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Bryce Canyon's climate is often described as
the unique combination of mountain and desert environments.
This means that not only can almost any kind of weather
happen (for example, we have thunder and lightning snow
storms), but it can change very rapidly.
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JANUARY
Typically our winter
months are famous
for large amounts of
snowfall. Until
recently we have had
accumulations up
to 4 feet by this
time of year. Lately
our snowpack and
snowfall have
decreased. For
example in January
1995 we had up to
15 foot drifts at
the south end of the
park, with snow
levels nearing 5
feet at the Visitor
Center. That year
our snowpack and
snowfall lasted well
into May and the
last recorded
snowfall before
summer came into
full swing was June
8th with 3
new inches recorded.
Averages for
January 2007:
Daytime High: 32°
F
Overnight Low: 3°
F
Snowfall days: 5
Recorded snowfall
for January 2005:
42.25"
Recorded snowfall
for January 2006:
17"
Recorded snowfall
for January 2007:
9.5" |
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FEBRUARY
Even the local
groundhog has a hard
time finding his
shadow. Days remain
cool and overcast,
with much cooler
evenings. With lots
of snow the
cross-country skiing
is good. Dress for
warmth. When
traveling the trails
into the canyon you
will encounter
plenty of ice and
snow, or mud. Please
use caution on the
trails at all times.
Averages
for February 2007:
Daytime High: 39°
F
Overnight Low:
16° F
Snowfall days: 7
Recorded snowfall
for February 2005:
21.5"
Recorded snowfall
for February 2006:
2.4"
Recorded snowfall
for February 2007:
5.91" |
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MARCH
On the average this
is the month with
most of our recorded
snowfall. Beginning
in 2007, on the
second weekend,
Daylight Savings
Time begins,
remember to advance
your clocks one
hour.
With snow
accumulations
sometimes in the
"feet" and continued
snowfall and cold
temperatures,
visitors are
cautioned to be
careful on the roads
and trails. "Old Man
Winter" has not
loosed his grip just
yet.
Averages for March
2007:
Daytime High: 48°
F
Overnight Low:
19° F
Snowfall days: 5
Recorded snowfall
for March 2005:
20.5"
Recorded snowfall
for March 2006: 53"
Recorded snowfall
for March 2007:
3.46" (Very Dry this
year) |
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APRIL
"April Showers Bring
May Flowers"
This can be a
wet, cold time or
dry and warm,
fickle.
Typically overcast
and cool days at the
beginning of the
month, warming and
clear skies by the
end.
Averages for April
2007:
Daytime High: 54°
F
Overnight Low:
27° F
Rainfall/Snowfall
days: 6
Recorded rainfall
for April 2005:
1.17"
Recorded
rainfall/snowfall
for April 2006: 1"
Recorded
rainfall/snowfall
for April 2007: .87"
(4" of snowfall for
the entire month) |
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MAY
"May flowers bring
June Weddings"
May usually
ushers in beautiful
spring weather.
Sometimes it can be
a little chilly,
especially in the
evenings and early
morning. Schools end
locally and the
shuttle begins Memorial
Day weekend.
Averages for May
2007:
Daytime High:
64.5° F
Overnight Low:
31° F
Rainfall days: 4
Recorded rainfall
for May 2005:
.55"
Recorded rainfall
for May 2006:
.15"
Recorded rainfall
for May 2007:
.18"
(1" of snow) |
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JUNE
"Spring is sprung,
the grass is ris', I
wonder where the
flowers is?"
Lightning is
prevalent during
thunderstorms.
Visitors are
cautioned not to use
trees as umbrellas.
Warmer
temperatures and
clear skies bring
the park alive with
blossoms and bird
song. Though the
cool evenings can be
deceiving.
Averages for June
2007:
Daytime High:
77.6° F
Overnight Low:
39.4° F
Rainfall days: 1
Recorded rainfall
for June 2005: 1.26"
Recorded rainfall
for June 2006: .15"
Recorded rainfall
for June 2007: .1" |
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JULY
Our "hottest" and
"most visited"
month. "Monsoon
Season" begins mid
to latter part of
July. Partly cloudy
to completely
overcast skies bring
almost regular
afternoon
thunderstorms into
the canyon area.
