Waterloo weather in October

In October, Waterloo sees average daytime highs of 60°F and overnight lows near 41°F, with 2.8 in of precipitation across 8.3 wet days and about 10.8 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 67°F in the first days to 54°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time in October, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 30 min at the start of October to 10 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Waterloo's 4th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Waterloo's year-round climate.

Daytime high
60°
6th warmest
Overnight low
41°
7th coldest
Precipitation
2.8 in
8.3 wet days
Daylight
10 h 48 min
6:30 AM – 5:19 PM
Cloud cover
55%
4th clearest
Wind
10 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
3.07 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.2
out of 10

Waterloo is city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States.

Density
418/km²
people per km²
Founded
1868

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 67°F in the first days to 54°F by the end.

A typical October day in Waterloo reaches about 60°F in the afternoon and slips back to 41°F overnight — a 19°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 47°F and 74°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 13°F cooler than September and about 15°F warmer than November.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16747
26747
36746
46646
56646
66545
76545
86444
96444
106444
116343
126243
136242
146242
156142
166041
176041
186040
195940
205840
215839
225839
235738
245638
255638
265637
275537
285537
295436
305436
315335

How October really feels in Waterloo

Once humidity and wind are folded in, October averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 9 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
9
wind chill below the day's low

The story in October is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Waterloo weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 6th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 11°1.46.85.69.20.0
Feb31° / 15°1.46.54.810.30.0
Mar45° / 27°2.593.411.61.1
Apr59° / 39°4.311.21.113.14.3
May70° / 51°5.0130.114.46.0
Jun79° / 61°5.112.4015.16.3
Jul82° / 64°4.210.3014.86.5
Aug80° / 61°3.99.5013.76.8
Sep73° / 53°3.78.6012.37.1
Oct60° / 41°2.88.30.410.85.2
Nov45° / 29°2.17.22.19.61.2
Dec32° / 18°1.76.95.18.90.0

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% 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 50%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15743
25743
35842
45743
55743
65644
75644
85644
95446
105446
115446
125347
135347
145248
155149
165050
175050
184951
194852
204753
214753
224654
234555
244456
254456
264456
274456
284357
294357
304456
314456

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitationSnow

Waterloo gets around 2.8 in of rain and snow over 8.3 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 26% and peaks near 27% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1270
2270
3260
4260
5260
6260
7270
8270
9270
10270
11270
12270
13260
14260
15270
16270
17271
18271
19271
20271
21271
22272
23262
24262
25263
26263
27263
28263
29254
30254
31254

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 91% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1811063
2831052
384952
485852
585852
686752
788741
888741
989641
1089641
1189641
1291531
1391531
1492530
1593520
1693520
1793520
1894420
1994420
2094420
2194420
2294420
2395410
2495410
2596310
2696310
2796310
2896310
2996310
3097210
3197210

Wind in October

Winds average 10 mph in October.

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

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
910light breeze
1010light breeze
1110light breeze
1210light breeze
1310light breeze
1410light breeze
1510light breeze
1610light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light breeze
1910light breeze
2010light breeze
2110light 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 30 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 78 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 6:12 AM to 6:48 AM, and sunset from 5:45 PM to 4:57 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.56:125:45
211.56:135:43
311.46:145:41
411.46:155:39
511.36:175:38
611.36:185:36
711.36:195:34
811.26:205:32
911.26:215:31
1011.16:225:29
1111.16:245:27
1211.06:255:26
1311.06:265:24
1410.96:275:22
1510.96:285:21
1610.86:305:19
1710.86:315:18
1810.76:325:16
1910.76:335:14
2010.66:355:13
2110.66:365:11
2210.56:375:10
2310.56:385:08
2410.56:405:07
2510.46:415:06
2610.46:425:04
2710.36:435:03
2810.36:455:01
2910.26:465:00
3010.26:474:59
3110.26:484:57

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 3.07 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.7 kWh/m² to a high of 6.37 kWh/m² in July across the year — October's 3.07 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.8Moderate
23.7Moderate
33.7Moderate
43.6Moderate
53.6Moderate
63.6Moderate
73.5Moderate
83.5Moderate
93.4Moderate
103.4Moderate
113.3Moderate
123.3Moderate
133.2Moderate
143.2Moderate
153.1Moderate
163.1Moderate
173.0Moderate
183.0Moderate
193.0Moderate
202.9Moderate
212.9Moderate
222.8Moderate
232.8Moderate
242.7Moderate
252.7Moderate
262.7Moderate
272.6Moderate
282.6Moderate
292.6Moderate
302.5Moderate
312.5Moderate
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit Waterloo?

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

5.2
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
1.1
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

October is a reasonable time to visit Waterloo for sightseeing.

What to pack for Waterloo in October

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

In October, Waterloo sees daytime highs around 60°F and nights near 41°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Waterloo 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 Waterloo peaks around June 18 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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 18UV 9Jan 1UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Waterloo 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 Waterloo is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodJul 1916 µg/m³Oct 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr11Good
May12Good
Jun13Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct7Good
Nov8Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Waterloo?

Waterloo sits at 42.5°N, 92.3°W, 856 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Cedar Falls, 5.6 mi away.

Topography around Waterloo

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Waterloo has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 151 ft around an average of 873 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 243 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 620 ft.

The land around Waterloo is covered by trees (39%) and artificial surfaces (39%) within 2 miles, cropland (64%) within 10 miles, and cropland (81%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
151 ft
10 miles
243 ft
50 miles
620 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
October weather nearby: Cedar Falls 5.6 mi · Marshalltown 42 mi · Cedar Rapids 49 mi · Marion 50 mi · Mason City 63 mi · North Liberty 64 mi · Newton 66 mi · Coralville 68 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 Waterloo (42.4928°, -92.343°, elevation 856 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).