Climate
According to the National Weather Service, the warmest month at Big Bear is July, when the average high is 80.7 °F (27.1 °C) and the average low is 47.1 °F (8.4 °C). The coolest month is January, with an average high of 47.1 °F (8.4 °C) and an average low of 20.7 °F (-6.3 °C). There are an average of 1.2 days each year with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher. Freezing temperatures have occurred in every month and occur on an average of 193.0 days each year. Lows of 0 °F (-18 °C) or lower average 1.1 days each year. The highest temperature recorded at Big Bear was 94 °F (34 °C), last recorded on July 15, 1998. The record lowest temperature was -25 °F (-32 °C), on January 29, 1979.
Due to the 6,790-7,200 foot (2,069 m) elevation of the weather station, precipitation is greater than in the lowlands of San Bernardino County, averaging 21.15 in (537.21 mm) a year. The maximum 24-hour precipitation was 9.43 in (239.52 mm) on December 6, 1966. Measurable precipitation normally occurs 44.9 days a year. Mountain thunderstorms occasionally produce heavy rainfall, even in midsummer (when most southern California lowland locations are quite dry). Big Bear Lake's climate is Csb under the Köppen climate classification, often described as Warm Summer Mediterranean.
In contrast to most of southern California, the Big Bear Lake region normally receives significant winter snow because of its high elevation. Snowfall, as measured at lake level, averages 61.8 inches (157 cm) each year (although upwards of 100 inches (254 cm) can accumulate on the forested ridges bordering the lake, above 8,000 feet (2,400 m)). In February 1990, 59.5 inches (151 cm) of snow were recorded. The most snow in 24 hours was 27.0 inches (69 cm) on March 27, 1991. The greatest snow depth was 58 inches (147 cm) on February 3, 1979. Snow has fallen in every month except July and August. There are normally 16.5 days each year with measurable snow (0.1 inch (2.5 mm) or more).
| Climate data for Big Bear Lake, California (1960-2012) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 47 (8) |
48 (9) |
51 (11) |
57 (14) |
67 (19) |
76 (24) |
81 (27) |
80 (27) |
74 (23) |
65 (18) |
54 (12) |
47 (8) |
62.3 (16.8) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 20 (−7) |
22 (−6) |
24 (−4) |
28 (−2) |
35 (2) |
41 (5) |
47 (8) |
47 (8) |
41 (5) |
32 (0) |
25 (−4) |
20 (−7) |
32 (−0.1) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 4.56 (115.8) |
4.16 (105.7) |
3.10 (78.7) |
1.30 (33) |
0.49 (12.4) |
0.14 (3.6) |
0.72 (18.3) |
0.94 (23.9) |
0.54 (13.7) |
0.82 (20.8) |
2.00 (50.8) |
3.21 (81.5) |
21.98 (558.3) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 14.8 (37.6) |
15.3 (38.9) |
13.0 (33) |
3.3 (8.4) |
0.6 (1.5) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.7 (1.8) |
5.6 (14.2) |
9.3 (23.6) |
62.6 (159) |
| Source: Western Regional Climate Center | |||||||||||||
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