Death Valley National Park Winter Weather
Why so hot? How extreme is Death Valley’s weather? Dry as a bone No rain was recorded in the years of and
Should You Visit Death Valley in Winter? (+ Tips if You Do)

It is not always sunshine and heat in Death Valley. Occasional thunderstorms, especially in late summer, can cause flash floods. In contrast to the extremes of summertime, winter and spring are very pleasant. Winter daytime temperatures are mild in the low elevations, with cool nights Death Valley National Park Winter Weather only occasionally reach freezing. Higher elevations are cooler than the low valley.
Sunny skies are the norm in Death Valley, but winter storms and summer monsoons can bring cloud cover and rain. Wind is common in the desert, especially in the spring. Dust storms can suddenly blow up with approaching Death Valley National Park Winter Weather fronts.
Why is Death Valley’s climate so extreme? Why so dry? Winter storms moving inland from the Pacific Ocean must pass over mountain ranges to continue east. As the clouds rise up they cool and the moisture condenses to fall as rain or snow on the western side of the ranges.
By the time the clouds reach the mountain’s east side they no longer have as much available moisture, creating Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt dry “rainshadow”. Four major mountain ranges lie between Death Valley and the ocean, each one adding to an increasingly Death Valley National Park Winter Weather rainshadow effect.
Why so hot? The depth and shape of Death Valley influence its summer temperatures. The valley is a long, narrow basin feet 86 m below sea level, yet is walled by high, steep mountain ranges. The clear, dry air and sparse plant cover allow sunlight to heat the desert surface.
Heat radiates back from the rocks and soil, then becomes trapped in the valley’s depths. Heated air rises, yet is trapped by the high valley walls, is cooled and recycled back down to the valley floor. These pockets of descending air are only slightly cooler than the surrounding hot air. These moving masses of super heated air blow through the valley creating extreme high temperatures.
How extreme is Death Valley’s weather? Death Valley holds the record for the hottest place on earth. Oddly enough, was also the year that saw Death Valley’s coldest temperature. Dry as a bone No rain was recorded in the years of and The driest stretch on record was only 0.
Weather data was compiled from park and National Weather Service record summaries for the years through for Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California.
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Higher elevations are cooler than the low valley. In case you do not find any water, you can walk on the endless salt bed on the lake. Weather data was compiled from park and National Weather Service record summaries for the years through for Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California.