Tucson weather in October

In October, Tucson sees average daytime highs of 84°F and overnight lows near 60°F, with 0.6 in of rain across 2.3 wet days and about 11.2 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 89°F in the first days to 79°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 79% 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 Tucson's 2nd-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Tucson's year-round climate.

Daytime high
84°
6th warmest
Overnight low
60°
7th coldest
Rainfall
0.6 in
2.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 12 min
6:33 AM – 5:45 PM
Cloud cover
22%
2nd clearest
Wind
6 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
5.18 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.2
out of 10

Tucson is city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States.

Density
906/km²
people per km²
Founded
1775

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 89°F in the first days to 79°F by the end.

A typical October day in Tucson reaches about 84°F in the afternoon and slips back to 60°F overnight — a 24°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 74°F and 92°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 9°F cooler than September and about 12°F warmer than November.

40°60°80°100°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
19066
28965
38965
48965
58864
68864
78763
88763
98762
108662
118662
128561
138561
148560
158460
168460
178359
188359
198358
208258
218258
228257
238157
248157
258056
268056
277955
287955
297955
307854
317854

How October really feels in Tucson

Once humidity and wind are folded in, October averages 1 day 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
1
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in October is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Tucson weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 6th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan64° / 41°1.1410.17.0
Feb67° / 44°1.13.910.87.3
Mar73° / 49°0.7311.88.4
Apr80° / 55°0.21.412.88.3
May89° / 63°0.10.813.65.5
Jun98° / 72°0.21.214.12.3
Jul98° / 77°1.37.813.92.0
Aug96° / 76°1.37.513.22.5
Sep92° / 71°1.03.712.24.0
Oct84° / 60°0.62.311.27.2
Nov72° / 49°0.72.510.38.4
Dec63° / 41°1.24.29.96.7

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 79% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 12%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18911
28911
38911
48911
58911
68911
78911
89010
98911
108911
118911
128911
138911
149010
159010
169010
178911
188911
198911
208911
218812
228713
238713
248713
258713
268713
278515
288515
298515
308416
318416

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Tucson gets around 0.6 in of rain over 2.3 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 7% and peaks near 8% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
18
28
38
48
58
68
78
88
98
108
118
128
137
147
157
167
177
186
196
206
216
226
236
246
257
267
277
287
297
307
317

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 95% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
186851
287841
388741
489731
590730
691720
792620
893610
993610
1094510
1194510
1294510
1394510
1495410
1596400
1696400
1797300
1897300
1997300
2098200
2198200
2298200
2398200
2498200
2599100
2699100
2799100
2899100
2999100
30100000
31100000

Wind in October

Winds average 6 mph in October.

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

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

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 6:22 AM to 6:45 AM, and sunset from 6:03 PM to 5:29 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:226:03
211.76:236:02
311.66:236:01
411.66:245:59
511.66:255:58
611.56:265:57
711.56:265:55
811.56:275:54
911.46:285:53
1011.46:285:52
1111.46:295:50
1211.36:305:49
1311.36:315:48
1411.36:315:47
1511.26:325:46
1611.26:335:45
1711.26:345:43
1811.16:355:42
1911.16:355:41
2011.16:365:40
2111.06:375:39
2211.06:385:38
2311.06:395:37
2410.96:395:36
2510.96:405:35
2610.96:415:34
2710.96:425:33
2810.86:435:32
2910.86:445:31
3010.86:445:30
3110.76:455:29

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 5.18 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.37 kWh/m² to a high of 8.35 kWh/m² in June across the year — October's 5.18 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.7Bright
25.7Bright
35.7Bright
45.6Bright
55.6Bright
65.6Bright
75.5Bright
85.5Bright
95.5Bright
105.4Bright
115.4Bright
125.4Bright
135.3Bright
145.3Bright
155.2Bright
165.2Bright
175.2Bright
185.1Bright
195.1Bright
205.0Bright
215.0Bright
225.0Bright
234.9Bright
244.9Bright
254.8Bright
264.8Bright
274.7Bright
284.7Bright
294.7Bright
304.6Bright
314.6Bright
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit Tucson?

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

7.2
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
8.5
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Tucson in October

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

In October, Tucson sees daytime highs around 84°F and nights near 60°F. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Tucson in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Tucson peaks around June 23 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJun 23UV 11Dec 20UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar6High
Apr9Very high
May9Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep10Very high
Oct7High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Tucson 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 Tucson is worst in June — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.6× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 1715 µg/m³Dec 219 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Good
May11Good
Jun15Moderate
Jul12Moderate
Aug11Good
Sep11Good
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Tucson?

Tucson sits at 32.2°N, 110.9°W, 2,490 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Catalina Foothills, 5.0 mi away.

Topography around Tucson

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Tucson has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 157 ft around an average of 2,477 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,455 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 7,730 ft.

The land around Tucson is covered by artificial surfaces (88%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (46%) and shrubs (43%) within 10 miles, and shrubs (80%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
157 ft
10 miles
4,455 ft
50 miles
7,730 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrain
October weather nearby: Catalina Foothills 5.0 mi · Flowing Wells 6.8 mi · Casas Adobes 8.1 mi · Drexel Heights 8.1 mi · Tanque Verde 11 mi · Oro Valley 12 mi · Vail 17 mi · Sahuarita 18 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 Tucson (32.2217°, -110.9265°, elevation 2,490 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).