Updated October 2026
Mount Rainier National Park Weather by Month
Mount Rainier National Park is warmest in August, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 64°F and a low of 45°F, and coldest in December, with an average high of 33°F and an average low of 22°F. December is the wettest month, with about 18.9 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, 5.4 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Mount Rainier National Park can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Aug
64°F avg high
Coldest month
Dec
22°F avg low
Wettest month
Dec
18.9 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.7 h of daylight
Average weather at Mount Rainier by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35°F | 24°F | 17.2 in | 8.7 h |
| February | 34°F | 23°F | 12.9 in | 10.1 h |
| March | 36°F | 24°F | 13.2 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 40°F | 26°F | 8.4 in | 13.4 h |
| May | 48°F | 33°F | 5.1 in | 14.8 h |
| June | 54°F | 37°F | 3.8 in | 15.7 h |
| July | 62°F | 44°F | 1.4 in | 15.3 h |
| August | 64°F | 45°F | 1.6 in | 14.0 h |
| September | 57°F | 41°F | 4.4 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 46°F | 33°F | 11.3 in | 10.6 h |
| November | 37°F | 26°F | 18.2 in | 9.1 h |
| December | 33°F | 22°F | 18.9 in | 8.3 h |
| Year total | 116.4 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00456898, 5.4 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Mount Rainier is at that time of year.
Mount Rainier weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs hold near 34°F in all three months, with average lows near 23°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 49 inches of precipitation, about 42% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.3 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 36°F in March to 48°F in May, with average lows between 24°F and 33°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Together the three months average 26.7 inches of precipitation, about 23% of the yearly total. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 14.8 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 54°F in June to 64°F in August, with average lows between 37°F and 45°F. Together the three months average 6.8 inches of precipitation, about 6% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.7 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 57°F in September to 37°F in November, with average lows between 26°F and 41°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 33.9 inches of precipitation, about 29% of the yearly total. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.1 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Weather patterns at Mount Rainier are strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean and elevation. The climate is generally cool and rainy, with summer highs in the 60s and 70s. While July and August are the sunniest months of the year, rain is very likely in spring, fall, and winter. Visitors should be aware that mountain weather is very changeable. In the higher elevations, like Paradise, winter can last from November to May with many feet of snow on the ground.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Mount Rainier
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 46.86°N, 121.70°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 Mount Rainier National Park →
Weather and crowds together
August, the warmest month, sees about 2.9× the visitors of the park's average month. July is the busiest month of the year and February the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Mount Rainier.
Where to stay near Mount Rainier
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Top-rated places to stay near Mount Rainier
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Frequently Asked Questions
August is the warmest month at Mount Rainier National Park, with an average high of 64°F and an average low of 45°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 5.4 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
December is the coldest month at Mount Rainier National Park, with an average low of 22°F and an average high of 33°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
December is the wettest month, with about 18.9 inches of precipitation. July is the driest, at about 1.4 inches. The station records about 116.4 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Daylight at Mount Rainier National Park runs from about 8.3 hours a day in December to about 15.7 hours in June, computed from the park's latitude.
Weather at nearby parks
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Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00456898), 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.