Grand Canyon - Climate
From GeoClasses
Contents |
Initial Summary
In this project, I want to explore the climates and weather of the different regions of the Grand Canyon and why they vary.
The Grand Canyon is a year-round destination. When most people think of Arizona they think of the warm, dry desert. Grand Canyon National Park is located in north-central Arizona about 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff. It runs for 215 miles along both sides of the Colorado River between Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Mead National Recreation. Grand Canyon National Park encompasses areas of the Kaibab Plateau at elevations between 7,000 and 8,000 feet, and also the Colorado River gorge which runs through it at elevations as low as 2,000 feet. The Grand Canyon has three main regions that are: The Northern Rim, Southern Rim, and Inner Canyon.
Climate Overview for the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon area experiences a variety of weather conditions. This weather variety includes cold winters and mild pleasant summers, moderate humidity, and temperature changes at the higher elevations, with hot and drier summers at the bottom of the Grand Canyon along with cool damp winters. Summer thunderstorms and winter snowfall adds to the weather variety in this region.
Monsoons
Monsoons usually begin in July and last through August at the Grand Canyon. August is supposed to be the wettest month of the year. Monsoons usually cause flash flooding in the Grand Canyon. The rainwater overwhelms and floods the desert landscape and canyon gullies.
The Southern Rim
The Grand Canyon's South Rim has an elevation 7,000 feet above sea level. Such an elevation means snow in the winter and cool nights, even in summer. In the summer, temperatures on the South Rim, at 7000 feet, are relatively pleasant with high temperatures generally in the 80s. Temperatures usually warm up to over 100 degrees at the river near Phantom Ranch. Typically low temperatures range from the 40s and 50s at the South Rim. Winter conditions at the South Rim can be extreme. Conditions such as snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures are some of the winter conditions. Canyon views could be temporarily obscured during winter storms. The spring and fall seasons are declared as unpredictable weather changes. The experts say that tourists should be prepared for sudden changes in weather. Average Temperature at the South Rim
Highs and Lows
JAN 41 18 FEB 45 21 MAR 51 25 APR 60 32 MAY 70 39 JUN 81 47 JUL 84 54 AUG 82 53 SEP 76 47 OCT 65 36 NOV 52 27 DEC 43 20
The Northern Rim
The North Rim is 8,000 feet above sea level and can receive snow throughout most of the year. Weather is particularly unpredicatable in spring and fall so visitors should be prepared for a variety of climates. The North Rim is closed in winter. The North Rim at about 9,000 feet is the cooler and wetter than the South Rim. It receives more than 25 inches of precipitation a year compared to the South Rim's 16 inches. The Northern Rim is much colder than the Southern Rim. During the winter, the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed to tourists. This is because the Northern Rim suffers from heavy snow fall during this time of year. Just like the Southern Rim, the Northern Rim also experiences unpredicatable weather changes in the spring and the fall.
Average Temperatures at the North Rim
Highs and Lows
JAN 37 16 FEB 39 18 MAR 44 21 APR 53 29 MAY 62 34 JUN 73 40 JUL 77 46 AUG 75 45 SEP 69 39 OCT 59 31 NOV 46 24 DEC 40 20
The Inner Gorge
The Inner Canyon has a different climate, since at the bottom along the Colorado River, elevation is almost a mile lower. The sun is high and literally can bake the Inner Gorge. In the summer, the daytime highs in this region are extreme. Temperatures along the Colorado River at the canyon bottom can reach 100 to 120 degrees F. The winter, on the other hand, is low and temperatures can drop to 35 degrees Fahrenheit in January.
Average Temperatures in the Inner Gorge
Highs and Lows
JAN 56 36 FEB 62 42 MAR 71 48 APR 82 56 MAY 92 63 JUN 101 72 JUL 106 78 AUG 103 75 SEP 97 69 OCT 84 58 NOV 68 46 DEC 57 37
References
About.com: California Travel. Retrieved June 28, 2008, http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/grandcanyon/l/bl_azgrcan_temp.htm
Desert USA: The Ultimate Desert Resource. Retrieved June 28, 2008, http://www.desertusa.com/gc/gc_map.html
Grand Canyon National Park Photos. Retrieved June 28, 2008, http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/photos/
Science Airlines: Weather and Climate. Retrieved June 28, 2008, http://www.scenic.com/np1_gc_detailed_weather_climate.htm
