Des Moines

Iowa Weather in October

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Iowa, the United States of America in October.

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West Des Moines Ames Urbandale Ankeny

Planning a getaway to Iowa, the United States of America this October and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Iowa in October

Iowa, the United States of America is a region in the United States of America. October in Iowa generally has temperatures that range from mild to pleasant, with moderate precipitation.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between mild in Mason City at 16°C (61°F) to pleasant in Keokuk at 19°C (66°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 7°C (45°F) in Keokuk and 3°C (37°F) in Mason City.

For specific regional insights in Iowa, the United States of America, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In October, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Clear Lake with an average of 56 mm (2.2 in) to moderate rainfall in Atlantic with 86 mm (3.4 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. West Des Moines enjoys about 212 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Iowa by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Iowa — and find the best time to visit. (based on West Des Moines)

January-1°C (30°F) February0°C (32°F) March10°C (50°F) April17°C (63°F) May22°C (72°F) June28°C (82°F) This monthJuly30°C (86°F) August29°C (84°F) September25°C (77°F) October18°C (64°F) November10°C (50°F) December2°C (36°F)
Best Time to Visit Iowa →

Best Places to Visit in Iowa in October

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

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 Iowa

What is the weather like in October for some of the most popular destinations in Iowa, the United States of America?

Temperature range in Iowa (October)

Precipitation variation in Iowa (October)

West Des Moines

In October West Des Moines generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
18°C (64°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
6°C (43°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
212 hours
141 hours
Monthly rainfall
80 mm (3.1 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
40 mm (1.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
7 days
Weather conditions
perfect
pleasant
poor
Climate in West Des Moines →

Ames

In October Ames generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
17°C (63°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
4°C (39°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
212 hours
141 hours
Monthly rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
77 mm (3 in)
44 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
9 days
7 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
poor
Climate in Ames →

Urbandale

In October Urbandale generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
18°C (64°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
6°C (43°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
212 hours
141 hours
Monthly rainfall
92 mm (3.6 in)
75 mm (3 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
7 days
Weather conditions
perfect
pleasant
poor
Climate in Urbandale →

Ankeny

In October Ankeny generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
18°C (64°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
5°C (41°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
212 hours
141 hours
Monthly rainfall
94 mm (3.7 in)
73 mm (2.9 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
7 days
Weather conditions
perfect
pleasant
poor
Climate in Ankeny →

Clive

In October Clive generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
18°C (64°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
5°C (41°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
212 hours
141 hours
Monthly rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
75 mm (3 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
7 days
Weather conditions
perfect
pleasant
poor
Climate in Clive →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Iowa, in the United States of America.

Popular cities in October

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
West Des Moines 18°C (64°F) 6°C (43°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Ames 17°C (63°F) 4°C (39°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Urbandale 18°C (64°F) 6°C (43°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Ankeny 18°C (64°F) 5°C (41°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Clive 18°C (64°F) 5°C (41°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Cedar Falls 17°C (63°F) 4°C (39°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)

Iowa weather in October: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Iowa, the United States of America in October?

Iowa, the United States of America typically experiences pleasant weather in October, part of the season. Daytime highs in West Des Moines average around 18°C (64°F), and temperatures drop to about 6°C (43°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Iowa, the United States of America in October?

Daytime temperatures in West Des Moines peak at roughly 18°C (64°F) in October, dropping to about 6°C (43°F) overnight.

Does Iowa, the United States of America get a lot of rain in October?

October is on the drier side in Iowa, the United States of America. West Des Moines averages only about 69 mm (2.7 in), with most days staying dry.

Is October a Good Time to Visit Iowa, the United States of America?

In our opinion, October is a good time to visit Iowa, the United States of America with overall pleasant weather in West Des Moines. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

Generally speaking, September provides perfect weather in West Des Moines. In contrast, January, February, March, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Iowa.

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

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.

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