Updated October 2026
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Weather by Month
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 83°F and a low of 51°F, and coldest in December, with an average high of 41°F and an average low of 25°F. May is the wettest month, with about 1.9 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, 12.2 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
83°F avg high
Coldest month
Dec
25°F avg low
Wettest month
May
1.9 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.4 h of daylight
Average weather at John Day Fossil Beds by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43°F | 26°F | 1.2 in | 9.0 h |
| February | 46°F | 26°F | 1.1 in | 10.2 h |
| March | 52°F | 30°F | 1.2 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 57°F | 33°F | 1.7 in | 13.3 h |
| May | 65°F | 39°F | 1.9 in | 14.6 h |
| June | 72°F | 44°F | 1.5 in | 15.4 h |
| July | 83°F | 51°F | 0.5 in | 15.1 h |
| August | 83°F | 51°F | 0.5 in | 13.9 h |
| September | 75°F | 45°F | 0.5 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 62°F | 37°F | 1.2 in | 10.7 h |
| November | 50°F | 30°F | 1.3 in | 9.3 h |
| December | 41°F | 25°F | 1.2 in | 8.6 h |
| Year total | 13.8 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00355638, 12.2 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded John Day Fossil Beds is at that time of year.
John Day Fossil Beds weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs climb from 41°F in December to 46°F in February, with average lows near 26°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 3.5 inches of precipitation, about 25% of the yearly total. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.6 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 52°F in March to 65°F in May, with average lows between 30°F and 39°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March. Together the three months average 4.8 inches of precipitation, about 35% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 14.6 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 72°F in June to 83°F in August, with average lows between 44°F and 51°F. Together the three months average 2.5 inches of precipitation, about 18% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.4 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 75°F in September to 50°F in November, with average lows between 30°F and 45°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 3 inches of precipitation, about 22% of the yearly total. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.3 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Weather conditions at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are highly variable in this semi-arid desert landscape. Summer highs can climb into the 110's. Winters tend to be fairly mild, with occassional snow and ice and lows occasionally dipping into the single digits.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for John Day Fossil Beds
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 44.63°N, 119.88°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 John Day Fossil Beds National Monument →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 2.0× 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 John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near John Day Fossil Beds.
Where to stay near John Day Fossil Beds
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, with an average high of 83°F and an average low of 51°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 12.2 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
December is the coldest month at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, with an average low of 25°F and an average high of 41°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
May is the wettest month, with about 1.9 inches of precipitation. July, August and September are the driest, at about 0.5 inches each. The station records about 13.8 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Daylight at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument runs from about 8.6 hours a day in December to about 15.4 hours in June, computed from the park's latitude.
Weather at nearby parks
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Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00355638), 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.