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Zion National Park
Weather and Climate
Lightning over the Watchman

In June 2004 Zion hosted a Climate Friendly Park workshop involving the Environmental Protection Agency and National Park Service. Following the workshop, a greenhouse gas emissions inventory was conducted and an action report prepared which you can see below. Since this initiative, Zion has implemented many of the action items resulting in a significant reduction in greenhouse emissions and cost savings. The work continues.

Learn how Zion is a "Climate Friendly Park" by visiting http://www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks/

and how climate change might impact our National Parks at the following: http://www.nature.nps.gov/criticalissues/globalclimatechange.cfm

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

http://npca.org/globalwarming/

For what you can do to help Zion and all parks, go to http://www.doyourpartparks.org/

Weather Forecast for Zion Canyon


Be Prepared

Zion is known for a wide range of weather conditions. Temperatures vary with changes in elevation and day/night temperatures may differ by over 30°F.

Spring
Zion's weather is very unpredictable. Stormy, wet days are common, but warm, sunny weather may occur too. Precipitation peaks in March. Spring wildflowers bloom from April through June, peaking in May.

Summer
Days are hot (95-110°F), but overnight lows are usually comfortable (65-70°F). Afternoon thunderstorms are common from mid-July through mid-September. Storms may produce waterfalls as well as flash floods.

Fall
Days are usually clear and mild; nights are often cool. Autumn color displays begin in September in the high country. Colors in Zion Canyon usually peak in late October.

Winter
Winter in Zion Canyon is fairly mild. Winter storms bring rain or light snow to Zion Canyon, but heavier snow to the higher elevations. Clear days may become quite warm, reaching 60°F; nights are often in the 20s and 30s. Winter storms can last for several days and cause roads to be icy. Zion roads are plowed, except the Kolob Terrace road, which is closed during the winter. Be prepared for winter driving conditions from November through March.

Zion Climate Chart

ZION CLIMATE CHART
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 TEMPERATURE
Normal Daily Maximum °F
52 57 63 73 83 93 100 97 91 78 63 53

Normal Daily Minimum °F

29 31 36 43 52 60 68 66 60 49 37 30

Extreme High °F

71 78 86 94 102 114 115 111 110 97 83 71

Extreme Low °F

-2 4 12 23 22 40 51 50 33 23 13 6

Days Above 90°F

0 0 0 1 8 21 30 28 18 3 0 0

Days Below 32°F

19 14 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 18
 PRECIPITATION (in inches)

Normal

1.6 1.6 1.7 1.3 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.5

Maximum

7.5 6.7 7.1 4.4 3.0 4.0 3.6 4.8 6.7 3.3 3.3 4.3

Maximum 24-hour Precipitation

1.6 1.3 0.9 1.2 1.8 2.2 1.1 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.3 2.0

Days with Precipitation

7 7 8 6 5 3 5 6 4 4 5 6

Average Number of Thunderstorms

0 0 0 1 4 5 14 15 5 2 0 0
J F M A M J J A S O N D


 

 

Zion Canyon Visitor  

Did You Know?
Zion National Park is a leader in using and promoting "Green" Technology and Sustainability for the 21st Century.
more...

Last Updated: April 17, 2008 at 12:39 EST