Your Live Mt Lemmon Weather Report
Planning a trip up the Catalina Highway? Start here. This page shows current conditions on Mt. Lemmon and in Tucson, live weather cameras, road-condition updates, and a month-by-month guide to what the mountain does all year. Bookmark it and check before you head up — mountain weather can change in minutes.
Check Conditions Right Now
Road status comes before anything else on this mountain. The Pima County Sheriff's road line is a recording, and it is updated at nights and on weekends when the other sources are not:
(520) 351-3351Pima County road conditions · recorded 24 hours a day
- Is the road open? Pima County road closure updates, or AZ 511 for statewide highway status.
- Official forecast: NWS point forecast for the Summerhaven area — this is where predicted snowfall amounts come from.
- Live village temperature: current Summerhaven conditions.
- Ski area snow report: Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley report at 8,701 ft.
- What it actually looks like: our live Mt Lemmon webcams and the General Store cameras.
- Open or closed? the five things that can close on Mt. Lemmon, and how to check each one.
Today's Forecast: Tucson vs. Mt. Lemmon
The same day can be 95°F on the desert floor and 65°F at Summerhaven. That's the classic Mt. Lemmon trick: drive 27 miles and drop the temperature 30 degrees. Compare both forecasts below.
Why Mt. Lemmon Has Its Own Weather
The Santa Catalina Mountains rise from the Sonoran Desert floor to a 9,171-foot summit. Drive the Catalina Highway (the Sky Island Parkway) from Tucson and you'll climb through five life zones in under an hour. Every 1,000 feet of elevation costs roughly 3 to 5 degrees — which is why Summerhaven sits a full 30 degrees cooler than downtown Tucson on a summer afternoon. For the numbers behind that climb — the elevation at every stop on the drive, and how the mountain compares with peaks back east — see our Mt. Lemmon elevation guide.
- Desert floor (2,400 ft): hot, dry, saguaro country — Tucson's forecast.
- Mid-mountain (6,000-7,500 ft): oak and pine woodlands, cooler and greener.
- Summit (9,171 ft): mixed conifer forest, snow in winter, summer highs often in the 70s.
Because the mountain is a sky island, it creates its own weather. Afternoon thunderstorms form over the peak in monsoon season, and winter storms can dump several feet of snow at the top while it stays dry in Tucson.
Weather by Season
Spring (March - May)
Melting snow, muddy trails, and wildflowers. Daytime highs climb from the 50s to the 70s at Summerhaven. Late-season snowstorms are still possible into April — check the cameras before hiking. The hiking trails clear fast and the mountain is quiet.
Summer (June - August)
The big escape: 30 degrees cooler than Tucson. Afternoon monsoon thunderstorms roll in most days from early July through August, bringing lightning, rain, and occasional hail. Start hikes early and get off exposed ridges by noon. Evenings cool off fast — bring a jacket for stargazing.
Fall (September - November)
Perfect weather: crisp days, clear skies, and the famous aspen and oak color change. Fall colors peak mid- to late October along the highway and in Aspen Draw and Marshall Gulch. September can still bring monsoon remnants; November brings the first snow.
Winter (December - February)
Snow season. The summit averages 180 inches of snow a year, and Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley — the southernmost ski resort in the U.S. — averages 160 inches. Sledding, snowshoeing, and snowplay draw crowds after every storm. Carry chains, and call the road hotline (520) 351-3351 before heading up.
Live Mt. Lemmon Weather Cameras
The best way to know what the mountain looks like right now: look at it. These live cameras update continuously — check them alongside the forecast above.
Three views: summit radio ridge, Loma Linda, and the community center. Updated every 60 seconds.
Live snow conditions at the ski resort, 8,700 ft.
Summit-area view on Windy.com with time-lapse playback.
Is There Snow on Mt. Lemmon Right Now?
This is the most-asked question about the mountain, and the honest answer is that nobody can give you a snow depth for Mt. Lemmon, because nothing up here measures one. Arizona's NRCS station network lists 99 sites across the state. Forty-three of them are snow-measurement stations, and not one is in Pima County — the nearest sits nearly 100 miles away at Workman Creek in Gila County. The single weather station actually on this mountain, Scout Camp at 7,554 ft, reports temperature, humidity and wind and carries no snow sensor at all.
So here is how to work out the answer yourself, in the order locals do it:
- Look at the cameras. Our webcams page embeds the live village feeds. Each frame carries a burned-in timestamp — if that timestamp is current, what you are looking at is current. This is the only real depth check that exists.
- Read the forecast for predicted snow. The NWS point forecast for the Summerhaven gridpoint publishes predicted snowfall amounts and snow probability. A forecast accumulation is honest information. An observed depth is not available anywhere.
