Updated October 2026
North Cascades National Park Weather by Month
North Cascades National Park is warmest in August, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 79°F and a low of 54°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 39°F and an average low of 30°F. November is the wettest month, with about 13.7 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in December, at about 16 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, 2.9 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in North Cascades National Park can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Aug
79°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
30°F avg low
Wettest month
Nov
13.7 in avg
Snowiest month
Dec
16.0 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.9 h of daylight
Average weather at North Cascades by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39°F | 30°F | 12.3 in | 12.2 in | 8.5 h |
| February | 43°F | 30°F | 7.4 in | 9.9 in | 9.9 h |
| March | 49°F | 33°F | 8.2 in | 4.2 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 57°F | 38°F | 4.6 in | 0.3 in | 13.5 h |
| May | 66°F | 44°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in | 15.0 h |
| June | 70°F | 49°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in | 15.9 h |
| July | 78°F | 53°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in | 15.6 h |
| August | 79°F | 54°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in | 14.2 h |
| September | 71°F | 49°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 58°F | 42°F | 8.6 in | 0.0 in | 10.5 h |
| November | 45°F | 35°F | 13.7 in | 3.1 in | 8.9 h |
| December | 38°F | 30°F | 11.6 in | 16.0 in | 8.1 h |
| Year total | 77.6 in | 45.7 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00452157, 2.9 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded North Cascades is at that time of year.
North Cascades weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs climb from 38°F in December to 43°F in February, with average lows near 30°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 31.3 inches of precipitation, about 40% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 38 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.1 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 49°F in March to 66°F in May, with average lows between 33°F and 44°F. Together the three months average 15.5 inches of precipitation, about 20% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 4.5 inches for the season, most of it in March. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 15.0 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 70°F in June to 79°F in August, with average lows between 49°F and 54°F. Together the three months average 5.1 inches of precipitation, about 7% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.9 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 71°F in September to 45°F in November, with average lows between 35°F and 49°F. Together the three months average 25.7 inches of precipitation, about 33% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 3.1 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 8.9 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
The best weather for visiting the North Cascades generally occurs between mid-June and late-September. Summer daytime temperatures average in the 70's F. Snow is off most trails by mid-July. Autumn and Spring are popular for color and wildlife. Storms are common: always be prepared for a few days of rain and wind. The east side of the Cascade Mountains (Lake Chelan National Recreation Area) is drier and warmer in the summer than the west side. Summer temperatures at Stehekin reach the 90's F.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for North Cascades
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 48.71°N, 121.21°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 North Cascades National Park →
Weather and crowds together
August, the warmest month, sees about 3.6× the visitors of the park's average month. July is the busiest month of the year and January the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit North Cascades National Park. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near North Cascades.
Where to stay near North Cascades
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Top-rated places to stay near North Cascades
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Frequently Asked Questions
August is the warmest month at North Cascades National Park, with an average high of 79°F and an average low of 54°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 2.9 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at North Cascades National Park, with an average low of 30°F and an average high of 39°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
November is the wettest month, with about 13.7 inches of precipitation. July is the driest, at about 1.3 inches. The station records about 77.6 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 2.9 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 46 inches of snow a year. December is the snowiest month, at about 16 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 6 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
86 mi away · warmest in August (73°F)
93 mi away · warmest in August (77°F)
129 mi away · warmest in August (75°F)
130 mi away · warmest in August (64°F)
136 mi away · warmest in August (86°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00452157), 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.