Updated October 2026
Crater Lake National Park Weather by Month
Crater Lake National Park is warmest in August, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 69°F and a low of 42°F, and coldest in February, with an average high of 34°F and an average low of 19°F. December is the wettest month, with about 11.3 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in December, at about 91 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 3 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Crater Lake National Park can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Aug
69°F avg high
Coldest month
Feb
19°F avg low
Wettest month
Dec
11.3 in avg
Snowiest month
Dec
90.6 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.2 h of daylight
Average weather at Crater Lake by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F | 20°F | 10.1 in | 86.5 in | 9.2 h |
| February | 34°F | 19°F | 7.5 in | 68.9 in | 10.3 h |
| March | 36°F | 20°F | 7.8 in | 71.9 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 40°F | 23°F | 6.2 in | 48.7 in | 13.2 h |
| May | 49°F | 29°F | 3.7 in | 14.5 in | 14.5 h |
| June | 57°F | 34°F | 2.3 in | 3.7 in | 15.2 h |
| July | 69°F | 41°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in | 14.9 h |
| August | 69°F | 42°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in | 13.8 h |
| September | 63°F | 37°F | 1.9 in | 1.8 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 51°F | 30°F | 4.8 in | 17.2 in | 10.8 h |
| November | 38°F | 23°F | 9.6 in | 59.3 in | 9.5 h |
| December | 33°F | 19°F | 11.3 in | 90.6 in | 8.8 h |
| Year total | 66.8 in | 463.1 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00351946, 3 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Crater Lake is at that time of year.
Crater Lake weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs hold near 33°F in all three months, with average lows near 19°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 28.9 inches of precipitation, about 43% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 246 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.8 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 36°F in March to 49°F in May, with average lows between 20°F and 29°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 17.7 inches of precipitation, about 26% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 135 inches for the season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 14.5 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 57°F in June to 69°F in August, with average lows between 34°F and 42°F. Together the three months average 3.9 inches of precipitation, about 6% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 3.7 inches for the season, most of it in June. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.2 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 63°F in September to 38°F in November, with average lows between 23°F and 37°F. The average low is at or below freezing in October and November. Together the three months average 16.3 inches of precipitation, about 24% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 78 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.5 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
July, August, and September are your best bets for warm, dry weather. In May, June, and October, sunny days alternate with periods of rain and snow. Winters at Crater Lake are long and snowy. Storms from the Pacific Ocean dump an annual average of 41 feet (13.5 meters) of snow at park headquarters. When it's raining or snowing, the lake is usually hidden by clouds. Crater Lake is completely invisible about 50% of the time in the winter!
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Crater Lake
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 42.94°N, 122.13°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Crater Lake National Park →
Weather and crowds together
August, the warmest month, sees about 2.8× the visitors of the park's average month. July is the busiest month of the year and January the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Crater Lake National Park. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Crater Lake.
Where to stay near Crater Lake
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Top-rated places to stay near Crater Lake
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Frequently Asked Questions
August is the warmest month at Crater Lake National Park, with an average high of 69°F and an average low of 42°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 3 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
February is the coldest month at Crater Lake National Park, with an average low of 19°F and an average high of 34°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
December is the wettest month, with about 11.3 inches of precipitation. July and August are the driest, at about 0.8 inches each. The station records about 66.8 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 3 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 463 inches of snow a year. December is the snowiest month, at about 91 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 10 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
82 mi away · warmest in July (86°F)
87 mi away · warmest in July (86°F)
87 mi away · warmest in July (94°F)
146 mi away · warmest in September (69°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00351946), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.