South Shore weather in October

In October, South Shore sees average daytime highs of 59°F and overnight lows near 51°F, with 4.1 in of precipitation across 10.7 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 53°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% 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 South Shore's 4th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see South Shore's year-round climate.

Daytime high
59°
6th warmest
Overnight low
51°
7th coldest
Precipitation
4.1 in
10.7 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
6:10 AM – 5:01 PM
Cloud cover
57%
4th clearest
Wind
13 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
3.15 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.6
out of 10

South Shore is community in Chicago.

Density
6,691/km²
people per km²

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 53°F by the end.

A typical October day in South Shore reaches about 59°F in the afternoon and slips back to 51°F overnight — a 8°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 50°F and 69°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 12°F cooler than September and about 13°F warmer than November.

30°40°50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16557
26556
36556
46456
56455
66455
76355
86354
96254
106253
116153
126153
136052
146052
156051
165951
175951
185850
195850
205749
215749
225649
235648
245648
255547
265547
275446
285446
295346
305345
315345

How October really feels in South Shore

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.

South Shore 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
Jan31° / 21°3.3106.49.30.0
Feb32° / 22°2.68.2510.30.0
Mar39° / 30°3.2103.211.70.1
Apr50° / 42°4.912.41.113.12.2
May63° / 54°4.612.1014.35.2
Jun74° / 65°3.911.60156.5
Jul79° / 71°3.411.4014.76.5
Aug78° / 70°3.810.8013.76.8
Sep71° / 63°3.39.1012.36.9
Oct59° / 51°4.110.70.110.94.6
Nov46° / 39°3.810.31.29.61.3
Dec36° / 28°3.210.24.690.0

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 51%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15446
25446
35446
45446
55446
65446
75347
85248
95248
105248
115347
125347
135347
145248
155248
165050
175050
184951
194951
204852
214753
224753
234456
244456
254456
264357
274258
284159
294258
304258
314159

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

South Shore gets around 4.1 in of rain and snow over 10.7 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 33% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
132
231
331
431
531
631
732
832
932
1032
1132
1232
1332
1432
1532
1633
1733
1834
1934
2034
2135
2235
2335
2435
2535
2636
2736
2836
2936
3036
3136

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 83% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
163211051
264211041
36720940
46720940
57019830
67118830
77218730
87317730
97616620
107616620
117815520
128114410
138213410
148313310
158412310
168611300
178810200
188810200
19899200
20918100
21927100
22927100
23936100
24936100
25936100
26945100
27945100
28945100
29954100
30954100
31964000

Wind in October

Winds average 13 mph in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 13 mph on the calmest days to 14 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1513breezy
1613breezy
1713breezy
1813breezy
1914breezy
2014breezy
2114breezy
2214breezy
2314breezy
2414breezy
2514breezy
2614breezy
2714breezy
2814breezy
2914breezy
3014breezy
3114breezy

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 5:53 AM to 6:28 AM, and sunset from 5:26 PM to 4:40 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.65:535:26
211.55:545:24
311.55:555:23
411.45:565:21
511.45:575:19
611.35:585:17
711.35:595:16
811.26:005:14
911.26:025:12
1011.16:035:11
1111.16:045:09
1211.06:055:07
1311.06:065:06
1410.96:075:04
1510.96:095:03
1610.96:105:01
1710.86:114:59
1810.86:124:58
1910.76:134:56
2010.76:144:55
2110.66:164:53
2210.66:174:52
2310.56:184:50
2410.56:194:49
2510.56:214:48
2610.46:224:46
2710.46:234:45
2810.36:244:44
2910.36:254:42
3010.26:274:41
3110.26:284:40

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 3.15 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.57 kWh/m² to a high of 6.61 kWh/m² in June across the year — October's 3.15 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.9Moderate
23.8Moderate
33.8Moderate
43.7Moderate
53.7Moderate
63.6Moderate
73.6Moderate
83.6Moderate
93.5Moderate
103.5Moderate
113.4Moderate
123.4Moderate
133.3Moderate
143.3Moderate
153.2Moderate
163.2Moderate
173.1Moderate
183.1Moderate
193.0Moderate
203.0Moderate
212.9Moderate
222.9Moderate
232.8Moderate
242.8Moderate
252.7Moderate
262.7Moderate
272.6Moderate
282.6Moderate
292.5Moderate
302.5Moderate
312.5Moderate
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit South Shore?

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 South Shore for sightseeing.

What to pack for South Shore in October

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

In October, South Shore sees daytime highs around 59°F and nights near 51°F. Worth packing: a warm layer, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layerrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near South Shore in October

The nearest coast averages about 58°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 8 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in February near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 13 to Sep 15 — about 2.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr39Bracing
May45Bracing
Jun57Bracing
Jul70Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep68Refreshing
Oct58Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec42Bracing

UV index in South Shore 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 South Shore peaks around June 23 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 23UV 9Jan 1UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in South Shore 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 South Shore is worst in July — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodJul 921 µg/m³Oct 2410 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar18Moderate
Apr19Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul21Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is South Shore?

South Shore sits at 41.8°N, 87.6°W, 591 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Woodlawn, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around South Shore

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around South Shore has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 66 ft around an average of 591 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 515 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 735 ft.

The land around South Shore is covered by artificial surfaces (60%) and water (20%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (44%) and water (42%) within 10 miles, and water (33%), cropland (25%) and trees (20%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
66 ft
10 miles
515 ft
50 miles
735 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
October weather nearby: Woodlawn 1.9 mi · Greater Grand Crossing 1.9 mi · South Chicago 1.9 mi · Chatham 2.5 mi · Hyde Park 2.5 mi · Kenwood 3.1 mi · Englewood 3.7 mi · Grand Boulevard 4.3 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 South Shore (41.762°, -87.5778°, elevation 591 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).