Carlsbad weather in October

In October, Carlsbad sees average daytime highs of 76°F and overnight lows near 59°F, with 0.7 in of rain across 2.6 wet days and about 11.2 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 79°F in the first days to 73°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 68% of the time in October, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of October to 10 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Carlsbad's 5th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Carlsbad's year-round climate.

Daytime high
76°
4th warmest
Overnight low
59°
8th coldest
Rainfall
0.7 in
2.6 wet days
Daylight
11 h 12 min
6:00 AM – 5:09 PM
Cloud cover
29%
5th clearest
Wind
4 mph
9th windiest
Solar energy
4.82 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.7
out of 10

Carlsbad is coastal city in the North County region of San Diego County, California, United States.

Density
1,133/km²
people per km²
Founded
1952

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in October

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 79°F in the first days to 73°F by the end.

A typical October day in Carlsbad reaches about 76°F in the afternoon and slips back to 59°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 67°F and 87°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 5°F cooler than September and about 6°F warmer than November.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17962
27962
37962
47861
57861
67861
77861
87861
97760
107760
117760
127760
137760
147660
157659
167659
177659
187659
197659
207558
217558
227558
237558
247458
257457
267457
277457
287457
297356
307356
317356

Carlsbad weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 4th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan64° / 47°2.95.810.16.7
Feb64° / 48°3.66.810.86.4
Mar65° / 50°2.26.211.76.8
Apr68° / 53°1.14.112.87.5
May71° / 56°0.52.113.78.1
Jun75° / 60°0.10.514.19.1
Jul80° / 65°0.10.4148.8
Aug82° / 66°0.00.213.28.5
Sep81° / 64°0.10.712.28.6
Oct76° / 59°0.72.611.28.7
Nov70° / 52°1.13.510.37.9
Dec64° / 47°2.15.19.86.8

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 68% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 20%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18614
28614
38614
48614
58515
68515
78515
88515
98416
108416
118416
128317
138317
148317
158119
168119
177921
187921
197723
207723
217723
227525
237525
247525
257525
267525
277426
287426
297525
307525
317525

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Carlsbad gets around 0.7 in of rain over 2.6 wet days in October. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 8% and peaks near 10% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
15
25
35
46
56
66
76
87
97
107
117
127
138
148
158
168
178
188
199
209
219
229
2310
2410
2510
2610
2710
2810
2910
3010
3110

Humidity in October

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of October feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, October lands in the dry band about 45% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
12442304
22642283
32842273
43043253
53143242
63243222
73444212
83544202
93644182
103744172
113844162
123844162
133945152
144045142
154045142
164145132
174244121
184444111
194543101
204742101
21494191
22523981
23543871
24573661
25583561
26623350
27653140
28682930
29702730
30722620
31742420

Wind in October

Winds average 4 mph in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 4 mph on the calmest days to 4 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
14calm
24calm
34calm
44calm
54calm
64calm
74calm
84calm
94calm
104calm
114calm
124calm
134calm
144calm
154calm
164calm
174calm
184calm
194calm
204calm
214calm
224calm
234calm
244calm
254calm
264calm
274calm
284calm
294calm
304calm
314calm

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min at the start of October to 10 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 60 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 5:48 AM to 6:12 AM, and sunset from 5:29 PM to 4:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.75:485:29
211.65:495:27
311.65:505:26
411.65:505:25
511.55:515:23
611.55:525:22
711.55:535:21
811.45:535:19
911.45:545:18
1011.45:555:17
1111.35:565:15
1211.35:565:14
1311.35:575:13
1411.25:585:12
1511.25:595:11
1611.26:005:09
1711.16:005:08
1811.16:015:07
1911.16:025:06
2011.06:035:05
2111.06:045:04
2211.06:045:03
2310.96:055:01
2410.96:065:00
2510.96:074:59
2610.86:084:58
2710.86:094:57
2810.86:104:56
2910.76:114:55
3010.76:114:54
3110.76:124:54

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 4.82 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.08 kWh/m² to a high of 7.96 kWh/m² in June across the year — October's 4.82 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.4Bright
45.4Bright
55.3Bright
65.3Bright
75.3Bright
85.2Bright
95.2Bright
105.1Bright
115.1Bright
125.0Bright
135.0Bright
144.9Bright
154.9Bright
164.8Bright
174.8Bright
184.7Bright
194.7Bright
204.6Bright
214.6Bright
224.5Bright
234.5Bright
244.5Bright
254.4Bright
264.4Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.2Bright
314.2Bright
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit Carlsbad?

Our two travel scores rate October for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

8.7
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
7.5
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

October is one of the better times to visit Carlsbad for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Carlsbad in October

From October's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In October, Carlsbad sees daytime highs around 76°F and nights near 59°F. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Carlsbad in October

The nearest coast averages about 67°F in October — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 71°F and coldest in January near 59°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 5 to Oct 7 — about 3.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°65°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan59Cool
Feb59Cool
Mar60Cool
Apr61Cool
May64Cool
Jun66Cool
Jul69Refreshing
Aug71Refreshing
Sep70Refreshing
Oct67Cool
Nov64Cool
Dec61Cool

UV index in Carlsbad in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Carlsbad peaks around July 11 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 11UV 11Dec 17UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Carlsbad in October

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where October falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Carlsbad is worst in September — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (May, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateSep 1625 µg/m³May 168 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar12Moderate
Apr11Good
May8Good
Jun11Good
Jul11Good
Aug15Moderate
Sep26Moderate
Oct14Moderate
Nov12Moderate
Dec16Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Carlsbad?

Carlsbad sits at 33.2°N, 117.4°W, 52 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Oceanside, 3.1 mi away.

Topography around Carlsbad

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Carlsbad.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Carlsbad has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 344 ft around an average of 56 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,335 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,624 ft.

The land around Carlsbad is covered by water (48%) and artificial surfaces (37%) within 2 miles, water (47%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 10 miles, and water (33%) and shrubs (21%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
344 ft
10 miles
1,335 ft
50 miles
6,624 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
October weather nearby: Oceanside 3.1 mi · Vista 6.8 mi · Encinitas 9.3 mi · San Marcos 11 mi · Escondido 16 mi · Fallbrook 16 mi · Rancho Penasquitos 19 mi · Mira Mesa 21 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Carlsbad (33.1581°, -117.3506°, elevation 52 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).