Updated October 2026
Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve Weather by Month
Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 83°F and a low of 56°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 27°F and an average low of 13°F. January is the wettest month, with about 2.4 inches of precipitation.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 18.3 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
83°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
13°F avg low
Wettest month
Jan
2.4 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.2 h of daylight
Average weather at Craters Of The Moon by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F | 13°F | 2.4 in | 9.1 h |
| February | 30°F | 15°F | 1.2 in | 10.3 h |
| March | 40°F | 23°F | 2.0 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 51°F | 31°F | 1.1 in | 13.2 h |
| May | 62°F | 40°F | 1.6 in | 14.5 h |
| June | 72°F | 46°F | 1.2 in | 15.2 h |
| July | 83°F | 56°F | 0.3 in | 14.9 h |
| August | 82°F | 54°F | 0.5 in | 13.8 h |
| September | 71°F | 45°F | 0.7 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 56°F | 34°F | 1.2 in | 10.8 h |
| November | 39°F | 22°F | 1.2 in | 9.5 h |
| December | 27°F | 14°F | 2.0 in | 8.8 h |
| Year total | 15.4 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USW00004126, 18.3 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Craters Of The Moon is at that time of year.
Craters Of The Moon weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs climb from 27°F in December to 30°F in February, with average lows near 14°F. The average high stays at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 5.6 inches of precipitation, about 36% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.8 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 40°F in March to 62°F in May, with average lows between 23°F and 40°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Together the three months average 4.7 inches of precipitation, about 31% of the yearly total. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 14.5 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 83°F in July, between 72°F in June and 82°F in August, with average lows between 46°F and 56°F. Together the three months average 2 inches of precipitation, about 13% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.2 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 71°F in September to 39°F in November, with average lows between 22°F and 45°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 3.1 inches of precipitation, about 20% of the yearly total. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.5 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Weather at Craters of the Moon is characterized by hot summers and cold winters. In February, average snow depth ranges from 26 inches at the north end of the monument to just 2 inches at the south end. Intense summer sun bakes the black lava, generating surface temperatures of 170°F and air temperatures in the 90s. Drying winds are a daily occurrence, especially in the afternoon, and may reach 15 to 30 miles per hour.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Craters Of The Moon
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 43.20°N, 113.48°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 Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 2.3× the visitors of the park's average month. January is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Craters Of The Moon.
Where to stay near Craters Of The Moon
Picked a month for Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Craters Of The Moon
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Craters Of The Moon?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Craters Of The Moon by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, with an average high of 83°F and an average low of 56°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 18.3 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, with an average low of 13°F and an average high of 27°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
January is the wettest month, with about 2.4 inches of precipitation. July is the driest, at about 0.3 inches. The station records about 15.4 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Daylight at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve runs from about 8.8 hours a day in December to about 15.2 hours in June, computed from the park's latitude.
Weather at nearby parks
53 mi away · warmest in July (89°F)
79 mi away · warmest in July (86°F)
79 mi away · warmest in July (92°F)
120 mi away · warmest in July (90°F)
145 mi away · warmest in July (77°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USW00004126), 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.