Hickory weather in October

In October, Hickory sees average daytime highs of 70°F and overnight lows near 50°F, with 3.5 in of rain across 7.2 wet days and about 11.1 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 74°F in the first days to 66°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time in October, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 36 min at the start of October to 10 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Hickory's 1st-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hickory's year-round climate.

Daytime high
70°
6th warmest
Overnight low
50°
7th coldest
Rainfall
3.5 in
7.2 wet days
Daylight
11 h 06 min
6:38 AM – 5:43 PM
Cloud cover
46%
1st clearest
Wind
5 mph
8th windiest
Solar energy
3.71 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.1
out of 10

Hickory is city in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States.

Density
523/km²
people per km²
Founded
1870

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 74°F in the first days to 66°F by the end.

A typical October day in Hickory reaches about 70°F in the afternoon and slips back to 50°F overnight — a 20°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 60°F and 80°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 10°F cooler than September and about 11°F warmer than November.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17556
27456
37455
47455
57354
67354
77354
87353
97253
107252
117152
127151
137151
147150
157050
167049
177049
186949
196948
206948
216847
226847
236847
246746
256746
266746
276645
286645
296645
306544
316544

How October really feels in Hickory

Once humidity and wind are folded in, October averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

October sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Hickory weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 6th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan49° / 31°3.79.61.59.92.0
Feb53° / 34°3.491.510.63.0
Mar60° / 40°4.410.40.811.75.0
Apr70° / 49°3.99.1012.96.6
May77° / 57°3.410.8013.96.7
Jun84° / 65°3.613014.45.1
Jul88° / 69°3.514014.24.1
Aug86° / 68°3.712.5013.44.8
Sep80° / 62°3.89.6012.26.6
Oct70° / 50°3.57.2011.17.1
Nov59° / 39°3.47.6010.15.1
Dec51° / 34°3.88.80.79.62.7

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time in October, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15941
26040
36040
46040
56040
66040
76139
86139
96139
106139
116238
126238
136238
146337
156337
166436
176436
186535
196535
206535
216436
226436
236436
246436
256337
266337
276238
286337
296238
306238
316139

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Hickory gets around 3.5 in of rain over 7.2 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 24% and peaks near 28% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
128
227
327
426
526
625
725
824
924
1024
1124
1224
1324
1424
1523
1623
1723
1822
1922
2022
2122
2223
2323
2423
2524
2624
2724
2824
2925
3025
3125

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 66% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1432220132
2452319122
3462318112
4482317102
550231792
651231682
754221572
855221562
957221452
1058211452
1160211342
1263201331
1364201231
1466191221
1567191121
1669181021
1770181011
187317910
197417810
207516810
217616710
227616710
237716610
247815610
257815610
267915510
277915510
287915510
297915510
308114410
318114410

Wind in October

Winds average 5 mph in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 5 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of October to 10 h 36 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 6:25 AM to 6:52 AM, and sunset from 6:04 PM to 5:26 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:256:04
211.66:266:02
311.66:276:01
411.56:285:59
511.56:285:58
611.56:295:56
711.46:305:55
811.46:315:54
911.36:325:52
1011.36:335:51
1111.36:345:49
1211.26:345:48
1311.26:355:47
1411.26:365:45
1511.16:375:44
1611.16:385:43
1711.06:395:41
1811.06:405:40
1911.06:415:39
2010.96:425:38
2110.96:435:36
2210.96:445:35
2310.86:455:34
2410.86:465:33
2510.86:465:32
2610.76:475:31
2710.76:485:30
2810.76:495:29
2910.66:505:28
3010.66:515:27
3110.66:525:26

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 3.71 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.27 kWh/m² to a high of 6.16 kWh/m² in June across the year — October's 3.71 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.1Bright
24.0Bright
34.0Bright
44.0Moderate
54.0Moderate
63.9Moderate
73.9Moderate
83.9Moderate
93.8Moderate
103.8Moderate
113.8Moderate
123.8Moderate
133.8Moderate
143.7Moderate
153.7Moderate
163.7Moderate
173.7Moderate
183.7Moderate
193.6Moderate
203.6Moderate
213.6Moderate
223.6Moderate
233.5Moderate
243.5Moderate
253.5Moderate
263.4Moderate
273.4Moderate
283.4Moderate
293.3Moderate
303.3Moderate
313.3Moderate
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit Hickory?

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

7.1
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
4.3
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

October is one of the better times to visit Hickory for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Hickory in October

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

In October, Hickory sees daytime highs around 70°F and nights near 50°F. Little to plan around — just the basics. About 7 days see rain.

UV index in Hickory in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Hickory peaks around July 13 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov4Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Hickory 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 Hickory is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateModerateGoodJul 1619 µg/m³Dec 158 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb10Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr12Good
May14Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov9Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Hickory?

Hickory sits at 35.7°N, 81.3°W, 1,148 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Lenoir, 17 mi away.

Topography around Hickory

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Hickory has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 312 ft around an average of 1,106 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,368 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,899 ft.

The land around Hickory is covered by trees (57%) and artificial surfaces (28%) within 2 miles, trees (65%) and grassland (25%) within 10 miles, and trees (79%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
312 ft
10 miles
1,368 ft
50 miles
5,899 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
October weather nearby: Lenoir 17 mi · Morganton 19 mi · Statesville 25 mi · Mooresville 32 mi · Cornelius 32 mi · Shelby 32 mi · Gastonia 34 mi · Huntersville 36 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 Hickory (35.7332°, -81.3412°, elevation 1,148 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. 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).