Big Bear Weather Hub — It's Just Big Bear

Jump to: Live Now Snow Report Seasonal Records Trends History Data

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6,752 ft

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High Altitude UV Warning

At 6,752 ft, UV intensity is 25–50% stronger than the valley below. Apply SPF 30+ even on overcast or cold days. Snow reflects UV directly back at you — double protection on the slopes.

Mountain Weather Tips

— Big Bear sits at 6,752 ft — 35–40°F cooler than LA basin
— North American Monsoon brings sudden afternoon storms Jun–Sep
— Winter conditions can change completely within an hour
— UV is 25–50% stronger at altitude — even on cold, cloudy days
— Humidity drops below 30% in summer/fall — elevates fire danger
— Cold air pools on valley floor at night — extreme lows possible

Before You Drive Up

— Check chain controls on SR-18 and SR-138 before leaving
— Bring tire chains — R1/R2 control enforced in storms
— Keep warm layers and emergency kit in your car
— Caltrans chain control info: 1-800-427-7623
— Check live cams for visual road confirmation

Road Conditions Live Cameras Big Bear FAQ

🎿 Snow Summit

-- in base

Status: See official report
Season Total: --
Lifts Open: --
Runs Open: --

Official Snow Report ↗

🏔️ Bear Mountain

-- in base

Status: See official report
Season Total: --
Lifts Open: --
Runs Open: --

Official Snow Report ↗

🛷 Big Bear Snow Play

-- in base

Status: See official site
Tubing lanes & snow play

Official Site ↗

Snow Season Averages (NOAA 1991–2020 & BBMR historical)

Avg Season Snowfall

58.6" / ~100"

58.6" average at lake level (6,752 ft); approximately 100" at resort summits (8,200–8,850 ft). Record season: 277" at Snow Valley in 2022–23.

First & Last Snow

Nov → Apr

First snowfall typically mid-to-late November. Last snowfall usually mid-April. Earliest fall dusting recorded in October; latest spring snow: 7.9" on May 13, 1998.

Ski Season Window

Nov–Apr

Resorts typically open late November or early December (dependent on snowmaking temps) and close mid-to-late April. Snowmaking requires wet-bulb temps of 27°F or lower.

Top 10 Snowiest Seasons in Modern History

#	Season	Total Snowfall	Notable Month
1	2022–2023	277" (Snow Valley)	March: 106"
2	2023–2024	201" (Snow Valley)	February: 121"
3	2016–2017	174"	January: 108"
4	2019–2020	168"	November: 54"
5	2009–2010	158"	January: 69"
6	2018–2019	152"	February: 81"
7	2011–2012	141"	March: 40"
8	2010–2011	141"	February: 51"
9	1978–1979	139.5" (Lake Level)	January: 50"
10	2020–2021	139"	January: 69"

5 Driest Snow Seasons

#	Season	Total Snowfall
1	1979–1980	14.0"
2	2001–2002	15.8"
3	1983–1984	16.3"
4	1960–1961	21.2"
5	1969–1970	23.5"

Chain Control Reminder

California mandates that tire chains be carried in all vehicles on mountain access routes (SR-18, SR-38, SR-330) from November 1 to April 30, regardless of current weather, as conditions can deteriorate rapidly. During and after storms, R1, R2, or R3 chain controls are frequently enforced — R3 means chains on all vehicles, no exceptions. Call 1-800-427-7623 or check Caltrans QuickMap before driving up.

Plan your visit by season or month. Click any month for a detailed breakdown.

❄️ Winter

December · January · February · March

High 46–51°F / Low 20–24°F

❄️ 8.7–14.4" avg monthly snowfall

Peak ski and snow sports season. Chain controls mandatory Nov 1–Apr 30 on SR-18, SR-38, SR-330. Resorts open late Nov–mid Apr. January is the coldest month; February brings the most precipitation days. Humidity rises to 60–80% during active storms.

⛷️ Skiing 🛷 Sledding 🔥 Cabin Life 🏔️ Snowshoeing

🌸 Spring

April · May

High 57–66°F / Low 28–34°F

🌨️ 0.7–3.3" — snowmelt accelerating

Quietest shoulder season with highest value and lowest prices. Ski resorts target mid-to-late April closing, entirely dependent on remaining base depth. May opens the hiking and cycling season as alpine wildflowers bloom. Lake surface still too cold for swimming.

