National City weather in October

In October, National City sees average daytime highs of 76°F and overnight lows near 59°F, with 0.6 in of rain across 2.5 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 78°F in the first days to 73°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 69% 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 National City's 5th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see National City's year-round climate.

Daytime high
76°
4th warmest
Overnight low
59°
8th coldest
Rainfall
0.6 in
2.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 12 min
5:58 AM – 5:09 PM
Cloud cover
28%
5th clearest
Wind
4 mph
10th windiest
Solar energy
4.88 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.7
out of 10

National City is city in San Diego County, California, United States.

Density
2,586/km²
people per km²
Founded
1800

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 78°F in the first days to 73°F by the end.

A typical October day in National City 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 86°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 4°F cooler than September and about 6°F warmer than November.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17862
27862
37861
47861
57861
67761
77761
87760
97760
107760
117660
127660
137660
147659
157659
167659
177559
187559
197559
207558
217558
227458
237458
247458
257457
267457
277357
287357
297356
307356
317356

National City 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° / 48°2.35.610.16.8
Feb64° / 48°2.9710.86.3
Mar65° / 50°1.95.811.86.8
Apr68° / 53°0.93.912.87.6
May70° / 56°0.4213.78.2
Jun74° / 60°0.10.614.19.2
Jul79° / 64°0.10.713.98.9
Aug81° / 65°0.10.513.28.7
Sep80° / 64°0.20.912.28.8
Oct76° / 59°0.62.511.28.7
Nov70° / 53°0.93.310.37.9
Dec64° / 48°1.95.29.96.8

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 69% 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 19%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18713
28713
38713
48713
58713
68614
78614
88614
98614
108515
118416
128416
138317
148218
158218
168119
178020
187921
197822
207723
217723
227624
237624
247624
257525
267525
277624
287624
297624
307624
317822

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

National City gets around 0.6 in of rain over 2.5 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 7% and peaks near 10% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
14
24
34
45
55
65
75
86
96
106
116
127
137
147
157
167
178
188
198
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 55% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
13446172
23646162
33845152
43945142
54145132
64344121
74444111
84544101
9464391
10474381
11484371
12494371
13494371
14504361
15514261
16514261
17534151
18534151
19544051
20563851
21583741
22603541
23623341
24653131
25682930
26702730
27732520
28752320
29772120
30801910
31821710

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 5:47 AM to 6:11 AM, and sunset from 5:28 PM to 4:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.75:475:28
211.65:485:26
311.65:485:25
411.65:495:24
511.55:505:22
611.55:515:21
711.55:515:20
811.45:525:19
911.45:535:17
1011.45:535:16
1111.35:545:15
1211.35:555:14
1311.35:565:12
1411.25:575:11
1511.25:575:10
1611.25:585:09
1711.15:595:08
1811.16:005:06
1911.16:005:05
2011.06:015:04
2111.06:025:03
2211.06:035:02
2311.06:045:01
2410.96:055:00
2510.96:054:59
2610.96:064:58
2710.86:074:57
2810.86:084:56
2910.86:094:55
3010.76:104:54
3110.76:114:53

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 4.88 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.14 kWh/m² to a high of 8.08 kWh/m² in June across the year — October's 4.88 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.6Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.5Bright
55.4Bright
65.4Bright
75.3Bright
85.3Bright
95.2Bright
105.2Bright
115.1Bright
125.1Bright
135.0Bright
145.0Bright
154.9Bright
164.9Bright
174.8Bright
184.8Bright
194.7Bright
204.7Bright
214.6Bright
224.6Bright
234.6Bright
244.5Bright
254.5Bright
264.4Bright
274.4Bright
284.4Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.2Bright
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit National City?

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

8.7
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
7.4
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for National City in October

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

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

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near National City 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 70°F and coldest in February near 59°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 13 to Sep 28 — about 2.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°65°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan60Cool
Feb59Cool
Mar60Cool
Apr61Cool
May63Cool
Jun65Cool
Jul68Refreshing
Aug70Refreshing
Sep69Refreshing
Oct67Cool
Nov64Cool
Dec61Cool

UV index in National City 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 National City peaks around June 23 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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJun 23UV 11Dec 17UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar5High
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in National City 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 National City 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 National City?

National City sits at 32.7°N, 117.1°W, 69 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Chula Vista, 2.5 mi away.

Topography around National City

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around National City has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 322 ft around an average of 72 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,556 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,352 ft.

The land around National City is covered by artificial surfaces (79%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (48%) and water (25%) within 10 miles, and water (33%) and shrubs (24%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
322 ft
10 miles
2,556 ft
50 miles
6,352 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
October weather nearby: Chula Vista 2.5 mi · San Diego 4.3 mi · Coronado 5.0 mi · Lemon Grove 6.2 mi · La Presa 6.2 mi · Imperial Beach 6.8 mi · Spring Valley 7.5 mi · La Mesa 7.5 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 National City (32.6781°, -117.0992°, elevation 69 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).