How cold is GC in december
Sep 9th, 2016 | 04:36 AM
#3
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,027
Likes: 0
Yes, the South Rim of the GC is open. I will assume you know that this is not a day trip (278 mi./447 km. each way), so you will want to make lodging reservations at the park in advance.
Here is a link to the National Park Service site for the Grand Canyon:
https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
As to the cold, here from the website:
"Winter conditions on the South Rim can be extreme. Be prepared for snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures. Winter weather typically begins by November and becomes well entrenched by December and January, with frequent light to moderate snows and increasingly colder weather. Low temperatures are generally in the teens along the Rim; however afternoon high temperatures still average in the 40s (4-9°C), due to the amount of sunshine the area receives. Along the river, cold air typically becomes trapped in the canyon leading to high temperatures only in the 40s and 50s (4-15°C) and low temperatures in the 30s and 40s (-1C-+9°C). Even with all of the winter sunshine, significant snowfall can be expected during the winter with an average snowfall of 50 to over 100 inches (1.3-2.5m) per year on the Rim, and occasionally snow will make it even to the river. Between storms, when dry high pressure builds in, winds become light, and fresh snow cover is on the ground, minimum temperatures can plummet, especially on the Rim, with sub-zero temperatures likely. Snow continues to be possible at the higher elevations through April. During the winter and early spring months, fog occasionally forms due to radiational cooling from snow cover on the ground. However, this fog usually breaks up quickly by morning."
Here is a link to the National Park Service site for the Grand Canyon:
https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
As to the cold, here from the website:
"Winter conditions on the South Rim can be extreme. Be prepared for snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures. Winter weather typically begins by November and becomes well entrenched by December and January, with frequent light to moderate snows and increasingly colder weather. Low temperatures are generally in the teens along the Rim; however afternoon high temperatures still average in the 40s (4-9°C), due to the amount of sunshine the area receives. Along the river, cold air typically becomes trapped in the canyon leading to high temperatures only in the 40s and 50s (4-15°C) and low temperatures in the 30s and 40s (-1C-+9°C). Even with all of the winter sunshine, significant snowfall can be expected during the winter with an average snowfall of 50 to over 100 inches (1.3-2.5m) per year on the Rim, and occasionally snow will make it even to the river. Between storms, when dry high pressure builds in, winds become light, and fresh snow cover is on the ground, minimum temperatures can plummet, especially on the Rim, with sub-zero temperatures likely. Snow continues to be possible at the higher elevations through April. During the winter and early spring months, fog occasionally forms due to radiational cooling from snow cover on the ground. However, this fog usually breaks up quickly by morning."
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Sep 9th, 2016 | 09:47 PM
#8
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 555
Likes: 6
I've discovered a great weather website that shows historical (probability) graphs for all of the major weather phenomena (temp, rain, snow, humidity, cloudt cover, sun, etc.) in *many* locations. Unlike other sites where whole months get lumped together, it's shown on graphs where you can easily interpolate specific days:
https://weatherspark.com/averages/30...-United-States
https://weatherspark.com/averages/30...-United-States