- Check the ski area's own report. Ski Valley's snow report comes from 8,701 ft, and from the people with the most riding on the answer.
- Ask us. Our team lives in the village and answers texts: (520) 277-2478.
How to Read the Mountain Like a Local
- The snow line sits around 7,000 ft. Summerhaven is about 8,000 ft and the summit 9,171 ft, so a storm that falls as rain in the village can drop a foot at the top.
- Snow lingers longer than visitors expect. Shaded, north-facing slopes and the forest hold snow for days or weeks after the highway clears. A sunlit parking lot can be bare while a trail 200 yards away is still knee-deep.
- Sledding needs roughly six inches of packed snow to work well — less than that and you are scraping dirt. See our sledding guide.
- Season totals, not daily depths: the summit averages about 180 inches of snow a season and Ski Valley about 160, mostly December through March, though November and April storms are entirely possible.
- Storm weekends fill up early. Once Summerhaven parking is full, the Sheriff's Department can hold traffic at the base of the highway.
What to Pack, Whatever the Season
- Layers — temps swing 20+ degrees
- Light jacket or fleece year-round
- Sun hat and sunscreen (strong UV at altitude)
- Water — more than you think
- Hiking shoes with grip
- Traction devices in winter
- Chains or 4WD in snow season
- Camera or phone for the views
- Snacks — and stop at the General Store
- Headlamp if hiking late
Mt. Lemmon Weather Videos
Mt. Lemmon Weather FAQ
Is it really 30 degrees cooler on Mt. Lemmon than in Tucson?
Yes — that's the standard rule of thumb between downtown Tucson (about 2,400 ft) and the Summerhaven area (about 8,000 ft). At the 9,171-ft summit it can be even cooler. A 100°F Tucson day is usually a low-70s day on the mountain. The climb and the elevation at each stop are broken down in our Mt. Lemmon elevation guide.
Does it snow on Mt. Lemmon?
Absolutely. The mountain averages about 180 inches of snow a year, mostly between November and April. Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, the southernmost ski resort in the continental U.S., averages 160 inches. Snow can fall as early as October and as late as May.
When is monsoon season on Mt. Lemmon?
Early July through August, with storms often lingering into mid-September. Afternoons bring thunderheads, lightning, rain, and occasional hail. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and watch the sky after noon.
When do the fall colors peak?
Mid- to late October is the sweet spot for aspens and oaks, from the mid-elevation canyons up to Aspen Draw. Early November still shows color in the sheltered canyons.
Is the Catalina Highway open year-round?
Generally yes — it's a paved, maintained highway to the summit. During winter storms it may close temporarily for plowing, and chain requirements can apply. Call the Pima County road hotline at (520) 351-3351 or check AZ 511 before you go.
Why is there no phone number to call for the weather?
The fastest, most reliable check is the live widgets and cameras on this page. For road-specific conditions, the Pima County hotline at (520) 351-3351 is the official source. And of course, our team at the hotel is happy to help — text (520) 277-2478.
Is it snowing on Mt. Lemmon right now?
Check the live cameras first — the village feeds on our Mt Lemmon webcams page show the current frame with a burned-in timestamp, which is the only "right now" answer that exists. For what is coming rather than what is falling, the NWS point forecast for Summerhaven publishes predicted snowfall amounts.
How much snow is on Mt. Lemmon right now?
Nothing on the mountain measures snow depth, so nobody can publish that number. Arizona's NRCS network runs 99 stations, 43 of which measure snow, and none is in Pima County — the nearest is nearly 100 miles away at Workman Creek in Gila County. Until a storm melts out, the live cameras are the check that works. Season totals are a different question: the summit averages about 180 inches a season.
What is the Mt. Lemmon weather today?
It depends which part of the mountain you mean, and that is not a dodge — the summit runs about 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor on the same afternoon. The live widgets at the top of this page show Tucson and Mt. Lemmon side by side, and the NWS point forecast gives the official numbers for the Summerhaven area.
What is the 10-day forecast for Mt. Lemmon?
The widgets at the top of this page carry the multi-day outlook for both Tucson and the Summerhaven area, and the NWS point forecast extends a week or more with precipitation and snow probability. Mountain forecasts move faster than desert ones — monsoon storms are afternoon events, and winter storms can arrive a day early — so check again the morning you drive up.
Is Mt. Lemmon closed because of the weather today?
Weather is the most common reason the highway closes, but it is not the only one, and "the mountain" is not one place. The winter gate closes at Ski Valley, which cuts off the summit and the day-use area while Summerhaven — where the hotel is — sits below it. Call the Pima County road line at (520) 351-3351, then see our Is Mt. Lemmon open? page for the five things that can close and how to check each one.
Come See the Weather Yourself
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