It’s not just your imagination. The city is going through a dry spell.
In an average year, Vancouver sees 156.8 millimitres of rain during the month of pumpkin carving and pumpkin pie.
Last October was pretty average, with 151 mm of rain. The year before was well above average, with about 282 mm of rain.
This year, the pendulum has swung the other direction.
“We’re at 14.3 mm,” Environment Canada meteorologist Chloe Katsademas tells Vancouver Is Awesome.
There’s still a way to go before the month ends, but currently that’s the second-lowest rainfall amount ever recorded in October in Vancouver. The lowest was 12 mm, recorded in 1907. At the time, the city was still decades away from having traffic lights.
While precipitation is possible in a few days, Katsademas says there’s a good chance 2026 could finish in the Top 5 driest Octobers. In 2002, Vancouver recorded 18.3 mm of rain in October, in 1987 there were 20.4 mm and in 1991 there were 27.1 mm.
Late-month Vancouver storm still a possibility
That said, Vancouver can see some heavy-duty storms in October, and the forecast for the end of the month isn’t clear yet, so wetness could be lurking on the horizon.
For example, during the last provincial election in 2024, a massive storm hit the city, with 188 mm falling over three days. If that happened, it would bump 2026 from one of the least rainy months to above average.
Last month was shaping up to be drier than average as well (though not as dramatic) until the last few days. Then, on Sept. 29, more than 40 mm fell. In the end September 2026 saw 84 mm when the average is 71 mm.
Whether the weather will dampen Vancouver enough to bump October 2026 off the dryness podium is unclear, Katsademas says, as computer models don’t have a good lock what’s coming next week.
“There’s still more than 10 days left in October,” she says. “Something like that could occur.”