Climate
Yosemite has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa), meaning most precipitation falls during the mild winter, and the other seasons are nearly dry (less than three percent of precipitation falls during the long, hot summers). Because of orographic lift, precipitation increases with elevation up to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) where it slowly decreases to the crest. Precipitation amounts vary from 36 inches (910 mm) at 4,000 feet (1,200 m) elevation to 50 inches (1,300 mm) at 8,600 feet (2,600 m). Snow does not typically persist on the ground until November in the high country. It accumulates all winter and into March or early April.[7]
Mean daily temperatures range from 25 °F (−4 °C) to 53 °F (12 °C) at Tuolumne Meadows at 8,600 feet (2,600 m). At the Wawona Entrance (elevation 5,130 feet or 1,560 metres), mean daily temperature ranges from 36 to 67 °F (2 to 19 °C). At the lower elevations below 5,000 feet (1,500 m), temperatures are hotter; the mean daily high temperature at Yosemite Valley (elevation 3,966 feet or 1,209 metres) varies from 46 to 90 °F (8 to 32 °C). At elevations above 8,000 feet (2,400 m), 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.[7]
At the park headquarters, with an elevation of 4,018 feet (1,225 m), January averages 38.0 °F (3.3 °C), while July averages 73.3 °F (22.9 °C), though in summer the nights are much cooler than the hot days. There are an average of 45.5 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 105.6 nights with freezing temperatures. Freezing temperatures have been recorded in every month of the year. The record high temperature was 112 °F (44 °C) on July 22 and July 24, 1915, while the record low temperature was −7 °F (−22 °C) on January 1, 2009. Average annual precipitation is nearly 37 inches (940 mm), falling on 67 days. The wettest year was 1983 with 66.06 inches (1,678 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 14.84 inches (377 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 29.61 inches (752 mm) in December 1955 and the most in one day was 6.92 inches (176 mm) on December 23, 1955. Average annual snowfall is 39.4 inches (1.00 m). The snowiest winter was 1948–1949 with 176.5 inches (4.48 m). The most snow in one month was 175.0 inches (4.45 m) in January 1993.
More information Climate data for Yosemite Park Headquarters, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present, Month ...
Climate data for Yosemite Park Headquarters, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present |
Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Record high °F (°C) |
72 (22) |
82 (28) |
90 (32) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
103 (39) |
112 (44) |
110 (43) |
108 (42) |
98 (37) |
86 (30) |
73 (23) |
112 (44) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) |
58.7 (14.8) |
64.2 (17.9) |
70.4 (21.3) |
77.0 (25.0) |
83.3 (28.5) |
91.3 (32.9) |
97.4 (36.3) |
97.5 (36.4) |
93.7 (34.3) |
85.1 (29.5) |
70.9 (21.6) |
59.3 (15.2) |
99.1 (37.3) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) |
47.5 (8.6) |
51.2 (10.7) |
56.7 (13.7) |
63.1 (17.3) |
70.5 (21.4) |
80.5 (26.9) |
89.2 (31.8) |
89.0 (31.7) |
83.0 (28.3) |
70.9 (21.6) |
56.0 (13.3) |
45.9 (7.7) |
67.0 (19.4) |
Daily mean °F (°C) |
38.0 (3.3) |
40.7 (4.8) |
45.1 (7.3) |
50.4 (10.2) |
57.5 (14.2) |
65.8 (18.8) |
73.3 (22.9) |
72.9 (22.7) |
67.2 (19.6) |
56.1 (13.4) |
44.3 (6.8) |
36.8 (2.7) |
54.0 (12.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
33.5 (0.8) |
37.6 (3.1) |
44.5 (6.9) |
51.0 (10.6) |
57.4 (14.1) |
56.8 (13.8) |
51.4 (10.8) |
41.3 (5.2) |
32.5 (0.3) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
41.0 (5.0) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) |
19.2 (−7.1) |
22.0 (−5.6) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
28.4 (−2.0) |
35.2 (1.8) |
40.8 (4.9) |
49.8 (9.9) |
48.9 (9.4) |
42.0 (5.6) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
20.7 (−6.3) |
15.7 (−9.1) |
Record low °F (°C) |
−7 (−22) |
1 (−17) |
9 (−13) |
12 (−11) |
15 (−9) |
22 (−6) |
32 (0) |
32 (0) |
24 (−4) |
19 (−7) |
10 (−12) |
−1 (−18) |
−7 (−22) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) |
6.98 (177) |
6.49 (165) |
5.47 (139) |
3.17 (81) |
1.92 (49) |
0.46 (12) |
0.29 (7.4) |
0.16 (4.1) |
0.40 (10) |
1.56 (40) |
4.05 (103) |
5.60 (142) |
36.55 (928) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) |
16.8 (43) |
4.2 (11) |
5.2 (13) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.4 (8.6) |
5.1 (13) |
35.5 (90.6) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) |
8.9 |
9.0 |
11.0 |
7.2 |
6.4 |
2.2 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
2.0 |
3.5 |
5.9 |
8.5 |
66.6 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) |
2.5 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
1.5 |
7.8 |
Mean daily daylight hours |
10.0 |
11.0 |
12.0 |
13.0 |
14.0 |
15.0 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
12.0 |
11.0 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
12.0 |
Average ultraviolet index |
2 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
Source 1: NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010)[8][9][10] |
Source 2: Weather Atlas[11] |
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