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High Temperatures
In Jul and Aug, high temperatures usually range five degrees Fahrenheit on either side of the average monthly high shown. Other months vary ten degrees Fahrenheit on either side of the average monthly high.
Low Temperatures
Usually range about ten degrees Fahrenheit on either side of the average low temperatures shown for Jan through Dec. From May through Oct lows range five degrees Fahrenheit on either side of the average monthly low.
Spring
Days are warming up and hiking can be comfortable with a light sweater or long sleeve shirt. There is a chance of rain. Dirt roads can be muddy and passable to 4-wheel drive vehicles only. Easter is typically a busy weekend.
Summer
Come prepared with sun screen, a hat and extra water. Although temperatures seldom reach above 100° F (37° C), mid-day hiking should be done in moderation. Gnats can be an annoyance from late spring to early fall. Roads can be washboarded but are usually passable with a 2-wheeled drive vehicle. Fruit harvesting generally begins in June and continues through October.
Fall
Park use declines in October, but the campgrounds may still fill by early afternoon through the month. During the late summer and fall, Capitol Reef receives half of its annual precipitation in the form of thundershowers. Be aware that narrow canyons are especially susceptible to flash flooding.
Winter
The landscape is occasionally covered with a light blanket of snow. Slick clay roads are difficult to travel even with 4-wheel drive. Visitation slows markedly, although the campground remains open all year.
Average Annual Precipitation and Temperature
The average precipitation is seven inches. Approximately half accumulates as winter snow and the rest falls during infrequent spring and late summer showers and thunder showers. Temperatures range from a record high of 104° F (42° C) to a low of -9° F (22° C).
Flash Floods
Flash floods occur in Capitol Reef and may be very dangerous to park visitors. Flash floods are usually caused by thunderstorms in the local area or at a distance from the local area. The rainfall of late summer and early fall thunderstorms drains from vast areas. Water funnels into washes, building volume, power and speed. Water rushing down a canyon may sound like an approaching jet. It can appear as a headwall a few feet deep and becoming several feet deep within minutes, and reach depths of up to 15 feet in a short time as it races toward the river. Without warning, flash floods can inundate Grand Wash, Capitol Gorge, Sulphur Creek, Halls Creek and other narrow canyons. Park visitors need to be aware of these conditions and take necessary precautions including:
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |
| High - °F | 39.0 | 46.0 | 56.0 | 66.0 | 75.0 | 86.0 | 91.0 | 88.0 | 80.0 | 67.0 | 51.0 | 40.0 | 65.0 |
| Low - °F | 17.0 | 24.0 | 31.0 | 38.0 | 47.0 | 56.0 | 62.0 | 61.0 | 53.0 | 43.0 | 29.0 | 20.0 | 40.0 |
| Avg Precip (in) | 0.47 | 0.40 | 0.59 | 0.48 | 0.73 | 0.43 | 0.92 | 1.16 | 0.65 | 0.64 | 0.52 | 0.31 | 7.30 |
| Chance of Snow - % | 97 | 62 | 71 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 50 | 90 |