🌸 Wildflowers 🥾 Hiking 🎣 Fishing ⛷️ Late Ski

☀️ Summer

June · July · August · September

High 73–80°F / Low 40–47°F

☀️ No snow — June driest month (0.15")

Big Bear becomes a vital thermal refuge for LA basin residents — 35–40°F cooler than the valley. North American Monsoon draws subtropical moisture in late July, creating afternoon thunderstorms. Lake reaches peak temp (~69°F) in August. September is statistically the clearest month.

⛵ Lake 🚴 Cycling 🥾 Hiking ⛈️ Monsoon Storms

🍂 Fall

October · November

High 53–65°F / Low 25–32°F

🍂 First snow mid-to-late November

Brief but spectacular window. Aspen, cottonwood, and oak turn gold, crimson, and amber. October features crisp calm days and freezing nights. November triggers resort snowmaking when wet-bulb temps reliably fall below 27°F. Carry chains again.

🍂 Fall Color 🥾 Hiking 🎃 Oktoberfest 📷 Photography

Month by Month

Visitor Planning Tips

— Avoid crowds & high prices: Skip late Dec–Feb peak ski weekends and Jul–Aug summer weekends
— Best budget months: May (hiking season opens) and October (fall color, crisp air, low crowds)
— Uncomfortable with mountain driving? Avoid active storm cycles in January and February
— Chain controls: Mandatory Nov 1–Apr 30 on SR-18, SR-38, SR-330 — carry chains regardless of vehicle type
— Fire season awareness: Late summer through fall — monitor air quality and fire weather watches

All-time weather records for Big Bear Lake, CA. Sources: NOAA CDO (station USC00040798 / USC00040741), WRCC, NWS, Big Bear Mountain Resort.

🌡️ All-Time Record High

98°F

June 1961

The highest reliably recorded temperature for Big Bear. Secondary extreme heat events: 94°F on July 15, 1998 and July 18, 2006. Temperatures above 90°F are rare at 6,752 ft elevation.

🥶 All-Time Record Low

−25°F

January 29, 1979 (also Jan 20–23, 1937)

One of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in Southern California. The Big Bear Valley floor acts as a cold-air drainage basin, trapping frigid air off surrounding peaks during arctic outbreaks.

❄️ Biggest Single Season

277"

2022–2023 (Snow Valley)

The modern apex — 277" at Snow Valley, 243" at Snow Summit/Bear Mountain. Driven by an unprecedented parade of atmospheric rivers during a La Niña winter. March alone delivered 106".

🌨️ Single Storm Record

56"

Jan 30 – Feb 2, 1979

A massive cutoff low stalled over the region, dumping 4.6 feet of snow in a single continuous event. The blizzard paralyzed the community and shut down all access highways for days.

💧 Wettest Year on Record

55.76"

1969

Relentless winter atmospheric rivers drove the most intense precipitation year on record. February 1969 alone contributed 19.89" — the wettest single month ever. The wettest single day was Dec 6, 1966: 9.43".

🏜️ Driest Year on Record

6.99"

1999

The peak of a prolonged late-1990s drought, yielding barely a third of the 19.98" average. The driest snow season was 1979–80 with just 14.0" of total snowfall. Annual average: 19.98".

All-Time Monthly Temperature Records

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Record High (°F)	71	70	75	82	87	98	94	93	89	84	76	71
Year	2003	1995	1988	1981	2003	1961	1998	1974	1988	1980	2007	1973
Record Low (°F)	−25	−12	−2	9	16	26	33	31	22	10	1	−10
Year	1979	1989	1971	1975	1964	1995	1995	1968	1965	1971	1978	1968

Freezing temps recorded in every month: On August 22, 1968, the temperature dropped to 31°F — demonstrating that freezing temperatures can and have occurred in every single calendar month at Big Bear Lake.

Climate Normals — 1991–2020 (NOAA 30-Year Averages)

Metric	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
Avg High (°F)	46.1	47.8	51.0	57.3	65.8	75.1	79.7	78.7	73.0	64.9	53.0	46.0	61.3
Avg Low (°F)	23.3	21.7	23.9	27.9	34.4	40.6	47.1	46.7	40.5	32.2	25.2	20.3	31.9
Avg Snowfall (in)	13.4	14.4	11.7	3.3	0.7	0	0	0	0	0.8	5.6	8.7	58.6
Avg Precip (in)	4.51	4.09	2.37	0.78	0.42	0.15	0.69	0.82	0.40	0.79	1.35	3.31	19.98
Precip Days (≥0.01")	6.6	6.0	5.5	3.0	2.0	1.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	3.0	5.0	43.3
Avg Sunny Days	18	16	20	24	28	29	28	28	27	26	22	18	300+

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — Big Bear Lake, CA (GHCND:USC00040741 / USC00040798). Precipitation days row added from NOAA station data.

