Yosemite Valley, CA climate
Yosemite Valley has chilly winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 24°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Yosemite Valley feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Yosemite Valley weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 24° | 6.6" | 30° – 41° |
| February | 49° | 25° | 6.0" | 27° – 44° |
| March | 53° | 27° | 5.5" | 31° – 48° |
| April | 58° | 31° | 3.1" | 38° – 50° |
| May | 65° | 38° | 2.0" | 42° – 60° |
| June | 75° | 45° | 0.6" | 53° – 65° |
| July | 83° | 51° | 0.2" | 63° – 70° |
| August | 83° | 49° | 0.1" | 62° – 70° |
| September | 77° | 43° | 0.4" | 55° – 64° |
| October | 66° | 35° | 1.8" | 46° – 57° |
| November | 55° | 29° | 3.6" | 32° – 48° |
| December | 46° | 24° | 6.1" | 30° – 41° |
| Year | 63° | 35° | 36.1" |
“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 Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley gets 36 inches of rain and melted snow a year. January is the wettest month and August the driest.
About 137 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 24 and the first one by October 10. That leaves about 137 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 91% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Yosemite Valley
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Yosemite Valley, 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 Yosemite Valley 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 Yosemite Valley averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.2°). The shift is smaller than in 63% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Yosemite Valley’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. March swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 31° to 48°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Yosemite Valley’s climate
What is the coldest month in Yosemite Valley?
January, with a typical high of 47° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Yosemite Valley?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 51°. About 3 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Yosemite Valley?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 10, and the last spring frost by May 24.
What is the rainiest month in Yosemite Valley?
January, with 6.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 36 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Yosemite Valley itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at So Entrance Yosemite Np, CA (16 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.