A largely unsettled month with rain or showers and strong winds at times. The mean temperature was 1.6 °C above the 1971–2000 average. Rainfall totals were well above normal towards the south-west, with over 150% of average. Elsewhere, totals were closer to normal but were about 25% below normal in the far north and in the Northern Isles. In western Scotland, it was provisionally the equal 9th wettest October in a series from 1910. It was a dull month, particularly towards the south-west. In western Scotland only about half the normal hours of sunshine were recorded and it was one of the dullest Octobers in a series from 1929.
1st to 11th:
A cloudy and wet day for many areas on 1st with over 20 mm across the Central Belt and the south-west and 35.4 mm at Prestwick (Ayrshire). Much of the country had a wet morning on 2nd, although this cleared south-eastwards later leaving scattered light showers. After a bright start on 3rd a band of rain spread from the north-west, clearing later to leave some blustery showers. The 4th saw some heavy showers affecting the north-west along with some strong winds. The 5th started dry in the east but patchy rain quickly spread from the west to affect central and southern areas. The 6th was a cooler day with frequent showers and strong north-westerly winds with Machrihanish (Argyll and Bute) recording a 66 mph gust. The 7th was a bright and breezy day with scattered showers in the north and west .The 8th was cloudy and wet for most of the day with over 20 mm falling in western areas and a 24-hour total of 62 mm at Brodick Castle (Isle of Arran). A wet start for the north-west on 9th, clearing during the morning to leave some showers. Another wet start on 10th, although the rain cleared south-eastwards during the morning to leave only a few showers in the north-west. Rain swept eastwards in the early hours of 11th followed by showers and sunny spells.
12th to 16th:
Frost in some highland glens contrasted with a wet start to 12th further south, the rain clearing during the morning to leave a largely dry day. A foggy start on 13th for the south, clearing to a dry day with sunny spells. The 14th and 15th both started cloudy but fine, before a band of rain spread from the west later on 15th. A much better day on 16th with sunny spells, and only scattered showers affecting the north-west.
17th to 22nd:
The 17th saw most of the country suffering strong winds and heavy rain, with a gust of 67 mph at Dundrennan (Dumfries and Galloway), and 24-hour totals over 25 mm across much of the south - including 46 mm at Eskdalemuir (Dumfries and Galloway). The 18th was a cooler day with strong north-west winds and rain for the north and west with the east having scattered showers. A cool day with scattered showers for the northern half on 19th and although there was a dry start on 20th rain spread from the west in the early afternoon. The 21st saw rain affecting western areas for much of the day and on 22nd rain again spread eastwards during the evening with 58.4 mm recorded at Cluanie Inn (Highland) and gale force winds in the north-west.
23rd to 31st:
A dry start to 23rd but patchy rain spread from the south during the morning becoming heavier in the west in the afternoon. The 24th started with patchy rain affecting western areas but this moved away during the morning to leave a bright and breezy day. A band of rain on 25th spread from the west, clearing the north-east in the late afternoon. The 26th saw a brighter day with showers in central and southern areas. Sunshine and scattered showers again on 27th, the driest and brightest weather in the east. A generally dry day on 28th but some heavy showers spread to northern and western areas later. Some heavy showers for most areas on 29th with 38.4 mm falling at Tyndrum (Stirling). Heavy showers again affected western areas on 30th, the east being much brighter. Scattered light showers on 31st before rain spread from the west in the late afternoon.