Long-term climate trends for Big Bear Lake and the San Bernardino Mountains. Data sourced from UCLA Center for Climate Science, NOAA, and CDWR.

🌡️ Warming Trend

+5 to 8°F

Projected max temperature increase over the next 50 years. By 2070–2099, up to 58 more days annually could breach the 98th percentile for extreme heat (>87.5°F). Average aridity projected to increase 20% over 30 years.

❄️ Snowpack Decline (SWE)

↓ 70% by mid-century

UCLA Center for Climate Science projects winter snowfall may drop to 70% of historical baseline by mid-century and just 50% by century's end if emissions remain unmitigated. More precipitation will fall as rain instead of snow.

🎿 Ski Viability Threat

Below 10,000 ft

All Big Bear resorts sit below 10,000 ft (Snow Summit: 8,200 ft, Bear Mountain: 8,850 ft) — making them highly vulnerable to the rising rain-snow line. Snowmaking requires wet-bulb temps ≤27°F, which warming threatens.

🔥 Wildfire Escalation

San Bernardino area rated "very high" for future climate change exposure. Earlier spring snowmelt + rising aridity + increased evaporation = longer fire season bleeding into fall and winter. The traditional "fire season" is expanding as fuel moisture stays critically low.

� Lake Hydrology at Risk

Big Bear Lake is a closed-basin reservoir — no external tributaries. Average 10,600 acre-feet of water lost to evaporation annually. Hotter summers accelerate evaporation, while rain (instead of slow-melting snow) creates flashier, harder-to-capture runoff events.

Snowmaking — The Critical Adaptation

Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Snow Valley use sophisticated snowmaking infrastructure to combat increasingly erratic natural snowfall. The systems utilize water from the Big Bear Municipal Water District and networks of fan guns and compressed air lines capable of converting up to 6,000 gallons of water per minute into artificial snow. However, snowmaking is strictly governed by the "wet bulb" temperature — factoring both ambient humidity and air temperature. Operations require wet bulb temps of 27°F or lower. If warming prevents consistent nighttime temps from reaching this threshold, artificial snow production fails, directly threatening the resorts' operational viability and the town's entire winter economy.

"Upslope Migration" of Climate Zones

Based on climatic water deficit projections, by the latter half of the century the environmental conditions at 6,000 ft in the San Bernardinos will mimic the historical, hotter conditions previously found at 4,500 ft. Vegetation zones and wildlife habitats are effectively being pushed higher up the mountain.

El Niño / La Niña at Big Bear

🔴 El Niño Years

Wetter & Snowier

El Niño pushes the subtropical jet stream into Southern California, steering moisture-laden storms directly into the Transverse Ranges. Notable El Niño seasons: 2009–10 (158"), 1997–98, and 1991–92 all delivered above-average precipitation to Big Bear.

🔵 La Niña Years

Usually Drier — But Not Always

La Niña traditionally favors a drier Southern California pattern. However: the 2022–23 La Niña winter produced the greatest snow accumulation in modern resort history (277"), proving intense atmospheric rivers can override macro-climatic patterns in any given year.

⚪ Current Status

See NOAA CPC

Check the NOAA Climate Prediction Center for the latest ENSO outlook. While ENSO is a highly useful seasonal forecasting tool, extreme atmospheric volatility can easily override macro-climatic patterns.

Climate Data Primary Sources

Notable weather events, records, and the stories behind Big Bear's most dramatic weather moments. Sourced from NOAA storm databases, NWS archives, and local historical records.

🌨️ January 30 – February 2, 1979

The All-Time Blizzard — 56 Inches in One Storm

A massive cutoff low-pressure system stalled over the region, dumping 56 inches (4.6 feet) of snow on Big Bear Lake in a single continuous event. The blizzard completely paralyzed the community and shut down all access interstates. Thousands of motorists and residents were stranded. The same arctic outbreak produced the all-time record low of −25°F on January 29, 1979.

