West Yellowstone, MT climate
West Yellowstone has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 4°, and about 177 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in West Yellowstone feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
West Yellowstone 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 | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 4° | 2.7" | 43.8" | 14 | 31 | 8° – 22° |
| February | 31° | 6° | 2.3" | 33.7" | 11 | 29 | 13° – 25° |
| March | 40° | 14° | 2.4" | 20.6" | 9 | 30 | 21° – 34° |
| April | 48° | 22° | 2.5" | 7.7" | 10 | 19 | 29° – 40° |
| May | 58° | 31° | 2.7" | 1.2" | 12 | 2 | 39° – 49° |
| June | 67° | 37° | 2.5" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 46° – 59° |
| July | 77° | 42° | 1.3" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 51° – 65° |
| August | 77° | 39° | 1.2" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 53° – 61° |
| September | 66° | 33° | 1.5" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 46° – 53° |
| October | 51° | 24° | 2.0" | 4.1" | 8 | 2 | 28° – 44° |
| November | 35° | 14° | 2.5" | 20.9" | 10 | 20 | 15° – 33° |
| December | 26° | 4° | 3.3" | 45.2" | 13 | 31 | 10° – 20° |
| Year | 50° | 23° | 26.9" | 177.2" | 118 | 162 |
“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 West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone gets 27 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 118 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 162 days of the year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in West Yellowstone
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In West Yellowstone, 100% of that work is heating and 0% 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 West Yellowstone 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 West Yellowstone averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+3.5°). The shift is larger than in 53% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at West Yellowstone’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. November swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 15° to 33°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about West Yellowstone’s climate
What is the coldest month in West Yellowstone?
December, with a typical high of 26° and a low of 4°.
What is the hottest month in West Yellowstone?
July, with a typical high of 77° and a low of 42°. About 2 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does West Yellowstone get?
About 177 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in West Yellowstone?
Frost is uncommon. Only 100% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in West Yellowstone?
December, with 3.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 27 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for West Yellowstone itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Hebgen Dam, MT (18 mi, snow) and West Yellowstone Gateway, MT (1 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.