Richmond weather in October

In October, Richmond sees average daytime highs of 75°F and overnight lows near 52°F, with 0.9 in of rain across 3 wet days and about 11 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 78°F in the first days to 71°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 67% 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 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Richmond's 5th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Richmond's year-round climate.

Daytime high
75°
5th warmest
Overnight low
52°
8th coldest
Rainfall
0.9 in
3 wet days
Daylight
11 hours
6:24 AM – 5:24 PM
Cloud cover
29%
5th clearest
Wind
5 mph
10th windiest
Solar energy
4.2 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.5
out of 10

Richmond is city in Contra Costa County, California, United States.

Density
807/km²
people per km²
Founded
1905

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 71°F by the end.

A typical October day in Richmond reaches about 75°F in the afternoon and slips back to 52°F overnight — a 23°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 66°F and 86°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 5°F cooler than September and about 11°F warmer than November.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17954
27954
37854
47854
57853
67853
77853
87853
97753
107753
117753
127753
137653
147653
157652
167652
177552
187552
197552
207452
217451
227451
237351
247351
257351
267251
277250
287150
297150
307150
317049

Richmond weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan57° / 42°4.09.39.74.2
Feb61° / 44°4.28.810.55.0
Mar64° / 46°3.18.711.76.1
Apr68° / 48°1.44.9137.3
May74° / 52°0.73148.4
Jun79° / 55°0.20.814.68.9
Jul80° / 56°0.00.114.49.0
Aug81° / 56°0.00.213.58.9
Sep81° / 55°0.10.412.38.8
Oct75° / 52°0.93118.5
Nov65° / 46°1.95.69.96.5
Dec57° / 42°3.79.39.44.3

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 67% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 22%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18614
28515
38515
48416
58416
68317
78317
88218
98119
108020
118020
128020
138020
147822
157822
167822
177723
187723
197723
207723
217624
227624
237624
247525
257525
267525
277327
287327
297228
307228
317129

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Richmond gets around 0.9 in of rain over 3 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 9% and peaks near 15% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
14
25
35
45
56
66
76
86
97
107
117
127
137
147
158
168
178
189
199
2010
2110
2211
2312
2412
2513
2613
2714
2814
2914
3015
3115

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 90% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
187121
288111
388111
489101
589101
689101
789101
889101
99091
109091
119091
1289101
1389101
1489101
1589101
1689101
1789101
189091
199091
209091
219091
229091
239091
249091
259280
269280
279280
289280
299280
309280
319370

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 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 72 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 6:10 AM to 6:40 AM, and sunset from 5:47 PM to 5:06 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:105:47
211.66:115:45
311.56:125:44
411.56:135:42
511.46:145:41
611.46:155:39
711.46:165:37
811.36:175:36
911.36:185:34
1011.26:195:33
1111.26:195:32
1211.26:205:30
1311.16:215:29
1411.16:225:27
1511.06:235:26
1611.06:245:24
1711.06:255:23
1810.96:265:22
1910.96:275:20
2010.86:285:19
2110.86:295:18
2210.86:315:16
2310.76:325:15
2410.76:335:14
2510.76:345:13
2610.66:355:12
2710.66:365:10
2810.56:375:09
2910.56:385:08
3010.56:395:07
3110.46:405:06

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 4.2 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.13 kWh/m² to a high of 7.96 kWh/m² in June across the year — October's 4.2 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
34.9Bright
44.9Bright
54.8Bright
64.8Bright
74.7Bright
84.7Bright
94.6Bright
104.5Bright
114.5Bright
124.4Bright
134.4Bright
144.3Bright
154.3Bright
164.2Bright
174.2Bright
184.1Bright
194.0Bright
204.0Moderate
213.9Moderate
223.9Moderate
233.8Moderate
243.8Moderate
253.7Moderate
263.7Moderate
273.6Moderate
283.6Moderate
293.5Moderate
303.5Moderate
313.4Moderate
Planning a trip in October

Hazard calendar for Richmond

In seasonPeak

None of Richmond's seasonal hazards are active in October. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Richmond's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is October a good time to visit Richmond?

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

8.5
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
7.1
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Richmond in October

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

In October, Richmond sees daytime highs around 75°F and nights near 52°F. Worth packing: light clothes. About 3 days see rain.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Richmond in October

The nearest coast averages about 57°F in October — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 16 mi away) is warmest in September at about 58°F and coldest in April near 53°F.

The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

52°54°56°58°60°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan53Bracing
Feb53Bracing
Mar54Bracing
Apr53Bracing
May53Bracing
Jun54Bracing
Jul56Bracing
Aug58Bracing
Sep58Bracing
Oct57Bracing
Nov55Bracing
Dec54Bracing

UV index in Richmond 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 Richmond peaks around July 11 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 11UV 10Dec 15UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun10Extreme
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep6High
Oct5High
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Richmond 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 Richmond is worst in September — around 29 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.2× the cleanest month (June, 7 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateSep 1829 µg/m³Jun 127 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan13Moderate
Feb13Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr10Good
May8Good
Jun7Good
Jul10Good
Aug25Moderate
Sep29Moderate
Oct27Moderate
Nov16Moderate
Dec12Good
Location & terrain

Where is Richmond?

Richmond sits at 37.9°N, 122.3°W, 46 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is San Pablo, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around Richmond

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Richmond has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 440 ft around an average of 56 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,126 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,042 ft.

The land around Richmond is covered by artificial surfaces (80%) within 2 miles, water (48%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 10 miles, and water (33%), grassland (25%) and trees (22%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
440 ft
10 miles
2,126 ft
50 miles
4,042 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
October weather nearby: San Pablo 1.9 mi · El Cerrito 2.5 mi · Albany 4.3 mi · Pinole 5.6 mi · Berkeley 6.2 mi · Hercules 6.2 mi · Oakland 9.9 mi · Orinda 9.9 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 Richmond (37.9358°, -122.3478°, elevation 46 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).