October in Los Angeles is warm and mostly dry, and it is often hot. Downtown Los Angeles averages a high of 78.6°F and a low of 59.9°F, which makes October warmer than June, and 31 of the last 35 Octobers pushed Downtown to at least 90°F. Rain is light, 0.58 inch on about two days. The beach runs about five degrees cooler than Downtown and the San Fernando Valley about seven degrees warmer.
Many visitors pack sweaters for fall in Los Angeles and arrive in a heat wave. That happened again in 2026, before October even began: on September 9, 2026, Downtown hit 105°F and Santa Monica, usually the coolest spot in town, reached 99°F. Early-fall heat is normal in Los Angeles. Treat October as late summer with a chance of rain, and pack both shorts and a jacket.
What Is the Weather Like in Los Angeles in October?
October in Los Angeles brings warm days, mild nights and mostly clear skies, which makes it one of the best months of the Los Angeles year. The month starts hot and cools steadily: Downtown averages about 81°F in the first week of October and about 77°F in the last. Nights cool the same way, from about 62°F to 58°F. Gray mornings at the coast are far less common than in early summer. The Santa Monica airport reports a low cloud ceiling at 9 a.m. on about one October day in three, compared with six in ten in June. Afternoons are almost always clear.
| Place or measure | Average high / low | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown LA | 78.6°F / 59.9°F | About 81°F in the first week, 77°F in the last |
| Santa Monica | 74.0°F / 58.1°F | Ocean near 67°F; cool evenings |
| Woodland Hills (Valley) | 85.2°F / 52.9°F | Reaches 100°F in most Octobers |
| Rain (Downtown) | 0.58 in | About 2 rainy days; many Octobers stay dry |
| Sunset | 6:20 p.m. mid-month | 6:02 p.m. on Halloween; clocks fall back Nov. 1 |
Location matters more than the date. On October 1, 2024, Woodland Hills reached 113°F while Santa Monica, about 13 miles away, topped out at 71°F. That 42-degree gap is extreme, but a 10- to 15-degree difference between the coast and the Valley is an ordinary October afternoon. LA's microclimates explain why.
Is October Hot in LA?
October is often hot in Los Angeles. In the 1991-2020 record, 90% of Octobers brought at least one 90°F day Downtown, 27% reached 100°F, and the median hottest October day was 96°F. The all-time October record is 108°F, set on October 3 and 4, 1987. The coast gets heat too: 56% of Octobers since 1999 have produced at least one 90°F day at the Santa Monica airport, and Woodland Hills has hit 100°F in nearly two out of three Octobers.
October heat comes from two things that peak in early fall. High pressure often stays over the Southwest well after summer ends, and offshore winds flowing down from the deserts shut off the cooling sea breeze, letting that warm, dry air reach the beaches. As a result, the region's hottest stretch of the year often comes in September and early October rather than July. Clear fall evenings are a good time to watch for the green flash over the Pacific.
Does It Rain in Los Angeles in October?
Los Angeles gets a little rain in October, but not every year. Downtown averages 0.58 inch on about two days. From 1991 to 2020, eight in ten Octobers saw at least some measurable rain, but only four in ten reached half an inch and about one in six reached a full inch. Six of those 30 Octobers were completely dry, and so were four of the last seven, in 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024.
When October rain comes, it often arrives in one storm. On October 14, 2025, a single early-season storm dropped 1.38 inches Downtown, more than two Octobers' worth in a day, and opened a wet 2025-26 season tracked in Los Angeles rainfall totals. The wettest October on record, 6.96 inches in 1889, shows that the rainy season can start early. For 2026-27, NOAA expects a very strong El Niño, which invites comparisons with the famous winter of 1997-98, but El Niño's effect on LA's wet winters usually shows up from December on, not in October.
Why Do Santa Ana Winds and Fire Weather Return in October?
October is when the Santa Ana winds come back. A long-term study of Santa Ana climatology places the season from about October to April, with the most frequent events in December and January but some of the strongest in fall. Fall events hit plants that have not had rain since spring, which is why October and November are the heart of Southern California fire season.
A Santa Ana day is easy to recognize: hot, very dry air, unusually clear skies and gusty wind near the mountain passes and canyons. The effects on your plans matter more. The National Weather Service issues red flag warnings for critical fire weather, parks and trails in the hills can close, and utilities can shut off power in high-risk canyon and foothill areas. If your plans include hiking, check for warnings the morning you go.
What Should You Pack for LA in October?
For Los Angeles in October, pack for summer during the day and early fall at night (other months are covered in what to pack for LA by month). Shorts, T-shirts and sandals cover most October afternoons, but coastal evenings drop to about 58°F with an ocean breeze, so bring a light jacket or sweater for dinner near the water. October night games at Dodger Stadium average about 69°F at first pitch and 66°F by the late innings, and a 5 p.m. kickoff at SoFi Stadium averages about 71°F. Valley and canyon nights are cooler, in the low 50s on average, and the low 40s on the coldest nights late in the month.
Pack sunscreen. October sun is still strong, and heat days can reach the 90s anywhere in the basin. Swimwear is worth packing for the first half of the month: the Santa Monica Pier water gauge averages about 67°F in October, cooling from its late-summer peak near 70°F. The water stays colder than the air suggests because of upwelling.
What Is Halloween Weather Like in Los Angeles?
Halloween weather in Los Angeles is usually pleasant and dry. From 1996 to 2025, October 31 averaged a high of 75.7°F and a low of 55.6°F Downtown, with highs ranging from 65°F to 91°F. It rained on only two of those 30 Halloweens, in 2003 and 2014.
Sunset on October 31, 2026 comes at about 6:02 p.m., and temperatures during trick-or-treating usually sit in the 60s, a little cooler near the beach and in the Valley. Daylight saving time ends the next day, November 1, and sunset moves to about 5:01 p.m.
October is also one of the best months for an island escape, with calm crossings and warm water; see Catalina Island weather by month. Plan for two seasons at once in October. Most days feel like the best of summer without the crowds, a few feel like the hottest days of the year, and one may bring the first real storm. Before your trip, compare the daytime highs and evening lows for Downtown, Santa Monica and the Valley on our Los Angeles forecast pages, and check the National Weather Service for heat or red flag warnings on your dates.