Yosemite National Park experiences a Mediterranean climate with typically long, hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation amounts vary from 36 inches (915 mm) at 4,000 feet (1200 m) elevation to 50 inches (1200 mm) at 8,600 feet (2600 m). Most of the precipitation falls as snow between October and April. From May through September, precipitation is infrequent.

Mean daily temperatures range from 25 to 53 degrees Fahrenheit at Tuolumne Meadows at 8,600 feet (2,600 m). At South Entrance near Wawona (elevation 6192 feet), mean daily temperature ranges from 36 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit. At the lower elevations below 5,000 feet, temperatures are hotter; the mean daily high temperature at Yosemite Valley (elevation 3,966 feet) varies from 46 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. At elevations above 8,000 feet, the hot, dry summer temperatures are moderated by frequent summer thunderstorms, along with snow that can persist into July. The combination of dry vegetation, low relative humidity, and thunderstorms results in frequent lightning-caused fires as well.