Updated October 2026
Wind Cave National Park Weather by Month
Wind Cave National Park is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 85°F and a low of 57°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 40°F and an average low of 15°F. May is the wettest month, with about 3.7 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in March, at about 9.6 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, 2.6 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Wind Cave National Park can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
85°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
15°F avg low
Wettest month
May
3.7 in avg
Snowiest month
Mar
9.6 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.2 h of daylight
Average weather at Wind Cave by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F | 15°F | 0.5 in | 6.3 in | 9.1 h |
| February | 41°F | 16°F | 0.7 in | 7.1 in | 10.3 h |
| March | 50°F | 24°F | 1.1 in | 9.6 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 58°F | 31°F | 2.3 in | 7.8 in | 13.2 h |
| May | 66°F | 41°F | 3.7 in | 0.9 in | 14.5 h |
| June | 77°F | 50°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in | 15.2 h |
| July | 85°F | 57°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in | 14.9 h |
| August | 84°F | 55°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in | 13.8 h |
| September | 76°F | 46°F | 1.5 in | 0.2 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 61°F | 34°F | 1.6 in | 2.1 in | 10.8 h |
| November | 48°F | 23°F | 0.7 in | 4.4 in | 9.4 h |
| December | 39°F | 15°F | 0.5 in | 7.5 in | 8.8 h |
| Year total | 21.2 in | 45.9 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00399347, 2.6 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Wind Cave is at that time of year.
Wind Cave weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs hold near 40°F in all three months, with average lows near 15°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 1.7 inches of precipitation, about 8% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 21 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.8 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 50°F in March to 66°F in May, with average lows between 24°F and 41°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Together the three months average 7.1 inches of precipitation, about 33% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 18 inches for the season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 14.5 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 85°F in July, between 77°F in June and 84°F in August, with average lows between 50°F and 57°F. Together the three months average 8.6 inches of precipitation, about 41% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.2 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 76°F in September to 48°F in November, with average lows between 23°F and 46°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 3.8 inches of precipitation, about 18% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 6.7 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.4 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Spring: Highs range from 50-70°F with highly variable weather. Spring is the park's wettest season. Summer: Hot and generally dry with daytime temperatures regularly exceeding 80°F (27°C). Strong thunderstorms are common and can produce large hail and lightning. Fall: Generally dry with warm days and cool nights. Highs 50-60°F. Lows below freezing are common. Winter: Highs are in the high 30s with lows around 10°F. Snowfall averages 30 inches annually, periodically closing park roads.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Wind Cave
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 43.58°N, 103.44°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 Wind Cave National Park →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 2.5× 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 Wind Cave National Park. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Wind Cave.
Where to stay near Wind Cave
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Top-rated places to stay near Wind Cave
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Wind Cave National Park, with an average high of 85°F and an average low of 57°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 2.6 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Wind Cave National Park, with an average low of 15°F and an average high of 40°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
May is the wettest month, with about 3.7 inches of precipitation. January and December are the driest, at about 0.5 inches each. The station records about 21.2 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 2.6 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 46 inches of snow a year. March is the snowiest month, at about 9.6 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 9 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
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82 mi away · warmest in July (87°F)
94 mi away · warmest in July (85°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00399347), 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.