Best time to visit Mount Whitney
The best time to visit Mount Whitney is June–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Mount Whitney, California, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.3 °C / 34 °F | -7.8 °C / 18 °F | 100 mm / 3.9 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 2 °C / 36 °F | -7.6 °C / 18 °F | 95 mm / 3.7 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 3.9 °C / 39 °F | -5.7 °C / 22 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 8.3 °C / 47 °F | -2.2 °C / 28 °F | 37 mm / 1.5 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 2.7 °C / 37 °F | 39 mm / 1.5 in | good month |
| June | 20.9 °C / 70 °F | 9.1 °C / 48 °F | 21 mm / 0.8 in | best month |
| July | 24.3 °C / 76 °F | 12.9 °C / 55 °F | 34 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| August | 23.5 °C / 74 °F | 11.9 °C / 53 °F | 28 mm / 1.1 in | best month |
| September | 19.9 °C / 68 °F | 8.6 °C / 47 °F | 21 mm / 0.8 in | best month |
| October | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 2.6 °C / 37 °F | 29 mm / 1.2 in | good month |
| November | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | -3.2 °C / 26 °F | 43 mm / 1.7 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 1.6 °C / 35 °F | -7.9 °C / 18 °F | 92 mm / 3.6 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June–September
- Good
- May, October
Why these months
May · good
In its favour: precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, wet days 8.9 days, average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 49%.
Against: feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 2.7 °C / 37 °F.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.8 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 20.9 °C / 70 °F, precipitation 21 mm / 0.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, relative humidity 36%, average daily low 9.1 °C / 48 °F.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.3 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, precipitation 34 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, wet days 6.8 days, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 35%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.2 °C / 72 °F, average daily high 23.5 °C / 74 °F, precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 97%, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 33%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.9 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 19.9 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 21 mm / 0.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, wet days 4.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, relative humidity 34%, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F.
October · good
In its favour: precipitation 29 mm / 1.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 3.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 41%.
Against: feels like (high) 11.3 °C / 52 °F, average daily low 2.6 °C / 37 °F.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–October
- Good
- November
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: precipitation 37 mm / 1.5 in, wet days 6.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily high 8.3 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 13.2 h, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph, feels like (high) 6.9 °C / 44 °F.
Against: average daily low -2.2 °C / 28 °F.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, wet days 8.9 days, feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 14.1 h, average daily low 2.7 °C / 37 °F, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 20.9 °C / 70 °F, precipitation 21 mm / 0.8 in, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, feels like (high) 19.8 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 9.1 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 14.6 h, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.
July · best
In its favour: precipitation 34 mm / 1.3 in, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, wet days 6.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, daylight per day 14.4 h, feels like (high) 23.3 °C / 74 °F, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.
August · best
In its favour: precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, average daily high 23.5 °C / 74 °F, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 97%, daylight per day 13.5 h, feels like (high) 22.2 °C / 72 °F, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.9 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 21 mm / 0.8 in, wet days 4.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, feels like (high) 17.9 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, precipitation 29 mm / 1.2 in, wet days 3.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, feels like (high) 11.3 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, average daily low 2.6 °C / 37 °F, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, wet days 4.4 days, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily high 7.5 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph, daylight per day 10.2 h.
Against: average daily low -3.2 °C / 26 °F, feels like (high) 3.9 °C / 39 °F.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is China Peak Mountain Resort, 105 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -2.5 °C | -1.2 °C | 1.6 °C | 6.9 °C | 12.4 °C | 19.8 °C | 23.3 °C | 22.2 °C | 17.9 °C | 11.3 °C | 3.9 °C | -2.2 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3 days | 3.1 days | 2.4 days | 0.8 days | 0.6 days | 0.3 days | 0.6 days | 0.7 days | 0.2 days | 0.8 days | 1.4 days | 3 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 pm | 5 am | 4 pm | 3 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 8.8 h | 9.6 h | 11 h | 12.3 h | 13.4 h | 13.8 h | 13.7 h | 13.1 h | 11.9 h | 10.7 h | 9.4 h | 8.5 h |
| Relative humidity | 53% | 56% | 58% | 55% | 49% | 36% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 41% | 48% | 55% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 2.6 µg/m³ | 3.8 µg/m³ | 4.1 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | 6.9 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ | 6.1 µg/m³ | 3.8 µg/m³ | 3.3 µg/m³ | 2.7 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 5.1 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 11.9 µg/m³ | 14.3 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 5.2 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.