Yosemite records about 914mm of rain across roughly 62 wet days a year, which is a 17% chance on an average day. January is the wettest month at 163mm (18% of the annual total) and August the driest at 3mm. Local rain type: snow mix. Yosemite winters bring heavy snow that closes high-country roads. Summer is dry — the famous waterfalls actually run lowest in late summer.
Chance of rain on an average day: 17%
Rainfall climatology for Yosemite. The live hour-by-hour answer for today loads at the top of this page from Open-Meteo and refreshes through the day — the figures below describe a typical year, not today.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Annual rainfall | 914mm |
| Rain days per year | 62 |
| Odds on an average day | 17% |
| Wettest month | January — 163mm over 12 days |
| Driest month | August — 3mm over 1 days |
| Rain type | snow mix |
| Best dry window | July through September offers dry, warm weather — but reduced waterfall flow. |
| Worst rain window | December through March brings heavy snow that closes Tioga Road and makes chains required. |
January delivers 5333% more rain than August (163mm vs 3mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 18% of the annual total, so rain in Yosemite is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
Yosemite rain typically comes as discrete showers, so a compact umbrella and a flexible plan are usually enough.
Rain falls on about 12 days in January against 1 in August — the frequency swing matters more for planning than the millimetre totals.
Climate normals. Use them to judge whether today's live forecast at the top of the page is typical or unusual for the season.
| Month | Rainfall | Rain days | Chance on a given day | Highs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 163mm | 12 | 40% | 9°C |
| February | 155mm | 12 | 40% | 9°C |
| March | 131mm | 10 | 33% | 12°C |
| April | 80mm | 6 | 20% | 18°C |
| May | 33mm | 2 | 7% | 23°C |
| June | 12mm | 1 | 3% | 29°C |
| July | 5mm | 1 | 3% | 32°C |
| August | 3mm | 1 | 3% | 32°C |
| September | 8mm | 1 | 3% | 29°C |
| October | 42mm | 3 | 10% | 23°C |
| November | 80mm | 6 | 20% | 18°C |
| December | 110mm | 8 | 27% | 12°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Yosemite we combine the hourly probability curve, expected volume in millimetres, and the city's own rainfall record into a single umbrella verdict.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly probability | 40% | Peak and sustained chance of measurable rain across the next 24 hours. |
| Expected volume | 30% | Total millimetres, which separates a passing shower from a genuine soaking. |
| Timing & duration | 20% | When rain starts, when it eases, and the longest continuous dry window. |
| Local rain type | 10% | Drizzle, brief showers, thunderstorms or monsoon — each needs different gear. |
Live hourly values come from Open-Meteo and refresh through the day. Monthly rainfall figures are climate normals, so they describe a typical year rather than a forecast.
Yosemite records rain on roughly 62 days a year — about a 17% chance on any given day — totalling around 914mm.
January, with about 163mm over 12 rain days. That is 18% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
August is the driest month at 3mm across roughly 1 days. July through September offers dry, warm weather — but reduced waterfall flow.
Yosemite winters bring heavy snow that closes high-country roads. Summer is dry — the famous waterfalls actually run lowest in late summer.
No. Probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm of rain falls at your location at some point in the period. Check the expected millimetres alongside it: 40% with 0.4mm is a passing shower, 40% with 12mm is a soaking.