Key West weather in October

In October, Key West sees average daytime highs of 81°F and overnight lows near 78°F, with 4.6 in of rain across 12.7 wet days and about 11.4 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 82°F in the first days to 79°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time in October, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of October to 11 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Key West's 8th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Key West's year-round climate.

Daytime high
81°
5th warmest
Overnight low
78°
8th coldest
Rainfall
4.6 in
12.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 24 min
6:30 AM – 5:55 PM
Cloud cover
50%
8th clearest
Wind
14 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
4.73 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.2
out of 10

Key West is county seat of Monroe County, Florida, United States.

Density
1,373/km²
people per km²
Founded
1828

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 82°F in the first days to 79°F by the end.

A typical October day in Key West reaches about 81°F in the afternoon and slips back to 78°F overnight — a 3°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 79°F and 83°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 2°F cooler than September and about 4°F warmer than November.

65°70°75°80°85°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18280
28280
38280
48280
58279
68279
78279
88279
98279
108279
118279
128279
138179
148179
158179
168178
178178
188178
198178
208178
218078
228078
238078
248078
258077
268077
278077
288077
298077
307977
317977

How October really feels in Key West

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.

Key West weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 5th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan73° / 69°1.55.710.67.8
Feb73° / 70°1.2411.18.1
Mar74° / 71°1.04.211.88.4
Apr77° / 74°1.54.512.68.3
May80° / 77°2.67.913.27.3
Jun83° / 80°4.112.713.55.7
Jul84° / 81°2.512.913.45.3
Aug84° / 81°4.116.112.94.8
Sep83° / 80°5.417.712.24.7
Oct81° / 78°4.612.711.46.2
Nov77° / 74°1.55.810.87.8
Dec75° / 71°1.35.110.58.0

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15050
25248
35347
45446
55545
65644
75842
85941
96040
106139
116238
126337
136436
146436
156535
166535
176535
186535
196535
206535
216436
226535
236535
246535
256535
266535
276535
286634
296535
306634
316733

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Key West gets around 4.6 in of rain over 12.7 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 41% and peaks near 56% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
156
255
353
452
550
649
748
847
946
1045
1145
1244
1344
1443
1543
1643
1742
1842
1941
2040
2139
2238
2336
2435
2534
2632
2731
2829
2928
3027
3126

Humidity in October

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, October lands in the oppressive band about 55% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 92% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
100055540
200065539
300165538
400175636
500185635
600185734
700195832
8002105731
9002105929
10002116027
11003125926
12013126024
13014136022
14014146120
15015156019
16015166018
17026175916
18026185915
19027195814
20027205714
21038215513
22038225413
23039235312
24039245311
25149255011
261410265010
27141026509
28141127498
29141227498
30141228487
31141328486

Wind in October

Winds average 14 mph in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 12 mph on the calmest days to 15 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
112light breeze
212light breeze
312breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1514breezy
1614breezy
1714breezy
1814breezy
1914breezy
2014breezy
2114breezy
2214breezy
2314breezy
2415breezy
2515breezy
2615breezy
2715breezy
2815breezy
2915breezy
3015breezy
3115breezy

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min at the start of October to 11 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 42 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 6:23 AM to 6:38 AM, and sunset from 6:09 PM to 5:43 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.86:236:09
211.76:236:08
311.76:246:07
411.76:246:06
511.76:256:05
611.76:256:04
711.66:256:03
811.66:266:02
911.66:266:01
1011.66:276:00
1111.56:275:59
1211.56:285:58
1311.56:285:57
1411.56:295:56
1511.46:295:56
1611.46:305:55
1711.46:305:54
1811.46:315:53
1911.36:315:52
2011.36:325:51
2111.36:325:50
2211.36:335:50
2311.36:335:49
2411.26:345:48
2511.26:355:47
2611.26:355:47
2711.26:365:46
2811.16:365:45
2911.16:375:44
3011.16:385:44
3111.16:385:43

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 4.73 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.66 kWh/m² to a high of 6.9 kWh/m² in May across the year — October's 4.73 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
35.0Bright
45.0Bright
55.0Bright
65.0Bright
74.9Bright
84.9Bright
94.9Bright
104.9Bright
114.9Bright
124.8Bright
134.8Bright
144.8Bright
154.8Bright
164.7Bright
174.7Bright
184.7Bright
194.7Bright
204.6Bright
214.6Bright
224.6Bright
234.6Bright
244.5Bright
254.5Bright
264.5Bright
274.5Bright
284.5Bright
294.5Bright
304.5Bright
314.4Bright
Planning a trip in October

Hazard calendar for Key West

In seasonPeak

In October, Key West sits inside its atlantic hurricane and rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Key West sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Key West's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is October a good time to visit Key West?

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

6.2
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
6.4
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

October is a reasonable time to visit Key West for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Key West in October

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

In October, Key West sees daytime highs around 81°F and nights near 78°F. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear, sun protection and a windbreaker. About 13 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protectiona windbreaker

Sea temperature near Key West in October

The nearest coast averages about 83°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 86°F and coldest in February near 73°F.

The water stays above 68°F all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

70°75°80°85°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan73Refreshing
Feb73Refreshing
Mar74Refreshing
Apr77Warm
May80Warm
Jun83Tropical
Jul85Tropical
Aug86Tropical
Sep85Tropical
Oct83Tropical
Nov78Warm
Dec75Warm

UV index in Key West in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Key West peaks around July 18 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 5 (high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighJul 18UV 12Dec 18UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb8Very high
Mar10Very high
Apr11Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct9Very high
Nov6High
Dec5High

Air quality in Key West 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 Key West is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.1× the cleanest month (December, 4 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1818 µg/m³Dec 144 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan5Good
Feb5Good
Mar6Good
Apr8Good
May9Good
Jun15Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct7Good
Nov5Good
Dec4Good
Location & terrain

Where is Key West?

Key West sits at 24.6°N, 81.8°W, 3 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Marco Island, 96 mi away.

Topography around Key West

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Key West has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 39 ft around an average of 3 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 75 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 52 ft.

The land around Key West is covered by water (64%) and artificial surfaces (26%) within 2 miles, water (95%) within 10 miles, and water (98%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
39 ft
10 miles
75 ft
50 miles
52 ft
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
October weather nearby: Marco Island 96 mi · Santa Cruz del Norte 98 mi · Alamar 101 mi · Cojímar 101 mi · Ciudad Camilo Cienfuegos 103 mi · Varadero 103 mi · Homestead 103 mi · Guanabacoa 104 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 Key West (24.5552°, -81.7816°, elevation 3 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). 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).