Scranton weather in October

In October, Scranton sees average daytime highs of 59°F and overnight lows near 43°F, with 3.7 in of precipitation across 9.6 wet days and about 10.9 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 65°F in the first days to 54°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% 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 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Scranton's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Scranton's year-round climate.

Daytime high
59°
6th warmest
Overnight low
43°
7th coldest
Precipitation
3.7 in
9.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
6:22 AM – 5:14 PM
Cloud cover
61%
4th clearest
Wind
7 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
2.92 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.6
out of 10

Scranton is city in and county seat of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Density
1,166/km²
people per km²
Founded
1856

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 65°F in the first days to 54°F by the end.

A typical October day in Scranton reaches about 59°F in the afternoon and slips back to 43°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 48°F and 71°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 12°F cooler than September and about 12°F warmer than November.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16548
26548
36547
46447
56447
66446
76346
86346
96245
106245
116245
126144
136144
146044
156043
165943
175942
185842
195842
205742
215741
225641
235641
245640
255540
265540
275539
285439
295438
305338
315338

How October really feels in Scranton

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.

Scranton weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 6th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan33° / 19°3.09.46.99.40.0
Feb35° / 20°2.595.810.30.0
Mar44° / 28°3.611.4511.70.8
Apr57° / 39°3.511.71.513.13.7
May67° / 49°3.512.60.114.35.7
Jun76° / 58°3.812014.96.4
Jul80° / 62°3.010.9014.76.4
Aug78° / 61°3.39.9013.76.7
Sep71° / 54°3.79.3012.36.7
Oct59° / 43°3.79.60.510.94.6
Nov47° / 33°3.08.71.89.71.6
Dec37° / 25°3.310.55.59.10.0

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 56%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24753
34753
44852
54852
64852
74852
84852
94753
104753
114654
124654
134654
144555
154555
164456
174456
184357
194357
204258
214258
224258
234159
244159
254159
264159
274159
284060
294060
304060
314060

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitationSnow

Scranton gets around 3.7 in of rain and snow over 9.6 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 32% and peaks near 33% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1320
2320
3310
4310
5310
6300
7300
8300
9300
10300
11300
12310
13311
14311
15321
16321
17321
18331
19331
20332
21332
22332
23332
24332
25333
26333
27323
28323
29323
30313
31313

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 (%)Muggy (%)
17811101
2791191
3801091
4811081
583971
683971
784961
886851
986851
1087841
1188741
1289731
1389731
1491621
1591621
1691621
1794510
1894510
1994510
2094510
2194510
2295410
2395410
2495410
2595410
2695410
2797300
2897300
2997300
3097300
3197300

Wind in October

Winds average 7 mph in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 6 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of October to 10 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 84 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 6:05 AM to 6:40 AM, and sunset from 5:39 PM to 4:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:055:39
211.56:065:37
311.56:075:35
411.46:085:33
511.46:095:32
611.36:105:30
711.36:115:28
811.26:135:27
911.26:145:25
1011.16:155:23
1111.16:165:22
1211.06:175:20
1311.06:185:18
1411.06:195:17
1510.96:205:15
1610.96:225:14
1710.86:235:12
1810.86:245:11
1910.76:255:09
2010.76:265:08
2110.66:285:06
2210.66:295:05
2310.66:305:03
2410.56:315:02
2510.56:325:01
2610.46:334:59
2710.46:354:58
2810.36:364:57
2910.36:374:55
3010.36:384:54
3110.26:404:53

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 2.92 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.55 kWh/m² to a high of 5.95 kWh/m² in June across the year — October's 2.92 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.5Moderate
23.4Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.4Moderate
53.3Moderate
63.3Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.2Moderate
93.2Moderate
103.1Moderate
113.1Moderate
123.1Moderate
133.0Moderate
143.0Moderate
153.0Moderate
162.9Moderate
172.9Moderate
182.8Moderate
192.8Moderate
202.8Moderate
212.7Moderate
222.7Moderate
232.6Moderate
242.6Moderate
252.6Moderate
262.5Moderate
272.5Moderate
282.5Moderate
292.4Moderate
302.4Moderate
312.4Moderate
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit Scranton?

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

4.6
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
0.7
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

October is a reasonable time to visit Scranton for sightseeing.

What to pack for Scranton in October

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

In October, Scranton sees daytime highs around 59°F and nights near 43°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Scranton in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 3 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Scranton peaks around July 11 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 11UV 8Dec 23UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Scranton 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 Scranton is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1416 µg/m³Nov 147 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Good
May15Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Scranton?

Scranton sits at 41.4°N, 75.7°W, 755 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Wilkes-Barre, 16 mi away.

Topography around Scranton

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Scranton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 732 ft around an average of 866 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,762 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,559 ft.

The land around Scranton is covered by artificial surfaces (54%) and trees (39%) within 2 miles, trees (72%) within 10 miles, and trees (83%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
732 ft
10 miles
1,762 ft
50 miles
2,559 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
October weather nearby: Wilkes-Barre 16 mi · Back Mountain 18 mi · Hazleton 35 mi · Binghamton 49 mi · Vestal 51 mi · Whitehall Township 52 mi · Easton 55 mi · Allentown 56 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 Scranton (41.4092°, -75.6649°, elevation 755 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).