Weather

Schonchin Butte blanketed with snow

Park elevations range from 4,000 to 5,700 feet. Cold weather is possible any time of year, and snow has been recorded in all months. Winter day­time highs average 40°F; lows average 20°F. Morning fog is frequent from autumn through spring. Summer daytime highs average 75° to 80°F; lows average 50°F. Occasional thunderstorms occur in summer. Although Lava Beds' weather is on the surface is predictably unpredictable, the weather underground is mild all year round!

The average annual precipitation total is 15.33 inches (39 cm) with an average annual snowfall of 44.1 inches (112 cm). The most snow accumulation occurs in the month of January.

July tends to be the hottest month and August the driest. December is the wettest and January the coldest.

Winter conditions vary from year to year. Some years will have more snowfall than others. Roads may be icy. High winds are frequent. The monument and its campground are open all year.

You can also find a forecast for the Visitor Center area here: National Weather Service

Check California road conditions here: California DOT

Check Oregon road conditions here: Oregon DOT

The information in the table below was obtained at the Indian Well Headquarters Weather Station, Lava Beds National Monument, California. This reflects temperature and precipitation data from a 56- year period (December 1945 through September 2001).

DAILY TEMPERATURE TOTAL PRECIPITATION TOTAL SNOWFALL
[Degrees Fahrenheit] [Inches of rain & melted snow] [Inches]
[Degrees Celsius] [Centimeters of rain & melted snow] [Centimeters]
MONTH
AVERAGE RECORD MONTHLY RECORD MONTHLY RECORD
High Low High Low AVERAGE High Low AVERAGE High Low

January
40.3
4.6
21.9
-5.6
81
27.2
-13
-25
1.91
4.85
6.71
17
0.07
0.18
9.2
23.4
41.9
106.4
0
0

February
44.3
6.8
25.4
-3.7
69
20.6
-13
-25
1.73
4.39
9.5
24.1
0
0
7.0
17.8
28.5
72.4
0
0

March
48.5
9.2
27.3
-2.6
74
23.3
3
-16.1
1.84
4.67
8.67
22
0.005
0.013
8.3
21.1
30.7
78
0.05
0.13

April
55.8
13.2
31.5
-0.3
88
31.1
4
-15.6
1.02
2.59
3.36
8.5
0.005
0.013
4.0
10.2
25.2
64
0
0

May
65.0
18.3
38.0
3.3
93
33.9
19
-7.2
1.37
3.48
4.47
11.4
0.03
0.08
1.2
3
8.3
21.1
0
0

June
72.6
22.6
43.7
6.5
98
36.7
19
-7.2
1.10
2.79
3.72
9.45
0
0
0.1
0.3
1.5
3.8
0
0

July
82.4
28.0
51.0
10.6
101
38.3
27
-2.8
0.50
1.27
4.7
11.9
0
0
0
0
0.5
1.3
0
0

August
82.2
27.9
50.3
10.2
102
38.9
30
-1.1
0.49
1.24
2.57
6.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

September
75.3
24.1
44.4
6.9
99
37.2
16
-8.9
0.56
1.42
1.93
4.9
0
0
0
0
1.3
3.3
0
0

October
63.6
17.6
36.4
2.4
89
31.7
0
-17.8
1.27
3.23
8.3
21.1
0
0
0.5
1.3
4.5
11.4
0
0

November
48.7
9.3
28.5
-1.9
74
23.3
2
-16.7
1.50
3.81
6.49
16.5
0.005
0.013
5.0
12.7
31
78.7
0
0

December
41.0
5.0
23.0
-5.0
69
20.6
-18
-27.8
2.04
5.18
7.49
19
0.14
0.36
8.7
22.1
47.7
121.2
0
0

 

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Last updated: January 28, 2024

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P.O. Box 1240
Tulelake, CA 96134

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530 667-8113

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