Be cautious
during thunderstorms
as both lightning
and flash
flooding are
very dangerous.
Visit our Don't Get
Zapped! webpage to
learn about
lightning safety.
Independence Day
is celebrated with a
small parade in the
developed area of
the park, traveling
past the Lodge and
Sunrise Point
overlook,
featuring an
original "White Bus"
that was used to
bring park visitors
from Cedar City,
Utah to the Park in
the early years.
Averages for July
2006:
Daytime High: 80°
F
Overnight Low:
44° F
rainfall days: 14
Recorded rainfall
for July 2005: 1.89"
Recorded rainfall
for July 2006: 2.23" |
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AUGUST
Thunderstorms
continue into the
middle of the month,
a holdover from the
monsoon
season, occasionally
showering the canyon
area.
Be cautious of
lightning; visit
our Don't Get
Zapped! webpage to
learn about
lightning safety. In
addition be aware of
the possibility of
flash flooding
during storms. Yes,
even small, quiet
storms can turn into
raging torrents.
The effects may
not be noticed
immediately, but
will become obvious
later as evidenced
by the erosional
process along
the Wall Street Side
of the Navajo Loop
Trail.
School begins in
the local
communities near the
end of the month,
and the leaves begin
to change colors at
the higher
elevations.
Averages for August
2006:
Daytime High: 77°
F
Overnight Low:
46° F
Rainfall days: 7
Recorded rainfall
for August 2005:
.45"
Recorded rainfall
for August 2006: .6" |
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SEPTEMBER
Fall colors begin to
tell their story.
Though most of the
forest is evergreen,
there are small
enclaves of
decidious trees and
brush, such as
Quaking Aspen, that
will offer a color
change to the
searching eye.
Animal coats begin
to change to the
heavier winter wear.
Shuttle services end
following the Labor
Day weekend.
Averages
for September 2006:
Daytime High: 65°
F
Overnight Low:
33° F
Rainfall days: 8
Recorded rainfall
for September 2005:
2"
Recorded rainfall
for September 2006:
1.2" |
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OCTOBER
Typically our winter
months are famous
for large amounts of
snowfall (yes
snowstorms are
possible this
month). Nights begin
to get very cool,
but daytime highs
can still reach into
the low 70's.
October brings an
end to the
colors most years
and the snow
may begin to fall.
Averages for October
2006:
Daytime High: 52°
F
Overnight Low:
28° F
Rain days: 12
Recorded rain
for October 2005:
3.5"
Recorded rain
for October 2006:
4.85" |
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NOVEMBER
Snow begins to
accumulate. By
Thanksgiving Day, we
could have any where
from no snow to two
feet or more. Winter
has arrived but with
it is a different
scene filled with
beautiful sunrises
and sunsets
reflected from the
snow covered
hoodoos.
The lodge closes
for the season on
November 1st,
following breakfast.
The first full
weekend in November
returns clocks to
standard time,
remember to set your
clocks back
one hour.
Averages
for November 2006:
Daytime High: 47°
F
Overnight Low:
19° F
Snowfall days: 4
Recorded snowfall
for November 2005:
6"
Recorded snowfall
for November 2006:
4.5" |
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December
Snow abounds during
this time of year,
most of the time.
Temperatures are
cold and the wind
blows a lot during
the day and
sometimes through
the night. If there
is sufficient
snowfall, snowshoers
and cross country
skiers can find
plenty of places to
enjoy the park.
Cross country ski
trails are marked
and afford the only
way to see Fairyland
and Paria
viewpoints at this
time of year.
Averages
for December 2006:
Daytime High:
35° F
Overnight Low:
10° F
Snowfall days: 9
Recorded snowfall
for December 2005:
18"
Recorded snowfall
for December 2006:
20" |
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