Sierra Nevada Weather & Climate: Best Time to Visit

Visitors to Sierra Nevada can expect significant temperature changes throughout the year. Average maximum daytime temperatures range from a very warm 31°C (88°F) in July, the warmest time of the year, to a chilly 11°C (52°F) during cooler months like January.

At night, you can expect temperatures ranging from 18°C (64°F) in July to around 0°C (32°F) during January.

Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.

Temperature ranges by month

Generally, Sierra Nevada experiences moderate precipitation patterns, averaging 625 mm (25 in) yearly. Significant seasonal changes in precipitation occur throughout the year. In the wettest month, December it receives moderate rainfall, averaging 72 mm (2.8 in) of precipitation, recorded across 14 rainy days. In contrast, the driest month July brings less rainfall, with 8.9 mm (0.4 in) over 6 rainy days. For more details, please visit our Sierra Nevada Precipitation page.

The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail, and snow

The average number of days each month with precipitation

Seasonal changes in sunshine hours are quite dramatic in Sierra Nevada. While July receives considerable daily sunshine with up to 12.2 hours, December marks the darkest time of the year, where sunshine is scarce with only 4.9 hours of sunlight per day.

Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Daily hours of sunshine

Daily percentage of sunshine

The relative humidity is moderate throughout the year in Sierra Nevada.

The city experiences its highest humidity in December, reaching 74%. In July, the humidity drops to its lowest level at 38%. What does this mean? Read our detailed page on humidity levels for further details.

Relative humidity over the year