Central U.S. was warm and dry in October, while storms battered the coastal regions
Key Points:
- The contiguous U.S. (CONUS) experienced the eighth-warmest October in the 131-year record.
- October featured widespread storm activity along the nation’s periphery, as remnants of tropical cyclones caused flooding in Alaska, the Southwest and Puerto Rico, and powerful atmospheric rivers and coastal storms lashed the West and East Coasts.
- Warm and dry conditions across the interior contributed to a slight increase in the national drought coverage to 43.7%.
Other Highlights:
Temperature
The average October temperature for the CONUS was 56.9°F, which is 2.8°F above the 20th-century average. Above- to much-above-average temperatures covered much of the central U.S. as well as the far Northeast. Thirteen states recorded a top-10 warm October, with Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Texas each averaging at least 5°F above their 20th-century averages. In contrast, parts of the Northwest and Mid-Atlantic experienced below-average temperatures, particularly for daytime highs.
Alaska’s average temperature was 31.5°F, which is 6.0°F above the 1925–2000 average and tied for the ninth-warmest October in the 101-year record. Much-above-average warmth affected portions of Southcentral Alaska, the Interior and the North Slope.
Hawai‘i’s average temperature for October was 68.5°F, 0.2°F above the 1991–2020 average and ranking in the middle third of its 35-year record.
Precipitation
Precipitation for the CONUS totaled 2.33 inches in October, which is 0.17 inch above average and ranks in the middle third of the record. Above-average precipitation fell across portions of the Western U.S., the Rocky Mountains and northern Plains, as well as parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, the western Ohio Valley and eastern Carolinas. In contrast, much of the central U.S. saw near- or below-average October rainfall.
Remnants of tropical cyclones and strong storm systems impacted multiple U.S. regions throughout October. Alaska and the Southwest faced flooding from the remnants of Super Typhoon Halong and Hurricane Priscilla, respectively, while outer bands from Hurricane Melissa led to flash flooding in Puerto Rico. The Pacific Coast was impacted by a rare mid-month storm and a subsequent series of atmospheric rivers. In the East, two coastal systems brought heavy rain, high winds and flooding to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, disrupting travel and causing widespread power outages.
Alaska received 5.18 inches of precipitation in October, 0.79 inch above average, ranking in the wettest third of the record. Parts of the West and Interior were much wetter than normal, and the North Slope averaged more than 2 inches, marking its wettest October on record.
Precipitation for Hawai‘i in October averaged 3.55 inches, 1.57 inches below the 1991–2020 average and in the driest third of the record.
Drought
According to the November 4 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 43.7% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, a slight increase of 0.7% from the end of September.
Drought contracted or reduced in intensity across parts of the western U.S. and portions of the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys. However, drought developed in parts of the southern Plains and portions of the Mississippi Valley, and further intensified in parts of the Southeast, Great Lakes and Northeast.
For more detailed climate information, check out our comprehensive October 2025 U.S. Climate Report scheduled for release on November 25, 2025. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit the Climate at a Glance and National Maps webpages.
