|
Current Conditions for Crater Lake National Park
Tuesday, March
16, 2010
Call Crater Lake
N.P. dispatch (541) 594-3000 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
daily) for most current information.
Crater Lake National
Park's official current conditions web page.
When is Crater Lake National Park Open?
| Note: I (Rob) usually update this page each morning, by 9am.
You can contact me through rob at craterlakeinstitute.com |
Year-around, 24 hours a day. Some roads, trails, and facilities are closed seasonally due to snow. Much of the year, the park's
North Entrance Road and
Rim Drive are closed. They close with the first significant snowfall, typically late October or early November.
The
North Entrance Road and
West Rim Drive tend to open early June. The
East Rim Drive
typically opens in early July. Highway 62 is open year-round. The road to Rim Village is also open year-round, except after heavy snowstorms.
See our Crater Lake National Park maps.
Park Weather Report (Mar.
12, 2010 - weather observations at park headquarters between 8 am yesterday and 8am today)
Daily park
weather report (small PDF file) (view past reports)
-
high temp. 29° F; low temp. 24° F.
-
snow depth on ground: 96 inches
-
accum. snowfall from Oct. 1, 2009: 268.1 inches
-
avg. accum. snowfall this date: 398.1 inches
-
percent of average: 67.3
-
learn more - Climate of Crater Lake National Park
Avalanche Danger
Within-Park Weather Stations
Roads (Internal and
external road maps)
Facilities and Services (more information)
- Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop (Mazama
Village), Closed
- Mazama Cabins (Mazama
Village), Closed
- Mazama Gas (Mazama
Village), Closed
- Mazama Camp Store (Mazama
Village), Closed
- Steel Information Center (Munson
Valley), Open daily 10am - 4pm
- U. S. Postal Office (at Steel Center,
Munson Valley), Open Mon. - Sat., 10am - 3pm
- Steel Information Center (Munson
Valley), Open daily 9am - 5pm
- Park Headquarters Admin. (Munson
Valley), Open daily
- Science and Learning Center (Munson
Valley), Closed
- Sinnott Memorial Overlook (Rim
Village), Closed
- Rim Village Cafe and Gift Shop (Rim
Village), Closed
- Crater Lake Lodge (Rim
Village), Closed
Trails (trail descriptions)
Trails are transitioning from hiking to skiing. Roads are in winter status, so, only the skiing trailheads are accessible. There
is significant downfall in the backcountry and many trails are not marked and may be difficult to follow. Trails will become increasingly difficult to follow with continued
snowfall.
Air Quality
Lake Level
Seismicity
Fire
Climate Information
Climate Averages
-
Seasonal avg. snow accum., 524 in. (43.5 ft)
-
Seasonal avg. (melted) precipitation, 66 in.
-
Greatest total
precipitation, 91.5 in., winter of '81/'82
-
Greatest seasonal snow accum., 834 in. (69.5
ft), winter of '32-'33
-
Greatest recorded snow depth, 252 in. (21 ft.), April 3, 1983
Crater Lake National Park's Climate
The summer weather in Crater Lake National Park is usually mild with temperatures and clear skies except for occasional thunderstorms. During the warmest summer period, daytime temperatures are
moderate and only occasionally exceed 85 degrees F. At lower park elevations, daytime temperatures may reach 95 degrees; however, after sunset, temperatures quickly drop and may reach 30 degrees
(National Park Service 1924 to present). The park lies within the influence of the Pacific Ocean weather and the majority of storms that strike the north Pacific Coast each winter.
Seventy percent of the park's annual precipitation occurs as snow from November through March. Average snowfall is 575 inches (48 feet),
and snow depths of 100 to 200 inches (8 to 16 feet) are received each winter and are long lasting throughout much of the park. Daytime winter temperatures average slightly above freezing.
Prevailing winds are from the northwest in summer and southwest in winter.
The U.S. National Weather Service maintains a precipitation gauge just north of the parking area for the Cleetwood Cove trailhead. The
U.S. Geological Survey operates a water stage recorder on Crater Lake as a hydrological benchmark station at Cleetwood Cove. Snow survey courses are measured by the National Park Service for the
Soil Conservation Service at Munson Valley and Annie Springs.
| Month |
Average Maximum Temp. (F) |
Average Minimum Temp. (F) |
Average Total Precip. (inches) |
Average Total Snowfall (inches) |
Average Snow Depth (inches) |
| Jan. |
34.6 |
18.1 |
9.79 |
104.9 |
80 |
| Feb. |
34.8 |
18.6 |
8.51 |
83.8 |
104 |
| Mar. |
37.3 |
19.4 |
7.71 |
84.2 |
117 |
| Apr. |
41.9 |
22.2 |
5.50 |
44.9 |
112 |
| May |
49.0 |
27.5 |
3.51 |
20.1 |
77 |
| June |
57.4 |
33.3 |
2.06 |
3.8 |
24 |
| July |
67.3 |
39.7 |
0.99 |
0.2 |
1 |
| Aug. |
68.6 |
40.3 |
1.09 |
0.1 |
0 |
| Sep. |
62.2 |
36.1 |
2.05 |
2.8 |
0 |
| Oct. |
52.1 |
30.2 |
4.67 |
21.6 |
2 |
| Nov. |
37.2 |
21.8 |
10.47 |
63.6 |
17 |
| Dec. |
34.4 |
18.4 |
10.68 |
93.5 |
49 |
| Annual |
48.2 |
27.4 |
67.02 |
523.5 |
48 |
|
