What is the hottest month at Pinnacles?

July, with an average high of 96°F and an average low of 50°F at Pinnacles NM (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 102 days a year at or above 90°F.

How cold does Pinnacles get in winter?

December is the coldest month, averaging a low of 33°F and a high of 62°F at Pinnacles NM. About 67 nights a year drop to freezing or below.

Does it snow at Pinnacles?

Pinnacles NM records almost no snowfall (0.1 inches a year). Higher elevations in the park can differ.

When is the rainy season at Pinnacles?

January is the wettest month on average (3.5 inches of precipitation at Pinnacles NM); the station's annual total is 16.6 inches.

How many hours of daylight does Pinnacles get?

About 14h 38m on June 15 and 9h 41m on December 15 (sunrise 5:46 AM, sunset 8:24 PM in June; 7:09 AM to 4:50 PM in December, America/Los Angeles time).

What is the best month to visit Pinnacles for weather?

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

Weather by month

Pinnacles 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 Pinnacles NM (1,307 ft, 0.1 mi from Bear Gulch Nature Center).

A massive rock spire with California condors flying above the peak. — Photo: NPS Photo/ Katherine Fielding

Jul high: 96°F; hottest month
Dec low: 33°F; coldest month
Rain + snowmelt: 16.6in / yr; wettest: Jan
Snowfall: 0.1in / yr; rare
Days ≥ 90°F: 102/ yr
Nights ≤ 32°F: 67/ yr

Pinnacles NM

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	Snow	Wet days	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Crowds
Jan	63°	34°	3.5″	0.1″	12	7:16 AM	5:12 PM	9h 56m	60
Feb	64°	36°	3.5″	—	11	6:53 AM	5:45 PM	10h 52m	67
Mar	68°	38°	2.8″	—	10	7:16 AM	7:12 PM	11h 56m	97
Apr	72°	39°	1.0″	—	6	6:31 AM	7:38 PM	13h 07m	100
May	80°	43°	0.6″	—	3	5:58 AM	8:04 PM	14h 06m	95
Jun	89°	47°	0.1″	—	1	5:46 AM	8:24 PM	14h 38m	78
Jul	96°	50°	0.0″	—	0	5:58 AM	8:23 PM	14h 25m	72
Aug	96°	50°	0.0″	—	0	6:22 AM	7:56 PM	13h 34m	56
Sep	92°	48°	0.1″	—	1	6:47 AM	7:13 PM	12h 26m	51
Oct	83°	43°	0.7″	—	3	7:12 AM	6:29 PM	11h 17m	55
Nov	70°	37°	1.3″	—	7	6:42 AM	4:56 PM	10h 14m	63
Dec	62°	33°	3.1″	—	12	7:09 AM	4:50 PM	9h 41m	59

Sweet spot: October and December 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 Pinnacles 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.Pinnacles National Park — Weather (nps.gov) · National Park Service
3.Pinnacles National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

FAQ

Pinnacles weather questions

What is the hottest month at Pinnacles?: July, with an average high of 96°F and an average low of 50°F at Pinnacles NM (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 102 days a year at or above 90°F.
How cold does Pinnacles get in winter?: December is the coldest month, averaging a low of 33°F and a high of 62°F at Pinnacles NM. About 67 nights a year drop to freezing or below.
Does it snow at Pinnacles?: Pinnacles NM records almost no snowfall (0.1 inches a year). Higher elevations in the park can differ.
When is the rainy season at Pinnacles?: January is the wettest month on average (3.5 inches of precipitation at Pinnacles NM); the station's annual total is 16.6 inches.
How many hours of daylight does Pinnacles get?: About 14h 38m on June 15 and 9h 41m on December 15 (sunrise 5:46 AM, sunset 8:24 PM in June; 7:09 AM to 4:50 PM in December, America/Los Angeles time).
What is the best month to visit Pinnacles for weather?: By NOAA's normals, average highs sit between 55°F and 85°F in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December. Of those, October and December are also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Pinnacles NM station.

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