What is the hottest month at Wind Cave?

July, with an average high of 85°F and an average low of 57°F at Wind Cave (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 22 days a year at or above 90°F.

How cold does Wind Cave get in winter?

January is the coldest month, averaging a low of 15°F and a high of 40°F at Wind Cave. About 172 nights a year drop to freezing or below.

Does it snow at Wind Cave?

Yes. Wind Cave averages 45.9 inches of snow a year, mostly in January, February, March, April, October, November and December. Higher ground in the park gets more.

When is the rainy season at Wind Cave?

May is the wettest month on average (3.7 inches of precipitation at Wind Cave); the station's annual total is 21.2 inches.

How many hours of daylight does Wind Cave get?

About 15h 25m on June 15 and 8h 58m on December 15 (sunrise 5:12 AM, sunset 8:37 PM in June; 7:20 AM to 4:18 PM in December, America/Denver time).

What is the best month to visit Wind Cave 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 and October are also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Wind Cave station.

Weather by month

Wind Cave weather, month by month

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

Average highs, lows, rain, snow and daylight for every month. Measured at the Wind Cave (4,155 ft, 0.1 mi from Wind Cave Visitor Center).

Thin fins of calcite forming box-shaped openings, called boxwork, on a cave ceiling. — Photo: NPS Photo

Jul high: 85°F; hottest month
Jan low: 15°F; coldest month
Rain + snowmelt: 21.2in / yr; wettest: May
Snowfall: 45.9in / yr; Oct–Apr
Days ≥ 90°F: 22/ yr
Nights ≤ 32°F: 172/ yr

Wind Cave

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	40°	15°	0.5″	6.3″	5	7:24 AM	4:42 PM	9h 18m	10
Feb	41°	16°	0.7″	7.1″	6	6:52 AM	5:23 PM	10h 31m	9
Mar	50°	24°	1.1″	9.6″	6	7:06 AM	6:59 PM	11h 53m	15
Apr	58°	31°	2.3″	7.8″	9	6:11 AM	7:36 PM	13h 25m	32
May	66°	41°	3.7″	0.9″	11	5:29 AM	8:11 PM	14h 42m	56
Jun	77°	50°	3.3″	—	11	5:12 AM	8:37 PM	15h 25m	81
Jul	85°	57°	3.0″	—	10	5:26 AM	8:33 PM	15h 07m	100
Aug	84°	55°	2.3″	—	9	5:58 AM	7:58 PM	13h 60m	84
Sep	76°	46°	1.5″	0.2″	6	6:33 AM	7:05 PM	12h 32m	66
Oct	61°	34°	1.6″	2.1″	7	7:08 AM	6:11 PM	11h 04m	25
Nov	48°	23°	0.7″	4.4″	4	6:47 AM	4:29 PM	9h 42m	12
Dec	39°	15°	0.5″	7.5″	4	7:20 AM	4:18 PM	8h 58m	10

Sweet spot: April, May 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 Wind Cave 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/Denver 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.Wind Cave National Park — Weather (nps.gov) · National Park Service
3.Wind Cave National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

FAQ

Wind Cave weather questions

What is the hottest month at Wind Cave?: July, with an average high of 85°F and an average low of 57°F at Wind Cave (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 22 days a year at or above 90°F.
How cold does Wind Cave get in winter?: January is the coldest month, averaging a low of 15°F and a high of 40°F at Wind Cave. About 172 nights a year drop to freezing or below.
Does it snow at Wind Cave?: Yes. Wind Cave averages 45.9 inches of snow a year, mostly in January, February, March, April, October, November and December. Higher ground in the park gets more.
When is the rainy season at Wind Cave?: May is the wettest month on average (3.7 inches of precipitation at Wind Cave); the station's annual total is 21.2 inches.
How many hours of daylight does Wind Cave get?: About 15h 25m on June 15 and 8h 58m on December 15 (sunrise 5:12 AM, sunset 8:37 PM in June; 7:20 AM to 4:18 PM in December, America/Denver time).
What is the best month to visit Wind Cave 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 and October are also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Wind Cave station.

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