North Cascades weather, month by month
- Aug high
- 78°F
- hottest month
- Feb low
- 32°F
- coldest month
- Rain + snowmelt
- 83.0in / yr
- wettest: Nov
- Snowfall
- —in / yr
- rare
- Days ≥ 90°F
- 7/ yr
- Nights ≤ 32°F
- 79/ yr
Darrington 21 NNE
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Wet days | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42° | 32° | 12.8″ | 20 | 7:52 AM | 4:36 PM | 8h 43m | 1 |
| Feb | 46° | 32° | 8.1″ | 18 | 7:13 AM | 5:25 PM | 10h 12m | 1 |
| Mar | 51° | 34° | 8.7″ | 22 | 7:18 AM | 7:09 PM | 11h 51m | 1 |
| Apr | 58° | 39° | 5.5″ | 18 | 6:14 AM | 7:55 PM | 13h 41m | 4 |
| May | 66° | 44° | 3.5″ | 15 | 5:24 AM | 8:39 PM | 15h 15m | 11 |
| Jun | 70° | 49° | 2.9″ | 14 | 5:01 AM | 9:09 PM | 16h 08m | 26 |
| Jul | 77° | 52° | 1.6″ | 8 | 5:18 AM | 9:04 PM | 15h 46m | 100 |
| Aug | 78° | 52° | 1.7″ | 7 | 5:58 AM | 8:21 PM | 14h 23m | 84 |
| Sep | 71° | 47° | 4.0″ | 12 | 6:41 AM | 7:19 PM | 12h 38m | 69 |
| Oct | 58° | 41° | 9.2″ | 17 | 7:25 AM | 6:16 PM | 10h 52m | 19 |
| Nov | 47° | 36° | 13.7″ | 20 | 7:13 AM | 4:26 PM | 9h 12m | 1 |
| Dec | 41° | 32° | 11.3″ | 21 | 7:51 AM | 4:09 PM | 8h 18m | 0 |
Sweet spot: April, May, June and October combine 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 North Cascades 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.North Cascades National Park — Weather (nps.gov) · National Park Service
- 3.North Cascades National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
FAQ
North Cascades weather questions
- What is the hottest month at North Cascades?
- August, with an average high of 78°F and an average low of 52°F at Darrington 21 NNE (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 7 days a year at or above 90°F.
- How cold does North Cascades get in winter?
- February is the coldest month, averaging a low of 32°F and a high of 46°F at Darrington 21 NNE. About 79 nights a year drop to freezing or below.
- Does it snow at North Cascades?
- Darrington 21 NNE records almost no snowfall (no snow normals). Higher elevations in the park can differ.
- When is the rainy season at North Cascades?
- November is the wettest month on average (13.7 inches of precipitation at Darrington 21 NNE); the station's annual total is 83.0 inches.
- How many hours of daylight does North Cascades get?
- About 16h 08m on June 15 and 8h 18m on December 15 (sunrise 5:01 AM, sunset 9:09 PM in June; 7:51 AM to 4:09 PM in December, America/Los Angeles time).
- What is the best month to visit North Cascades for weather?
- By NOAA's normals, average highs sit between 55°F and 85°F in April, May, June, July, August, September and October. Of those, April, May, June and October are also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Darrington 21 NNE station.
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