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Current Conditions for Crater Lake National Park

Monday, February 8, 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?

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 (Feb. 7, 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. 30° F; low temp. 17° F.
  • snow depth on ground: 88 inches
  • Avg. snow depth this date: 97.8
  • Percent of average: 90.0
  • accum. snowfall from Oct. 1, 2009: 205.3 inches
  • avg. accum. snowfall this date: 301.2
  • learn more - Climate of Crater Lake National Park

Within-Park Weather Stations

Roads (Internal and external road maps)

Facilities and Services (more information)

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.

Avalanche Danger

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

 

 

 
 

 

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Weather Forecast

National Weather Service

Feb. 8

to

Feb. 14

 

Today: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. 

Tonight: A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly before 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 41. Light and variable wind. 

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Light north wind. 

Tuesday Night: A 10 percent chance of rain after 4am. Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Light and variable wind. 

Wednesday: Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night: Rain likely, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 43. 

Friday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53. 

Friday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 43. 

Saturday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. 

Saturday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. 

Sunday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54.