Winter
Dec → Feb5 to 7°
nights -2 to 0°
- 11 rainy days · 103 mm
- 6.2 h of sun
- sea 6°
When is the best time to visit the American West?
- Jan5°not recommended
- Feb7°not recommended
- Mar11°fair
- Apr16°recommended
- May21°recommended
- Jun27°recommended
- Jul30°fair
- Aug29°fair
- Sep25°recommended
- Oct19°recommended
- Nov13°fair
- Dec7°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the American West, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5° | -2° | 6.1 h | 101 mm | 11 d | 5° | |
| February | 7° | -2° | 6.9 h | 88 mm | 10 d | 5° | |
| March | 11° | 2° | 8.2 h | 129 mm | 11 d | 7° | |
| April | 16° | 6° | 8.8 h | 126 mm | 12 d | 10° | ✓ |
| May | 21° | 11° | 9.9 h | 86 mm | 11 d | 15° | ✓ |
| June | 27° | 17° | 11.1 h | 83 mm | 9 d | 19° | ✓ |
| July | 30° | 21° | 11.6 h | 144 mm | 14 d | 23° | |
| August | 29° | 20° | 10.9 h | 134 mm | 13 d | 23° | |
| September | 25° | 16° | 9.1 h | 136 mm | 10 d | 22° | ✓ |
| October | 19° | 11° | 7.8 h | 147 mm | 8 d | 17° | ✓ |
| November | 13° | 4° | 7.1 h | 75 mm | 8 d | 13° | |
| December | 7° | 0° | 5.6 h | 120 mm | 11 d | 7° |
The four seasons in the American West, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (New York) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May11 to 21°
nights 2 to 11°
- 11 rainy days · 114 mm
- 9 h of sun
- sea 11°
Summer
Jun → Aug27 to 30°
nights 17 to 21°
- 12 rainy days · 120 mm
- 11.2 h of sun
- sea 22°
Autumn
Sep → Nov13 to 25°
nights 4 to 16°
- 9 rainy days · 119 mm
- 8 h of sun
- sea 17°
Book early for April to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the American West, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 15h04 of daylight, in December 9h16, a difference of 5h48.
9h33Jan
10h35Feb
11h49Mar
13h15Apr
14h26May
15h04Jun
14h49Jul
13h47Aug
12h24Sep
11h02Oct
9h51Nov
9h16Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "New York" (40.71°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the American West, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsMardi Gras in New OrleansFebruary to MarchIndependence DayJulyAutumn foliage in New EnglandSeptember to OctoberThanksgivingNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: June, October, November
- Beach & swimming: July, August, September
- Towns & culture: March, April, May, June, September, October, November
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the American West, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- February to MarchMardi Gras in New Orleans big crowds
The krewes parade for the two weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, and the whole of Louisiana is fully booked.
- JulyIndependence Day big crowds
Fireworks, barbecues and parades all over the country for the national holiday, at the very start of July.
- September to OctoberAutumn foliage in New England big crowds
The maples of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine turn red, from north to south as the weeks go by.
- NovemberThanksgiving big crowds
On the fourth Thursday of November, the country stops and travels en masse: it is the worst time of year to fly.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit the American West, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 New York | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| 🇺🇸 California | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇺🇸 Florida | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ~ |
| 🇺🇸 Las Vegas | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| 🇺🇸 Louisiana | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| 🇺🇸 Yellowstone | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
New YorkBest time: April to June and September to NovemberWhen to visit New York →The New York guide
CaliforniaBest time: April to June and September to OctoberWhen to visit California →The California guide
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended5°-2° at night
- 101 mm · 11 d
- 6.1 h
- sea 5°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended7°-2° at night
- 88 mm · 10 d
- 6.9 h
- sea 5°
Busy, without the crush
March
Fair11°2° at night
- 129 mm · 11 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 7°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended16°6° at night
- 126 mm · 12 d
- 8.8 h
- sea 10°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended21°11° at night
- 86 mm · 11 d
- 9.9 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended27°17° at night
- 83 mm · 9 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair30°21° at night
- 144 mm · 14 d
- 11.6 h
- sea 23°
High season, book early
August
Fair29°20° at night
- 134 mm · 13 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended25°16° at night
- 136 mm · 10 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 22°
High season, book early
October
Recommended19°11° at night
- 147 mm · 8 d
- 7.8 h
- sea 17°
High season, book early
November
Fair13°4° at night
- 75 mm · 8 d
- 7.1 h
- sea 13°
Busy, without the crush
December
Not recommended7°0° at night
- 120 mm · 11 d
- 5.6 h
- sea 7°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 5 °C at the warmest of the day, -2 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (101 mm). Expect 6.1 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 5 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, -2 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (88 mm). Expect 6.9 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 5 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 11 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (129 mm). Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 7 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Cool: 16 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (126 mm). Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (86 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (83 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 30 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Frequent rain: 144 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. 29 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (134 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 25 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (136 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
October. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (147 mm). Expect 7.8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
November. Cool: 13 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Expect 7.1 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 0 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (120 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5.6 h a day). Sea at 7 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the American West?
April to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 16 to 27 °C, with 10 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, New York).
Which month should you avoid in the American West?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 120 mm over 11 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (New York).
What is the hottest month in the American West?
July, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (New York).
What is the coldest month in the American West?
January, with 5 °C at best during the day and -2 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (New York).
What is the driest month in the American West?
November: 75 mm over 8 days of rain, against 147 mm in October, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the American West?
July, with 11.6 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in the American West?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in July, August, September (warmest 23 °C in July), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (New York).
When is the best time to hike in the American West?
June, October, November: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (New York), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable American West guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
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