Dry weather: only 13 inches of rain and melted snow a year in Kennedy Meadows, less than in 95% of U.S. towns
In January the night’s low is typically 26°. Rain follows the seasons: February brings about 32 times as much as June. Its July afternoons stay fresher than in 70% of U.S. towns. Keep the boiler serviced for the months from November to April, which average under 50°.
A year in Kennedy Meadows at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Kennedy Meadows’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Kennedy Meadows’ place in California beside it.
What a year in Kennedy Meadows feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 13 inches of rain a year
February is the wettest month and June the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Living with Kennedy Meadows’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 8a.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, July, August and September. 25 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Kennedy Meadows from natural hazards, wildfire is the largest share (36%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 1%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Kennedy Meadows and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Kennedy Meadows yet.
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Kennedy Meadows averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.4°).
A bigger shift than in 62% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Kennedy Meadows compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Kennedy Meadows’ place among California’s.
Kennedy Meadows weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Kennedy Meadows’ center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 26° | 2.7" | 31° – 44° |
| February | 47° | 26° | 2.8" | 28° – 44° |
| March | 52° | 31° | 2.1" | 34° – 49° |
| April | 58° | 34° | 0.7" | 39° – 50° |
| May | 66° | 41° | 0.4" | 44° – 61° |
| June | 76° | 50° | 0.1" | 56° – 67° |
| July | 83° | 57° | 0.4" | 65° – 74° |
| August | 83° | 55° | 0.2" | 65° – 72° |
| September | 76° | 48° | 0.2" | 58° – 66° |
| October | 65° | 39° | 0.7" | 48° – 58° |
| November | 54° | 31° | 0.7" | 34° – 50° |
| December | 46° | 25° | 2.0" | 31° – 41° |
| Year | 63° | 38° | 13.1" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. May swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 44° to 61°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Kennedy Meadows’ numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Kennedy Meadows’ center.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Kennedy Meadows’ climate
What is the weather like in Kennedy Meadows?
A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 26°. Milder January nights than 65% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 70% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Kennedy Meadows in winter?
December nights average 25°. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 31°.
How hot does it get in Kennedy Meadows?
July, with a typical high of 83°. 90° days are rare.
What growing zone is Kennedy Meadows in?
Zone 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 11°.
What is the best time of year to visit Kennedy Meadows?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Kennedy Meadows getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.5° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 62% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Kennedy Meadows.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.