Wellington in October
What to expect
October in Wellington is mid-spring, a shoulder-season window, so you can get a bit of variety across the month. The overall feel is cool without being harsh, with only small changes from morning to evening. There is plenty of daylight to stretch outdoor time. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing.
October in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Wellington.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 13.2 h
- UV index (max)
- 7
- Typical sun hours
- 06:31 - 19:42
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 15 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 60%
- Snowfall
-
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 78%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for October. Typical high 13.6°C and low 10.0°C.
Typical disruptions in October
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in October.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 58% of days (18.0 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
18.0 days / month
~58% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 18.0 days / month
- Probability ~58% of days
- Intensity Up to ~106km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~18 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 26% of days (8.0 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.0 days / month
~26% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.0 days / month
- Probability ~26% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~8 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Severe gusts Measures: Severe gust days (>=80 km/h). Observed about 25% of days (7.8 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.8 days / month
~25% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.8 days / month
- Probability ~25% of days
- Intensity Up to ~115km/h (P95)
Severe gusts are possible on ~8 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 18% of days (5.7 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.7 days / month
~18% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.7 days / month
- Probability ~18% of days
- Intensity Up to ~29mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 18% of days (5.5 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.5 days / month
~18% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.5 days / month
- Probability ~18% of days
- Intensity Up to ~29mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind disruption Measures: Disruptive wind days. Observed about 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.4 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.4 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~120km/h (P95)
Disruptive wind is possible on ~3 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Show all disruptions (20 more)
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 9% of days (2.8 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.8 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.8 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~37mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 8% of days (2.5 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.5 days / month
~8% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.5 days / month
- Probability ~8% of days
- Intensity Up to ~113km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.4 days/month in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.4 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.4 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~37mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind disruption run Measures: Multi-day wind disruption runs. Observed about 0.5 days/month in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~108km/h (P95)
Multi-day disruptive wind runs are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~41mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 88% of days (27.2 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
27.2 days / month
~88% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 27.2 days / month
- Probability ~88% of days
- Intensity Up to ~102km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~27 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 58% of days (18.1 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
18.1 days / month
~58% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 18.1 days / month
- Probability ~58% of days
- Intensity Up to ~19mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~18 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 51% of days (15.8 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
15.8 days / month
~51% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 15.8 days / month
- Probability ~51% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~16 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 49% of days (15.1 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
15.1 days / month
~49% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 15.1 days / month
- Probability ~49% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~15 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 47% of days (14.6 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.6 days / month
~47% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.6 days / month
- Probability ~47% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~15 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 39% of days (12.2 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.2 days / month
~39% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.2 days / month
- Probability ~39% of days
- Intensity Up to ~41km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~12 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 34% of days (10.5 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.5 days / month
~34% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.5 days / month
- Probability ~34% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~11 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 29% of days (9.0 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.0 days / month
~29% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.0 days / month
- Probability ~29% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~9 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 14% of days (4.3 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.3 days / month
~14% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.3 days / month
- Probability ~14% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~4 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Windy days Measures: Windy days (mean wind >=35 km/h). Observed about 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.4 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.4 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~45km/h (P95)
Strong mean winds are possible on ~3 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold days Measures: Cold days (max <=10C). Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~1 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Wind chill risk Measures: Wind chill risk days. Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-0°C (P95)
Wind chill risk is possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cold snap run Measures: Cold snap runs (>=3 cold days). Observed about 0.1 days/month in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.1 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.1 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold snap runs are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Is October a good time to visit Wellington?
Typical October days in Wellington reach highs of 14°C (57°F) with nights around 10°C (50°F). It usually feels cool by day and cool after dark. It is among the wetter months, so it is wise to have some indoor backup plans or flexible activities.
What are temperatures like in October?
In October, you can usually expect highs of 14°C (57°F) and lows near 10°C (50°F). That means cool days and cool nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in October?
Rainfall in October averages 89 mm (3.5 in) across roughly 15 days. Overall it is a very wet time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in October?
You can expect about 13 hours of daylight in October. Sunrise is typically around 06:31 and sunset near 19:42. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.
How strong is the sun in October?
UV levels are often high (around 7). Regular sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
Is it windy in October?
In October, average wind speeds are around 23 km/h (14 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 94 km/h (58 mph). On the ground, it is it is a notably windy place, and strong gusts are fairly common.