Updated October 2026
Great Basin National Park Weather by Month
Great Basin National Park is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 85°F and a low of 58°F, and coldest in December, with an average high of 40°F and an average low of 20°F. April is the wettest month, with about 1.6 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in February, at about 21 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, 4.6 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Great Basin National Park can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
85°F avg high
Coldest month
Dec
20°F avg low
Wettest month
Apr
1.6 in avg
Snowiest month
Feb
20.7 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.7 h of daylight
Average weather at Great Basin by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F | 20°F | 1.3 in | 12.3 in | 9.6 h |
| February | 41°F | 21°F | 1.5 in | 20.7 in | 10.5 h |
| March | 48°F | 27°F | 1.2 in | 7.3 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 55°F | 32°F | 1.6 in | 7.2 in | 13.0 h |
| May | 64°F | 40°F | 1.3 in | 0.7 in | 14.1 h |
| June | 76°F | 49°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in | 14.7 h |
| July | 85°F | 58°F | 0.9 in | 0.0 in | 14.5 h |
| August | 83°F | 56°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in | 13.5 h |
| September | 73°F | 48°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 60°F | 36°F | 1.3 in | 2.0 in | 11.0 h |
| November | 48°F | 26°F | 0.9 in | 6.9 in | 9.8 h |
| December | 40°F | 20°F | 1.0 in | 9.6 in | 9.3 h |
| Year total | 14.4 in | 66.7 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00263340, 4.6 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Great Basin is at that time of year.
Great Basin weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs hold near 40°F in all three months, with average lows near 20°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 3.8 inches of precipitation, about 26% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 43 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.3 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 48°F in March to 64°F in May, with average lows between 27°F and 40°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Together the three months average 4.1 inches of precipitation, about 28% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 15 inches for the season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 14.1 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 85°F in July, between 76°F in June and 83°F in August, with average lows between 49°F and 58°F. Together the three months average 3.2 inches of precipitation, about 22% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.7 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 73°F in September to 48°F in November, with average lows between 26°F and 48°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 3.3 inches of precipitation, about 23% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 8.9 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 9.8 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
There is almost an 8,000 ft (2,400 m) difference in elevation between Wheeler Peak and the valley floor. Weather conditions in the park vary with elevation. In late spring and early summer, days in the valley may be hot, yet the snow pack may not have melted in the higher elevations. The Great Basin is a desert, with low relative humidity and sharp drops in temperature at night. In the summer, fierce afternoon thunderstorms are common. It can snow any time of the year at high elevations.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Great Basin
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 38.95°N, 114.26°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 Great Basin National Park →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 2.2× the visitors of the park's average month. December is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Great Basin National Park. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Great Basin.
Where to stay near Great Basin
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Top-rated places to stay near Great Basin
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Great Basin National Park, with an average high of 85°F and an average low of 58°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 4.6 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
December is the coldest month at Great Basin National Park, with an average low of 20°F and an average high of 40°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
April is the wettest month, with about 1.6 inches of precipitation. July and November are the driest, at about 0.9 inches each. The station records about 14.4 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 4.6 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 67 inches of snow a year. February is the snowiest month, at about 21 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 8 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00263340), 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.