Best Time to Visit Half Dome
Best time to visit Half Dome: June, July and August. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Half Dome
Go in June, July and August. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and March - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Half Dome month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 12° | 3,8 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| February | 38° | 12° | 8,9 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| March | 42° | 16° | 6,1 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| April | 45° | 18° | 3,6 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| May | 56° | 27° | 2,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 69° | 39° | 0,7 in | ★★★★★ |
| July | 74° | 45° | 0,8 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 73° | 45° | 1,0 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 65° | 38° | 0,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 57° | 30° | 1,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | 45° | 20° | 3,6 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| December | 44° | 18° | 4,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Subarctic. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Half Dome compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Half Dome.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Canyon National Park | 80 mi | 37°F | 36°F cooler | 31 in |
| Emerald Bay State Park | 89 mi | 47°F | +38°F warmer | 34 in |
| Lake Tahoe | 97 mi | 48°F | +40°F warmer | 25 in |
| Nevada | 99 mi | 54°F | +46°F warmer | 15 in |
| Sequoia National Park | 102 mi | 35°F | 38°F cooler | 39 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- Insulated outer layer, hat and boots with grip for ice
- A packable rain shell - 2 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and March - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Half Dome is a mountain in Yosemite National Park. Half Dome is a mountain known as a granite dome above Yosemite Valley. It sits at 8.839 ft above sea level.
Right now it is 35°F (2°C) in Half Dome with clear. It feels like 27°F. Today runs from 33°F to 48°F. Chance of precipitation is 0%. Sightseeing conditions score 7.5/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Half Dome is June, July and August. The climate is subarctic. January, February and March tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 74°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 12°F.
The closest major airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), about 156 mi away. Nearby highlights include Kings Canyon National Park, Emerald Bay State Park, Sequoia National Park and Mount Whitney.
In plain terms. Today is cooler than average for October. The forecast high of 48°F is 9.4°F below the 57°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 12 PM to 3 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Half Dome today at 10/10. Overnight lows near 33°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Half Dome right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 6:16 PM, Oct 28 local time.
Weekend outlook
🌨️ 43° / 27°
Snow · 74% rain · wind 9 mph
🌦️ 50° / 29°
Light drizzle · 61% rain · wind 9 mph
Things to do in Half Dome
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Half Dome.
Quick facts about Half Dome
| Type | Mountain |
|---|---|
| National park | Yosemite National Park |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 37°44′45.2″N 119°31′59.5″W (37.7459, -119.5332) |
| Elevation | 8.839 ft |
| Known for | a granite dome above Yosemite Valley |
| Local time | 6:16 PM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | June, July and August |
| Climate | Subarctic |
Explore Half Dome
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Half Dome?
Half Dome is a mountain in Yosemite National Park. Its coordinates are 37.7459, -119.5332. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Half Dome right now?
It is currently 35°F (2°C) with clear. Humidity is 13% and wind is 3 mph.
When is the best time to visit Half Dome?
June, July and August offer the most comfortable conditions in Half Dome, which has a subarctic climate. January, February and March are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Half Dome in?
Half Dome observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 6:16 PM.
What is the nearest airport to Half Dome?
The closest airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 156 mi away, Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), 268 mi away and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 270 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Half Dome?
Popular options include Kings Canyon National Park, Emerald Bay State Park, Sequoia National Park, Mount Whitney, Pinnacles National Park and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (mountains) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 28, 2026 at 6:16 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
