NPS Photo / Mt. Whitney Sunrise, Credit: Steven Gadecki Weather can be very different between different park areas, and it can change quickly. Temperatures can vary 20 to 30 degrees as you change elevation. There may be spring flowers in the foothills and snow in the Giant Forest at the same time. Park Weather ForecastsFoothills Forecast Giant Forest & Lodgepole Forecast Grant Grove Forecast Cedar Grove Forecast Mineral King Valley Forecast For recordings of current park weather and road conditions, call 559-565-3341. Other Weather Links
Snowpack and Water Resources of the Sierra Nevada Average TemperaturesThe FoothillsThese lower elevations are characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Precipitation usually occurs from January to mid-May; rain in the summer is rare. Average rainfall is about 26" (66 cm). During the winter, low-hanging clouds often drift in from the west, obscuring the countryside for several days at a time.
The Sequoia GrovesSummer in the Grant Grove, Lodgepole, and Giant Forest areas of the parks offers warm days and cool evenings. These elevations receive an average of 40-45" (102-114 cm) of precipitation annually. Much of this falls during the winter, resulting in a deep blanket of snow from December to May. Sub-zero temperatures are rare. In the summer, occasional afternoon thundershowers may occur. In fall and winter, Lodgepole Campground is generally 10-15 degrees F (6-9°C) colder than the average middle-elevation temperature shown on the chart. Summer temperatures in Cedar Grove are generally hotter than the average for the middle elevations, and cooler than the foothills. Mid-summer temperatures may reach the 90°s (35-40°C). Cedar Grove is closed in the winter due to frequent rockfalls on the road.
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