Grand Canyon Weather – Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

With an elevation spanning from around 2000 feet to over 8000 feet (760-2440m), the Grand Canyon area experiences a variety of weather conditions. At the North Rim’s higher elevation, this weather variety includes cold winters, mild, pleasant summers, moderate humidity and considerable diurnal temperature changes. The inner canyon experiences hot and drier summers along with cool damp winters. Summer thunderstorms and winter snowfall add to the weather variety in Grand Canyon National Park.

Winter Weather in the Grand Canyon

Winter conditions on the South Rim can be extreme. Be prepared for snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures.

Winter weather typically begins by November and becomes well entrenched by December and January, with frequent light to moderate snows and increasingly colder weather. Low temperatures are generally in the teens along the Rim; however afternoon high temperatures still average in the 40s (4-9C), due to the amount of sunshine the area receives.

Along the river, cold air typically becomes trapped in the canyon leading to high temperatures only in the 40s and 50s (4-15C) and low temperatures in the 30s and 40s (-1C-+9C).

Even with all of the winter sunshine, significant snowfall can be expected during the winter with an average snowfall of 50 to over 100 inches (1.3-2.5m) per year on the Rim, and occasionally snow will make it even to the river.

Between storms, when dry high pressure builds in, winds become light, and fresh snow cover is on the ground, minimum temperatures can plummet, especially on the Rim, with sub-zero temperatures likely. Snow continues to be possible at the higher elevations through April.

During the winter and early spring months, fog occasionally forms due to radiational cooling from snow cover on the ground. However, this fog usually breaks up quickly by morning.

Average South Rim Winter Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Dec	43 F	20 F	1.64 in
Jan	41 F	18 F	1.32 in
Feb	45 F	21 F	1.55 in

Average Inner Canyon Winter Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Dec	57 F	37 F	0.87 in
Jan	56 F	36 F	0.68 in
Feb	62 F	42 F	0.75 in

Average North Rim Winter Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Dec	40 F	20 F	2.83 in
Jan	37 F	16 F	3.17 in
Feb	39 F	18 F	3.22 in

Winter activities in the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon North Rim closes in Winter

Temperature Inversion: The Canyon Fills with Clouds

Spring Weather in the Grand Canyon

By mid-April, winter weather usually begins to break, and although snow is not uncommon in May, warm spells become more frequent. The winter cold gives way to a warming and pleasant spring period with average high temperatures gradually rising from the 50s and 60s (10-21C) in April through the 70s to 80s (21-32C) by June along the Rim, and from the 80s (27-32C) in April to near 105 (41C) by June along the river.

Low temperatures will typically fall below freezing on the Rim in April and May and warm into the 40s (4-9C) by June, with low temperatures from the 50s (10-15C) in April to the 70s (21-26C) by June along the river.

Spring is typically breezy to windy with winds occasionally gusting over 40 mph (18 m/s) and dry with little precipitation occurring in May and early June.

Due to the very dry airmass typical of the late spring months, late season frosts and freezes are still a possibility, with sub freezing temperatures being recorded as late as July at the North Rim. Snowfall has been reported as late as the middle of June.

Average South Rim Spring Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Mar	51 F	25 F	1.38 in
Apr	60 F	32 F	0.93 in
May	70 F	39 F	0.66 in

Average Inner Canyon Spring Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Mar	71 F	48 F	0.79 in
Apr	82 F	56 F	0.47 in
May	92 F	63 F	0.36 in

Average North Rim Spring Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Mar	44 F	21 F	2.65 in
Apr	53 F	29 F	1.73 in
May	62 F	34 F	1.17 in

Summer Weather in the Grand Canyon

Summer temperatures on the South Rim, at 7000 feet (2135 m), are relatively pleasant with high temperatures generally in the 80s (27-32C) (with temperatures typically warming to over 100 degrees (>38C) at the river near Phantom Ranch (2400 feet/762m).

North Rim summer high temperatures are typically cooler than the South Rim due to increased elevation (8000 feet/2440 m), with highs typically ranging in the 70s (21-26C). Overnight lows can still drop near to below freezing occasionally on the North Rim, although typically low temperatures range from the 40s and 50s (4-15C) at the South Rim to the 60s and 70s (16-26C) at Phantom Ranch.

Summer thunderstorms frequently occur during July, August, and early September with the potential for torrential rains, frequent lightning, and sudden flash floods. These thunderstorms are extremely variable in intensity and location and occur mainly between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Some of these storms can reach severe levels, with large hail, damaging winds, and occasionally even a tornado.

Average South Rim Summer Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Jun	81 F	47 F	0.42 in
Jul	84 F	54 F	1.81 in
Aug	82 F	53 F	2.25 in

Average Inner Canyon Summer Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Jun	101 F	72 F	0.30 in
Jul	106 F	78 F	0.84 in
Aug	103 F	75 F	1.40 in

Average North Rim Summer Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Jun	73 F	40 F	0.86 in
Jul	77 F	46 F	1.93 in
Aug	75 F	45 F	2.85 in

South Rim Heat Index

Where Can I Fill My Water Bottle?

Extreme Heat and Heat Stroke in the Grand Canyon

Fall Weather in the Grand Canyon

The summer heat gives way to a cooler but nonetheless pleasant fall period with average high temperatures gradually falling from the 60s (16-21C) in September through the 50s (10-15C) by November along the Rim, and from the 90s (32-37C) in September to near 70 (21C) by November along the river.

Low temperatures will typically fall below freezing on the Rim, but still remain in the warm 50s and 60s (10-21C) along the river.

The summer rains typically diminish in mid September with a drier fall period the norm with fewer days of precipitation. However, late summer thunderstorms or early winter snow storms have been known to take place during this transition season, making for sudden changes to the weather.

Average South Rim Fall Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Sep	76 F	47 F	1.56 in
Oct	65 F	36 F	1.10 in
Nov	52 F	27 F	0.94 in

Average Inner Canyon Fall Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Sep	97 F	69 F	0.97 in
Oct	84 F	58 F	0.65 in
Nov	68 F	46 F	0.43 in

Average North Rim Fall Weather

Month	High	Low	Precipitation
Sep	69 F	39 F	1.99 in
Oct	59 F	31 F	1.38 in
Nov	46 F	24 F	1.48 in