The two main features of the weather in Yellowstone National Park are low temperatures and heavy snowfall. The nearest reporting station is at West Yellowstone, and this is usually the coldest place in the nation for several days every month of the year - at nighttime it typically records 35°F in July and -40°F in February, though the all time low for this location is -66°F set in 1933. The elevation at West Yellowstone is 6,659 feet, so sites in the park - between 7,000 and 8,000 feet for the main visitor locations - are always several degrees cooler.

Even daytime temperatures in winter typically stay below freezing from November to February, though the place heats up steadily in spring, and can be described as warm from June to September, when the snow melts on all but the highest peaks and the park can be pleasantly sunny for weeks on end, with almost zero humidity and average afternoon highs in the 60s to 70s. The highest temperature ever recorded at West Yellowstone was 97°F in 1936, and at Yellowstone Lake, 92°F in 2003. But always the conditions are quite changeable; sudden storms may appear at any time of year, and prolonged cool spells are possible even in midsummer.

All months are liable to see quite heavy precipitation, and this is spread fairly evenly throughout the year apart from July, the driest month. Over half falls as snow, with an annual total of 150 inches in most areas but up to 400 inches on the high mountains, which causes all main roads through the park to be closed from the start of November to April/May, though vehicular travel is still possible by snowmobile.


Weather Forecast

Average Weather Conditions for Yellowstone National Park

(Figures are for Yellowstone Lake in the center of the park, at elevation 7,732 feet)