Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - Climate

Figures show monthly average High/Low/Precipitation.

January-51/17/.71; February-58/23/.68; March-63/25/.65; April-75/30/.47; May-75/42/.33; June-84/40/.58; July-91/48/2.81; August-89/47/2.83; September-86/38/1.88; October-80/27/1.59; November-63/12/.56; December-55/15/1.44.

Daytime temperatures tend to be relatively mild or warm and nightime temperatures tend to be relatively cool or cold throughout the year. Average temperatures in the higher elevation, particularly the Mogollon Range, can be cooler by 10-20 degrees or more, depending on the season. Summer is the monsoon or rainy season with afternoon thunderstorms, accompanied by dangerous lightning, likely during July and August. If you are hiking and get caught in an area where lightning is striking, stay off ridges and away from open areas. Remove metallic objects from you pack or clothing and stay faway from anything that might serve as a lightning rod. Take shelter under a cluster of smaller trees, not under a large tree. It is not safe to shelter in shallow caves. (The caves at the Cliff Dwellings are deep caves and would be safe if you stand well back from the openings.) Lightning seeks high points, the tallest object in an open area, the biggest object (such as a large boulder) and ridgelines.

During most winters the lower elevations tend to be free of snow most of the time and when it does snow the melt-off usually occurs within a few days. Normally there is some snow accumulation in the higher elevations and during sever winters, the snow may range up to 10 feet or more in the Mogollon Range. Melt-off usually occurs during late March and April, but snow and ice may hinder travel on upper elevation trails as late as June.