🌨️ February – March 2023

"Snowmageddon" — 10 Feet in One Week

Modern residents' defining storm. An unrelenting series of cold storms during a La Niña year dropped 120+ inches (10 feet) in a single week. Houses were buried to their rooflines. The NWS San Diego office issued its first-ever Blizzard Warning. All access highways (SR-18, 38, 330) were buried and closed for consecutive days, cutting Big Bear off from the world. Grocery and fuel supplies depleted. National Guard intervention required for rescue and snow removal. The 2022–23 season totaled a record 277" at Snow Valley.

☀️ September 4, 1988

The Mountain Escape — 110°F LA vs. 75°F Big Bear

Downtown Los Angeles reached a sweltering 110°F while Big Bear Lake topped out in the pleasant mid-70s. This reliable 35-to-40-degree temperature delta — driven by a 6,000+ foot elevation difference — is the primary engine of Big Bear's summer tourism industry. During severe late-summer "heat domes" or Santa Ana events, Big Bear consistently remains a cool, comfortable refuge 100 miles from the basin.

🔥 October 25 – November 2003

The 2003 Old Fire — 91,281 Acres

A severe Santa Ana wind event — bone-dry offshore winds flowing from the high desert toward the coast — fueled the disastrous Old Fire. The blaze raced up the mountainsides and threatened Big Bear Lake itself. Over 15,000 residents were evacuated as the fire consumed 91,281 acres and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in Cedar Glen and Lake Arrowhead. The inferno was finally halted by a Pacific cold front that dropped an inch of snow and rain directly on the fire lines.

🥶 Historical Winters

When Big Bear Lake Froze Solid

In decades past, winters were so persistently severe that Big Bear Lake froze entirely solid — thick enough for ice skating and even vehicle traffic on the surface. Historical photographs document this remarkable phenomenon. Today, full solid freezes are becoming statistically rarer due to a warming baseline climate and erratic wind patterns that churn deep basin water. Local ordinances now prohibit walking or playing on lake ice due to unpredictable, dangerous thickness.

⛈️ July – August (Annual)

North American Monsoon — Afternoon Thunder

The North American Monsoon draws subtropical moisture north from the Gulf of California into the San Bernardino Mountains every summer, creating a distinct pattern of clear mornings followed by sudden, localized afternoon thunderstorms. Lightning risks are significant on exposed peaks. On September 17, 2014, atmospheric instability allowed a highly rare funnel cloud to develop over Holcomb Valley — a reminder that high-altitude topography can occasionally mimic midwestern severe weather.

💧 1969 — Wettest Year on Record

55.76 Inches — The Deluge Year

A relentless parade of winter atmospheric rivers drove the most intense precipitation year ever recorded: 55.76 inches of liquid precipitation. February 1969 alone contributed 19.89 inches — the wettest single month ever. The previous December (1966) had already set the wettest single-day record at 9.43 inches on Dec 6, 1966. Big Bear Lake, a closed-basin reservoir with no external tributaries, saw dramatic flooding.

🏜️ 1999 — Driest Year on Record

6.99 Inches — The Peak of the Drought

The late-1990s drought reached its apex with a mere 6.99 inches of total annual precipitation — barely a third of the 19.98" average. The lake dropped dramatically. The driest snow season (1979–80) managed just 14 inches total. These drought years expose the vulnerability of Big Bear's closed-basin hydrology and winter recreation economy.

Did You Know?

☃️

Snow in May? On May 13, 1998, Big Bear received a highly unusual 7.9 inches of snow. The earliest fall dusting has been recorded in October. Freezing temperatures (31°F) were recorded as late as August 22, 1968 — proving freezing temps can occur in every single calendar month.

☀️

300+ Sunny Days. Big Bear averages over 300 days of sunshine per year. September is statistically the clearest month — clear or partly cloudy 88% of the time. February is the cloudiest, coinciding with peak atmospheric river activity.

🌡️

Extreme Diurnal Swings. The thin atmospheric column at 6,752 ft allows intense daytime radiational heating, while the valley floor acts as a cold-air drainage basin at night. This "thermal bowl" effect creates dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, especially in shoulder seasons.

�

Closed-Basin Lake. Big Bear Lake has no external tributaries. It's supplied entirely by snowmelt and rainfall from its immediate watershed, with no mechanical replenishment. An average of 10,600 acre-feet of water is lost to evaporation annually.

❄️

Snowmaking at Scale. Snow Summit, Bear Mountain, and Snow Valley operate advanced snowmaking systems capable of converting up to 6,000 gallons of water per minute into artificial snow. The water comes from the Big Bear Municipal Water District.

