Glasgow

Scotland Weather in October

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Scotland in October.

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Edinburgh Aberdeen Oban Dundee

Planning a trip to Scotland this October? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Scotland in October

October in Scotland generally has mild temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are mild and range from 12°C (54°F) in Sallachy to 14°C (57°F) in Bowmore. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 10°C (50°F) in Bowmore and 6°C (43°F) in Sallachy.

To explore the conditions in Scotland in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In October, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Edinburgh with an average of 90 mm (3.5 in) to heavy rainfall in Mallaig with 270 mm (11 in). Based on climate data from the last 30 years, Edinburgh receives the most rainfall during this month of the year.

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Edinburgh as an example - it receives around 101 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Scotland by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Scotland - and find the best time to visit. (based on Edinburgh)

January8°C (46°F) February8°C (46°F) March10°C (50°F) April12°C (54°F) May15°C (59°F) June18°C (64°F) This monthJuly19°C (66°F) August19°C (66°F) September17°C (63°F) October14°C (57°F) November10°C (50°F) December8°C (46°F)
Best Time to Visit Scotland →

Best Places to Visit in Scotland in October

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Scotland.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Scotland

What is the weather like in October for some of the most popular destinations in Scotland?

Temperature range in Scotland (October)

Precipitation variation in Scotland (October)

Edinburgh

In October Edinburgh generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
14°C (57°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
7°C (45°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
128 hours
101 hours
70 hours
Monthly rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
82 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions
good
good
less favorable
Climate in Edinburgh →

Aberdeen

In October Aberdeen generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
127 hours
94 hours
69 hours
Monthly rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
17 days
19 days
Weather conditions
good
mixed
less favorable
Climate in Aberdeen →

Oban

In October Oban generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
87 hours
75 hours
46 hours
Monthly rainfall
196 mm (7.7 in)
242 mm (9.5 in)
231 mm (9.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
24 days
22 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Oban →

Dundee

In October Dundee generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
14°C (57°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
7°C (45°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
128 hours
94 hours
67 hours
Monthly rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
16 days
16 days
Weather conditions
good
good
less favorable
Climate in Dundee →

Shetland

In October Shetland generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
102 hours
69 hours
35 hours
Monthly rainfall
97 mm (3.8 in)
121 mm (4.8 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
24 days
25 days
Weather conditions
good
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Shetland →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Scotland.

Popular cities in October

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Scotland in October.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Edinburgh 14°C (57°F) 7°C (45°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Aberdeen 13°C (55°F) 8°C (46°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Oban 13°C (55°F) 8°C (46°F) 242 mm (9.5 in)
Dundee 14°C (57°F) 7°C (45°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Balmacara 12°C (54°F) 7°C (45°F) 218 mm (8.6 in)
Shetland 12°C (54°F) 9°C (48°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)

Scotland weather in October: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Scotland in October?

Scotland typically experiences good weather in October, part of the season. Daytime highs in Edinburgh average around 14°C (57°F), and temperatures drop to about 7°C (45°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Scotland in October?

Average temperatures in Scotland during October range from a nighttime low near 7°C (45°F) to a daytime high around 14°C (57°F) in Edinburgh.

Does Scotland get a lot of rain in October?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Scotland during October, with Edinburgh averaging close to 90 mm (3.5 in).

Is October a Good Time to Visit Scotland?

In our opinion, October is a good time to visit Scotland with overall good weather in Edinburgh. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June, July and August offering mostly very good weather in Edinburgh. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Scotland.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Scotland? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Scotland.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

Scotland’s West Coast - A Sailor’s Paradise

Whether you are looking to sail to an island to enjoy empty white sandy beaches or a rocky mountainous walk there is always a choice. Sailing is by far the best way to explore this area.
Must visit in Scotland →