What is the hottest month at Death Valley?

July, with an average high of 117°F and an average low of 91°F at Death Valley NP (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 197 days a year at or above 90°F.

How cold does Death Valley get in winter?

December is the coldest month, averaging a low of 41°F and a high of 66°F at Death Valley NP. About 9 nights a year drop to freezing or below.

Does it snow at Death Valley?

Death Valley NP records almost no snowfall (0.0 inches a year). Higher elevations in the park can differ.

When is the rainy season at Death Valley?

February is the wettest month on average (0.5 inches of precipitation at Death Valley NP); the station's annual total is 2.2 inches.

How many hours of daylight does Death Valley get?

About 14h 38m on June 15 and 9h 41m on December 15 (sunrise 5:30 AM, sunset 8:08 PM in June; 6:53 AM to 4:34 PM in December, America/Los Angeles time).

What is the best month to visit Death Valley for weather?

By NOAA's normals, average highs sit between 55°F and 85°F in January, February, March, November and December. Of those, January is also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Death Valley NP station.

Weather by month

Death Valley weather, month by month

Last verified October 6, 2026NOAA 1991–2020 normalsAmerica/Los Angeles time

Average highs, lows, rain, snow and daylight for every month. Measured at the Death Valley NP (-194 ft, 0 mi from Furnace Creek Visitor Center).

A natural rock arch spans a narrow desert canyon. The viewer stands in deep shade beneath the arch. — Photo: NPS

Jul high: 117°F; hottest month
Dec low: 41°F; coldest month
Rain + snowmelt: 2.2in / yr; wettest: Feb
Snowfall: 0.0in / yr; rare
Days ≥ 90°F: 197/ yr
Nights ≤ 32°F: 9/ yr

Death Valley NP

Month by month

Normals are 30-year averages (1991–2020). Crowds = each month’s share of the park’s busiest month, from NPS visitor counts. Sunrise and sunset are for the 15th of each month in 2027.

Average high and low, every monthbars run from the low to the high · tan strip = precipitation

Month	High	Low	Rain	Wet days	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Crowds
Jan	67°	43°	0.4″	2	7:00 AM	4:56 PM	9h 56m	58
Feb	74°	49°	0.5″	3	6:37 AM	5:29 PM	10h 52m	73
Mar	83°	57°	0.3″	2	7:00 AM	6:55 PM	11h 56m	100
Apr	91°	65°	0.1″	1	6:15 AM	7:22 PM	13h 07m	88
May	101°	75°	0.0″	1	5:42 AM	7:48 PM	14h 06m	66
Jun	111°	84°	0.1″	0	5:30 AM	8:08 PM	14h 38m	46
Jul	117°	91°	0.1″	1	5:42 AM	8:07 PM	14h 25m	51
Aug	116°	89°	0.1″	1	6:06 AM	7:40 PM	13h 34m	47
Sep	108°	79°	0.2″	1	6:31 AM	6:57 PM	12h 26m	38
Oct	93°	64°	0.1″	1	6:56 AM	6:13 PM	11h 17m	55
Nov	77°	51°	0.1″	1	6:26 AM	4:40 PM	10h 14m	68
Dec	66°	41°	0.3″	2	6:53 AM	4:34 PM	9h 41m	72

Sweet spot: January combines average highs between 55°F and 85°F with crowds under 60% of the peak month. Check what is open in those months — quiet can also mean closed roads.

How to read this

These are NOAA’s official 1991–2020 climate normals for one weather station, not a model of the whole park. The station is the one with complete temperature and precipitation normals nearest to a visitor center. Highs and lows are daily averages for the month; “wet days” are days with at least 0.01 inch of precipitation. Mountain parks can be 10–20 °F cooler at their high points than at the station, and the NPS weather page for Death Valley is the place for current conditions and seasonal closures.

Sunrise and sunset are computed with the NOAA solar equations for the park’s coordinates and shown in America/Los Angeles time for the 15th of each month of 2027; they are accurate to about a minute.

Sources · 3

1.U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — monthly normals station inventory · National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA)
2.Death Valley National Park — Weather (nps.gov) · National Park Service
3.Death Valley National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

FAQ

Death Valley weather questions

What is the hottest month at Death Valley?: July, with an average high of 117°F and an average low of 91°F at Death Valley NP (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 197 days a year at or above 90°F.
How cold does Death Valley get in winter?: December is the coldest month, averaging a low of 41°F and a high of 66°F at Death Valley NP. About 9 nights a year drop to freezing or below.
Does it snow at Death Valley?: Death Valley NP records almost no snowfall (0.0 inches a year). Higher elevations in the park can differ.
When is the rainy season at Death Valley?: February is the wettest month on average (0.5 inches of precipitation at Death Valley NP); the station's annual total is 2.2 inches.
How many hours of daylight does Death Valley get?: About 14h 38m on June 15 and 9h 41m on December 15 (sunrise 5:30 AM, sunset 8:08 PM in June; 6:53 AM to 4:34 PM in December, America/Los Angeles time).
What is the best month to visit Death Valley for weather?: By NOAA's normals, average highs sit between 55°F and 85°F in January, February, March, November and December. Of those, January is also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Death Valley NP station.

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