October 2025 Overview – Midwestern Regional Climate Center

Temperature

The preliminary average October temperature for the Midwest was 55.9°F, which was 4.5°F above the 1991-2020 normal. Temperatures ranged from 6 to 7°F above normal in the far western portion of the region to near normal in the far eastern portion (Figure 1). Preliminary statewide average temperatures ranged from 6°F above normal in Minnesota to 1.5°F above normal in Ohio. Preliminary rankings indicate that Minnesota had its 8th warmest October and both Illinois and Missouri had their 9th warmest October on record (dating back to 1895). October had a very warm start for the entire region, with daytime high temperatures reaching into the upper 80s and low 90s. From October 1 to 4, maximum temperatures were 15 to 25°F above normal across the upper Midwest and 8 to 15°F above normal across the lower Midwest (Figure 2). Temperatures fluctuated from above normal to near normal to below normal throughout the month in the eastern half of the region, while temperatures were more consistently above normal in the western half of the region. Most locations across the Midwest experienced the end of the growing season in October, as temperatures dropped to 32°F or lower for the first time since spring (Figure 3). Many locations across the far upper Midwest experienced their first freeze from October 1 to 10, which is slightly later than usual. Much of the central Midwest experienced its first freeze from October 21 to 31, which is slightly later than usual. The lower Midwest had a mix of areas that had and had not yet reached their first freeze by the end of the month, which is normal for this area (Figure 4). Several long-running weather stations west of the Mississippi River had a top 10 warmest minimum temperature for October, including Columbia (Missouri), Des Moines (Iowa), and Minneapolis (Minnesota) (Figure 5). There were no record or near-record monthly average or monthly high temperatures at long-running weather stations across the region for October.

Precipitation

Preliminary October precipitation totaled 2.7 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.4 inches below normal, or 87 percent of normal. Precipitation across the region was variable, with the highest totals above normal throughout the Ohio River basin and the lowest totals below normal along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border (Figure 6). Preliminary statewide precipitation totals ranged from 1.42 inches above normal in Kentucky to 1.64 inches below normal in Wisconsin. Lexington, Kentucky, had its wettest October on record (dating back 141 years) with 8.01 inches. A new 1-day maximum precipitation record for October was also set in Lexington when 4.74 inches was reported on October 7. Louisville, Kentucky, had its 5th wettest October (dating back 154 years), with 7.13 inches of precipitation. In central Ohio, London had its wettest October on record (dating back 93 years) with 6.96 inches of precipitation. Conversely, Duluth, Minnesota, tied for the 8th driest October in 152 years of record-keeping, with just 0.56 inches falling for the month. Detroit, Michigan, tied for the 9th driest October (dating back 152 years) with just 0.73 inches of precipitation. Also of note, some cities in the lower Midwest, despite experiencing a lengthy dry spell in October, still ended up with near-normal precipitation. For instance, St. Louis had 17 consecutive days without measurable precipitation, but they ended the month with 3.2 inches, which is 0.05 inches above normal. In central Illinois, the town of Pana ended the month 0.81 inches below normal, despite receiving measurable precipitation on only two days in October.

Drought

October concluded with approximately 69 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map (Figure 7). The most intense and widespread drought conditions spanned a swath from southwest Missouri to northwest Ohio. Conversely, most of Kentucky, southern Indiana, and southern Ohio were unaffected by drought or dryness.