Updated October 2026
Fort Smith National Historic Site Weather by Month
Fort Smith National Historic Site is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 94°F and a low of 72°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 51°F and an average low of 30°F. May is the wettest month, with about 5.6 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in January, at about 1.4 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, 5.3 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Fort Smith National Historic Site can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
94°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
30°F avg low
Wettest month
May
5.6 in avg
Snowiest month
Jan
1.4 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.4 h of daylight
Average weather at Fort Smith by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51°F | 30°F | 2.9 in | 1.4 in | 9.9 h |
| February | 57°F | 33°F | 2.7 in | 0.6 in | 10.7 h |
| March | 66°F | 42°F | 3.9 in | 0.3 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 75°F | 50°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in | 12.9 h |
| May | 81°F | 60°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in | 13.9 h |
| June | 89°F | 68°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in | 14.4 h |
| July | 94°F | 72°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in | 14.2 h |
| August | 94°F | 71°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 13.3 h |
| September | 87°F | 63°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 76°F | 51°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in | 11.1 h |
| November | 63°F | 40°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in | 10.1 h |
| December | 53°F | 32°F | 3.5 in | 0.6 in | 9.6 h |
| Year total | 47.4 in | 2.9 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USW00013964, 5.3 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Fort Smith is at that time of year.
Fort Smith weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 51°F in January, between 53°F in December and 57°F in February, with average lows between 30°F and 33°F. The average low is at or below freezing in December and January. Together the three months average 9.1 inches of precipitation, about 19% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 2.6 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.6 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 66°F in March to 81°F in May, with average lows between 42°F and 60°F. Together the three months average 14.4 inches of precipitation, about 30% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 0.3 inches for the season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 13.9 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 89°F in June to 94°F in August, with average lows between 68°F and 72°F. The average high is 90°F or hotter in July and August. Together the three months average 11.6 inches of precipitation, about 24% of the yearly total. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.4 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 87°F in September to 63°F in November, with average lows between 40°F and 63°F. Together the three months average 12.3 inches of precipitation, about 26% of the yearly total. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 10.1 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Fort Smith weather includes four distinct, yet temperate seasons. Spring and fall are usually mild while late summer is hot and humid. During winter months, temperatures occasionally dip into the teens. Forecast often changes dramatically due to surrounding weather influences. Arkansas's central location allows weather systems from all directions to influence its climate. The area is prone to flash flooding and river flooding in rainy seasons.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Fort Smith
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 35.39°N, 94.43°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 Fort Smith National Historic Site →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 1.7× 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 Fort Smith National Historic Site. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Fort Smith.
Where to stay near Fort Smith
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Top-rated places to stay near Fort Smith
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Fort Smith National Historic Site, with an average high of 94°F and an average low of 72°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 5.3 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Fort Smith National Historic Site, with an average low of 30°F and an average high of 51°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
May is the wettest month, with about 5.6 inches of precipitation. February is the driest, at about 2.7 inches. The station records about 47.4 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 5.3 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 2.9 inches of snow a year. January is the snowiest month, at about 1.4 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 4 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
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97 mi away · warmest in July (90°F)
98 mi away · warmest in July (93°F)
111 mi away · warmest in August (90°F)
128 mi away · warmest in August (93°F)
129 mi away · warmest in July (92°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USW00013964), 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.