Big Bear, CA climate
Big Bear has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 59 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Big Bear feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Big Bear weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49° | 27° | 3.7" | 13.4" | 7 | 32° – 44° |
| February | 48° | 27° | 4.0" | 14.3" | 7 | 30° – 45° |
| March | 53° | 30° | 2.4" | 11.7" | 6 | 33° – 48° |
| April | 59° | 34° | 0.9" | 3.0" | 4 | 40° – 50° |
| May | 67° | 40° | 0.4" | 0.6" | 2 | 46° – 60° |
| June | 76° | 48° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 56° – 67° |
| July | 81° | 54° | 0.7" | 0 | 3 | 63° – 70° |
| August | 80° | 54° | 0.7" | 0 | 3 | 64° – 70° |
| September | 75° | 48° | 0.7" | 0 | 2 | 58° – 65° |
| October | 65° | 39° | 0.6" | 1.2" | 2 | 48° – 57° |
| November | 55° | 31° | 1.2" | 3.4" | 3 | 36° – 49° |
| December | 48° | 26° | 2.7" | 11.0" | 6 | 33° – 42° |
| Year | 63° | 38° | 18.0" | 58.6" | 43 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Big Bear
Big Bear gets 18 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 43 days a year.
About 131 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 27 and the first one by October 4. That leaves about 131 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 94% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Big Bear
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Big Bear, 98% of that work is heating and 2% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Big Bear compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Big Bear averaged 1.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.7°). The shift is larger than in 89% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Big Bear’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 30° to 45°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Big Bear’s climate
What is the coldest month in Big Bear?
December, with a typical high of 48° and a low of 26°.
What is the hottest month in Big Bear?
July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 54°. About 1 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Big Bear get?
About 59 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Big Bear?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 4, and the last spring frost by May 27.
What is the rainiest month in Big Bear?
February, with 4.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 18 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Big Bear itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Big Bear Lake, CA (7 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.