Wilkes-Barre weather in October

In October, Wilkes-Barre sees average daytime highs of 60°F and overnight lows near 44°F, with 3.6 in of precipitation across 9.3 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 30% 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 Wilkes-Barre's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Wilkes-Barre's year-round climate.

Daytime high
60°
6th warmest
Overnight low
44°
7th coldest
Precipitation
3.6 in
9.3 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
6:22 AM – 5:15 PM
Cloud cover
60%
4th clearest
Wind
7 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
2.96 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.8
out of 10

Wilkes-Barre is city in and seat of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Density
2,154/km²
people per km²
Founded
1769

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 Wilkes-Barre reaches about 60°F in the afternoon and slips back to 44°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 49°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)
16649
26649
36548
46548
56547
66447
76447
86346
96346
106346
116245
126245
136145
146144
156044
166044
175943
185943
195842
205842
215842
225742
235741
245641
255640
265640
275540
285540
295539
305439
315438

How October really feels in Wilkes-Barre

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.

Wilkes-Barre 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° / 20°3.19.46.49.40.0
Feb36° / 21°2.695.610.30.0
Mar45° / 29°3.6114.611.71.0
Apr58° / 40°3.611.41.213.14.0
May68° / 49°3.512.5014.35.8
Jun76° / 58°3.911.8014.96.4
Jul81° / 63°3.010.6014.76.4
Aug79° / 62°3.39.7013.76.7
Sep72° / 54°3.99.1012.36.8
Oct60° / 44°3.69.30.310.94.8
Nov48° / 34°3.18.51.69.71.8
Dec38° / 26°3.310.159.10.0

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 55%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24852
34852
44951
54852
64852
74852
84852
94852
104852
114753
124654
134654
144753
154654
164555
174555
184555
194456
204456
214357
224258
234258
244357
254258
264258
274258
284159
294159
304159
314159

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitationSnow

Wilkes-Barre gets around 3.6 in of rain and snow over 9.3 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 31% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1310
2310
3310
4310
5300
6300
7300
8300
9300
10300
11300
12300
13310
14310
15311
16311
17311
18311
19311
20311
21311
22311
23312
24312
25312
26312
27302
28302
29302
30302
31292

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 89% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
17612111
27811101
3791191
4801181
5801082
6811072
783962
884952
984952
1085942
1186842
1287832
1388831
1489821
1590721
1691711
1791711
1891711
1991711
2092611
2193610
2294600
2394600
2495500
2595500
2695500
2796400
2896400
2996400
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
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
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 6:06 AM to 6:40 AM, and sunset from 5:39 PM to 4:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:065:39
211.56:075:38
311.56:085:36
411.46:095:34
511.46:105:33
611.36:115:31
711.36:125:29
811.26:135:28
911.26:145:26
1011.16:155:24
1111.16:175:23
1211.16:185:21
1311.06:195:19
1411.06:205:18
1510.96:215:16
1610.96:225:15
1710.86:235:13
1810.86:255:12
1910.76:265:10
2010.76:275:09
2110.76:285:07
2210.66:295:06
2310.66:315:05
2410.56:325:03
2510.56:335:02
2610.46:345:00
2710.46:354:59
2810.46:364:58
2910.36:384:57
3010.36:394:55
3110.26:404:54

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 2.96 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.59 kWh/m² to a high of 5.99 kWh/m² in June across the year — October's 2.96 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.5Moderate
23.5Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.4Moderate
53.4Moderate
63.3Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.3Moderate
93.2Moderate
103.2Moderate
113.1Moderate
123.1Moderate
133.1Moderate
143.0Moderate
153.0Moderate
163.0Moderate
172.9Moderate
182.9Moderate
192.8Moderate
202.8Moderate
212.8Moderate
222.7Moderate
232.7Moderate
242.6Moderate
252.6Moderate
262.6Moderate
272.5Moderate
282.5Moderate
292.5Moderate
302.5Moderate
312.4Moderate
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit Wilkes-Barre?

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

4.8
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
0.9
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

October is a reasonable time to visit Wilkes-Barre for sightseeing.

What to pack for Wilkes-Barre in October

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

In October, Wilkes-Barre sees daytime highs around 60°F and nights near 44°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre peaks around July 10 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 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 10UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre?

Wilkes-Barre sits at 41.2°N, 75.9°W, 535 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Back Mountain, 8.7 mi away.

Topography around Wilkes-Barre

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Wilkes-Barre has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 518 ft around an average of 614 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,647 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,526 ft.

The land around Wilkes-Barre is covered by artificial surfaces (52%) and trees (35%) within 2 miles, trees (77%) within 10 miles, and trees (79%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
518 ft
10 miles
1,647 ft
50 miles
2,526 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
October weather nearby: Back Mountain 8.7 mi · Scranton 16 mi · Hazleton 21 mi · Whitehall Township 45 mi · Allentown 48 mi · Bethlehem 50 mi · Easton 52 mi · Williamsport 58 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 Wilkes-Barre (41.2459°, -75.8813°, elevation 535 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).