Shorts in October: the limit reached

October is the end of the line for most shorts wearers. Average temperatures fall to 12–15°C, wind becomes more persistent, and the sun is lower in the sky — so solar warmth is less effective. A few good days remain, but they require the right combination of conditions.

What October looks like

Early October can still produce 17–19°C days, particularly in the first two weeks. These feel warm in the context of autumn and shorts are reasonable on the warmer afternoons. By mid to late October, maximums of 12–14°C are more typical.

The wind is the bigger issue in October. Autumn storms are more common, and even moderate wind at 13°C brings the feels-like below 8°C. Bare legs feel that quickly.

The body's seasonal adjustment

October shorts feel different from March shorts at the same temperature, and it works both ways. After a warm summer, 15°C in October feels cold — your body has adapted to warmth. The same 15°C in March, after winter, feels relatively warm.

This is why some people give up shorts in late September while others wear them comfortably into October: it depends on how much warmth they've been exposed to recently.

The last shorts day

Most people have their last shorts day of the year sometime in October — earlier in cool years, later in warm ones. There's no fixed date. Check the feels-like temperature: if it's above 15°C, shorts remain a legitimate option.

Learn more

• Shorts in September: when does it get too cold?
• Shorts in wind: what is too cold?
• Feels-like vs air temperature: what's the difference?