°C | 18.4°C | 6.1 | 101 | 11 | 57% |
| Julybest | 28.5°C | 19.9°C | 22.3°C | 6.7 | 104 | 11 | 86% |
| Augustbest | 27.5°C | 19.3°C | 23.1°C | 6.4 | 104 | 11 | 79% |
| September | 23.7°C | 15.8°C | 21.2°C | 5.9 | 98 | 9 | 37% |
| OctoberSelected | 17.4°C | 9.5°C | 16.9°C | 5.3 | 98 | 9 | 5% |
| November | 11.3°C | 3.6°C | 11.8°C | 4.4 | 77 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 6.0°C | -1.2°C | 8.0°C | 3.7 | 101 | 10 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in October
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Bulgaria · 18°C by day · sea 19°C
Sunny Beach
Italy · 18°C by day · sea 19°C
Venice
Italy · 18°C by day · sea 19°C
Lido di Jesolo
Italy · 18°C by day
Lake Garda
Italy · 17°C by day
Milan
A little more detail
New York in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is New York hot in October?
New York is mild in October: the average daytime high is 17.4°C and nights average 9.5°C. Roughly 1 in 19 October days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in New York in October?
The sea around New York averages 16.9°C in October, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 16°C to 18°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in New York in October?
New York sees about 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 98 mm of rain in a typical October. The wettest October between 1991 and 2020 was 2005 (317 mm) and the driest was 2000 (15 mm).
How sunny is New York in October?
New York gets around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day in October out of 10.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does New York compare with the UK in October?
New York is on average 2.8°C warmer than London by day in October (17.4°C against 14.6°C).
What is the hottest October on record in New York?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day in New York reached 32.3°C on 2019-10-02, and the coldest night dropped to 0.1°C on 2015-10-19.
Is New York warmer than London in October?
Yes, on average. New York's daytime high is 17.4°C, compared with London's 14.6°C, a difference of 2.8°C. That makes it milder by day, but not a summer-like change. You will still need layers and a jacket for evenings.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
The sea averages 16.9°C in October, which is cold rather than comfortable for a casual holiday swim. With a year-to-year range of 16°C to 18°C, swimming should not be the reason to choose this month.
Can October still get hot?
Occasional warm days are possible: the warmest 10% reach 23.1°C or more, but only 5% of days reach 25°C. Pack something lighter for a warm afternoon, while treating mild days and chilly evenings as the basis for your wardrobe.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at New York City. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.6 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C