Normal weather in October

In October, Normal sees average daytime highs of 64°F and overnight lows near 45°F, with 3.3 in of precipitation across 8.9 wet days and about 10.9 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 70°F in the first days to 58°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% 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 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Normal's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Normal's year-round climate.

Daytime high
64°
6th warmest
Overnight low
45°
7th coldest
Precipitation
3.3 in
8.9 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
6:14 AM – 5:08 PM
Cloud cover
55%
4th clearest
Wind
9 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
3.26 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.8
out of 10

Normal is town in McLean County, Illinois, United States.

Density
1,140/km²
people per km²
Founded
1865

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 70°F in the first days to 58°F by the end.

A typical October day in Normal reaches about 64°F in the afternoon and slips back to 45°F overnight — a 19°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 51°F and 77°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 12°F cooler than September and about 14°F warmer than November.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17150
27150
37050
47049
56949
66948
76948
86848
96747
106747
116747
126646
136546
146546
156545
166445
176444
186344
196344
206244
216243
226143
236142
246042
256042
265942
275941
285841
295840
305740
315740

How October really feels in Normal

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.

Normal weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 6th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan33° / 19°2.38.34.99.40.0
Feb38° / 22°2.17.44.110.40.0
Mar50° / 32°3.110.31.811.72.2
Apr62° / 43°4.4120.5134.9
May72° / 53°4.713.5014.26.1
Jun81° / 63°4.312.2014.86.1
Jul83° / 66°3.810.8014.65.7
Aug82° / 64°3.29.4013.66.5
Sep76° / 56°3.07.8012.37.2
Oct64° / 45°3.38.90.110.95.8
Nov50° / 34°3.08.41.19.72.3
Dec38° / 24°2.38.33.69.20.0

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% 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 49%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15644
25644
35644
45644
55545
65545
75545
85446
95446
105446
115347
125446
135347
145347
155347
165347
175248
185149
195149
205050
214951
224951
234852
244753
254654
264654
274555
284456
294456
304456
314456

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Normal gets around 3.3 in of rain and snow over 8.9 wet days in October. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 28% and peaks near 30% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
125
225
325
425
526
626
727
827
928
1028
1128
1228
1328
1428
1528
1629
1729
1829
1929
2029
2129
2229
2329
2429
2529
2629
2730
2830
2930
3029
3129

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 86% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1751384
2751384
3751384
4771274
5781273
6781273
7791173
8801163
9811162
10831052
11831052
1285951
1386941
1486941
1587841
1689830
1789830
1889830
1989830
2090730
2190730
2290730
2391720
2491720
2591720
2691720
2792620
2892620
2992620
3093610
3193610

Wind in October

Winds average 9 mph in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
2210light breeze
2310light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze
2910light breeze
3010light breeze
3110light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of October to 10 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 78 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 5:58 AM to 6:31 AM, and sunset from 5:32 PM to 4:48 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.65:585:32
211.55:595:31
311.56:005:29
411.46:015:27
511.46:025:26
611.36:035:24
711.36:045:22
811.36:055:21
911.26:065:19
1011.26:075:17
1111.16:085:16
1211.16:095:14
1311.06:115:13
1411.06:125:11
1510.96:135:10
1610.96:145:08
1710.96:155:07
1810.86:165:05
1910.86:175:04
2010.76:185:02
2110.76:205:01
2210.66:214:59
2310.66:224:58
2410.66:234:57
2510.56:244:55
2610.56:254:54
2710.46:264:53
2810.46:284:51
2910.46:294:50
3010.36:304:49
3110.36:314:48

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 3.26 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.77 kWh/m² to a high of 6.4 kWh/m² in July across the year — October's 3.26 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.0Moderate
23.9Moderate
33.9Moderate
43.8Moderate
53.8Moderate
63.7Moderate
73.7Moderate
83.6Moderate
93.6Moderate
103.6Moderate
113.5Moderate
123.5Moderate
133.4Moderate
143.4Moderate
153.3Moderate
163.3Moderate
173.3Moderate
183.2Moderate
193.2Moderate
203.1Moderate
213.1Moderate
223.0Moderate
233.0Moderate
242.9Moderate
252.9Moderate
262.8Moderate
272.8Moderate
282.8Moderate
292.7Moderate
302.7Moderate
312.6Moderate
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit Normal?

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

5.8
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
2.1
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

October is a reasonable time to visit Normal for sightseeing.

What to pack for Normal in October

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

In October, Normal sees daytime highs around 64°F and nights near 45°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Normal in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Normal peaks around June 22 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 22UV 9Dec 23UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Normal 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 Normal is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodModerateGoodJul 1816 µg/m³Oct 228 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr11Good
May14Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Normal?

Normal sits at 40.5°N, 89.0°W, 801 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Bloomington, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around Normal

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Normal has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 151 ft around an average of 810 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 276 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 531 ft.

The land around Normal is covered by artificial surfaces (39%), trees (30%) and grassland (21%) within 2 miles, cropland (74%) within 10 miles, and cropland (83%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
151 ft
10 miles
276 ft
50 miles
531 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
October weather nearby: Bloomington 1.9 mi · Washington 25 mi · Morton 25 mi · East Peoria 33 mi · Peoria 34 mi · North Peoria 34 mi · Pekin 34 mi · Decatur 47 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 Normal (40.5142°, -88.9906°, elevation 801 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).