🌊

Atmospheric Rivers Rule. The biggest snow years are driven by atmospheric rivers — narrow bands of intense Pacific moisture. The 2022–23 La Niña season produced 277" despite La Niña traditionally favoring drier Southern California weather, proving single-year volatility can override long-term patterns.

🌀

Funnel Cloud Over Big Bear. On September 17, 2014, a rare funnel cloud developed and twisted over Holcomb Valley, just north of the lake — a stark reminder that high-altitude topography can occasionally produce severe convective weather normally seen in the Midwest.

🏔️

Microclimate Island. Big Bear Lake operates as an isolated meteorological island — an alpine microclimate surrounded by Mediterranean/desert ecosystems. The 6,000+ foot elevation difference from the LA basin creates a reliable 35–40°F temperature delta on the hottest summer days.

Primary data sources powering this hub. All live data comes from official government APIs — no third-party scrapers or paywalled aggregators.

Live & Forecast Sources

Live Conditions

National Weather Service API

Official US government weather. Point forecast via lat 34.2439, lon -116.9114 → gridpoints/SGX endpoint. Returns 120+ hours of detailed hourly data. Custom User-Agent required. Updates every 1–6 hours.

NWS API Endpoint ↗

Alerts & Warnings

NWS Alerts — Zone CAZ055

Active watches, warnings (Winter Storm, High Wind, Fire Weather) for the San Bernardino County Mountains zone via CAP v1.2 protocol.

Active Alerts API ↗

Road Conditions

Caltrans QuickMap

Real-time chain control status (R1, R2, R3) and road closures for SR-18, SR-38, and SR-330. Essential before any winter drive to Big Bear.

Caltrans QuickMap ↗

Snow Reports

Big Bear Mountain Resort

Official daily snow reports: base depth, new snow, lifts open, runs open. HD webcam feeds from elevations up to 8,850 ft. Updated mornings during ski season.

Snow Summit ↗

Air Quality

PurpleAir + AirNow

Real-time PM2.5 from community-installed sensors across Big Bear valley (PurpleAir), plus EPA AQI (AirNow). Critical during fire season for smoke inversion tracking.

PurpleAir Map ↗

Wind & Radar

Windy.com

Visual ECMWF/GFS wind streams, temperature gradients, and radar overlays. Embeddable iframe widgets available for developers via embed.windy.com.

Windy.com Big Bear ↗

Telemetry & Microclimate Networks

Mountain Weather Stations

MesoWest / RAWS

Remote Automated Weather Stations providing real-time mountain wind, humidity, and fuel-moisture data essential for fire tracking. Big Bear stations: E9869 (Big Bear Lake), BBRC2.

MesoWest ↗

Lake Levels & Streamflow

USGS Water Data

Historical and real-time hydrological data. Big Bear Lake precipitation: USGS-341429116583101. Streamflow: USGS-11049000. Weekly lake level logs via Big Bear MWD.

USGS Water Data ↗

NWS Forecast Discussion

NWS San Diego Office (SGX)

Detailed technical Area Forecast Discussions outlining the synoptic rationale behind mountain forecasts. Written by meteorologists for meteorologists.

NWS SGX Discussion ↗

Historical & Climate Sources

Historical Records

NOAA Climate Data Online

Full historical dataset for Big Bear Lake (GHCND:USC00040741 / USC00040798). Daily records going back to the early 1900s — primary source for all records on this page.

NOAA CDO Big Bear ↗

Climate Normals

Western Regional Climate Center

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) and monthly/annual summaries for Big Bear Lake and surrounding San Bernardino Mountain stations.

WRCC Big Bear ↗

ENSO Outlook

NOAA Climate Prediction Center

El Niño / La Niña status, seasonal outlooks, and 3–6 month precipitation probability forecasts for the Western US. Updated weekly.

NOAA CPC ↗

Snowpack & SWE

CA Dept of Water Resources

Annual snow surveys, SWE (Snow Water Equivalent) data, and historical snowpack percentages at Big Bear area snow courses.

DWR Snow Data ↗

Climate Projections

UCLA Center for Climate Science

SWE decline projections, temperature increase models, and vulnerability assessments for Southern California mountain communities including Big Bear.

UCLA Climate Science ↗

Lake Hydrology

Big Bear Municipal Water District

Weekly lake level logs, limnology data, and water balance reports. Big Bear Lake is a closed-basin reservoir with no external tributaries.

BBMWD ↗