Derrick Cave, Oregon Weather
Recreation Area • Central Oregon
Derrick Cave is a lava tube, a tunnel left when molten lava drained out from under a hardened crust. It runs about a quarter mile on BLM land at the northeast corner of the Devils Garden lava field in northern Lake County. The BLM's Lakeview District manages it as a free, year-round day-use site. It is reached by a long, rough dirt road with no facilities at the end.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Derrick Cave weather today and through the year
It's 37°F at Derrick Cave right now (feels like 30°F), with 11 mph wind and a comfort score of 32. Today's forecast high at Derrick Cave is 50°F, 5°F above the mid November normal of 45°F. The best window tomorrow is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 38°F with a 13 mph wind (comfort 35).
July is the warmest month at Derrick Cave, with an average high of 83°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 19°F. December is the wettest month (2.1 in.), out of about 14.3 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and precipitation odds, the most comfortable months at Derrick Cave are August, September, and June. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 2 PM to 5 PM in September, and noon to 3 PM in June.
Derrick Cave sits on the open, juniper-dotted lava plain of Devils Garden, between the Fort Rock Basin and the Christmas Valley country. It lies far east of the Cascades and deep in their rain shadow, where the mountains have already wrung most of the moisture out of Pacific storms. Rain and snow are light, and the surface is a sunny, exposed sheet of old lava with little shade.
Forecast updated November 13, 2026 at 5:02 PM PST. Climate figures come from NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Hourly patterns come from NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from May 2016 to May 2026.
What to expect at Derrick Cave in the next few days
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Best time to go
The best window tomorrow is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 38°F with a 13 mph wind (comfort 35).
Hiking conditions
No daylight hour in the next week is forecast to be dry, 45 to 80°F, and under 18 mph wind at Derrick Cave.
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Monday looks best for Derrick Cave, with a 41°F high and midday comfort near 42. Thursday looks weakest (29).
This weekend
This weekend: Saturday 41°F/31°F with a 26% chance of rain, Sunday 41°F/34°F with a 53% chance of rain.
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (84%, about 0.14 in.).
Snow
Snow is in the forecast: about 1.2 in. over the next week, starting Thursday.
Freezing nights
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast to reach freezing or colder.
Live weather map
Weather around Derrick Cave right now
Light rain and 37° at Derrick Cave right now.
About the live weather map for Derrick Cave
The map centers on Derrick Cave and stacks wildfire smoke, satellite clouds, and precipitation radar on one view. Clouds come from the GOES-West satellite and rain from NOAA radar, and both show current conditions.
Dots mark nearby places with their current temperature, colored by comfort score. Use the layer buttons to turn any layer off, or open the full map for every destination in the region.
Nearby Temperature Comparison
Conditions at nearby Central Oregon destinations
Tip: Central Oregon temperatures can change by 20 to 30°F over a short distance because of microclimates.
Derrick Cave vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Derrick Cave, from the same NOAA HRRR hourly record. The list shows the closest places, then nearby places whose climate differs the most.
| Place | Distance | Summer afternoons | Morning fog | Afternoon wind | Compared with Derrick Cave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin Lake | 10 mi | +2°F | 0% | 10 mph | a very similar climate |
| Green Mountain Campground | 11.6 mi | +1°F | 0% | 10 mph | a very similar climate |
| Sand Spring Campground | 13 mi | same | 0% | 10 mph | a very similar climate |
| East Lake | 22.1 mi | -11°F | 3% | 8 mph | about 3 times as much precipitation a year and about 11°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Paulina Peak | 22.8 mi | -10°F | 3% | 9 mph | about 3 times as much precipitation a year and 3,065 ft higher |
| Newberry National Volcanic Monument | 23.2 mi | -11°F | 3% | 9 mph | about 3 times as much precipitation a year and about 11°F cooler on summer afternoons |
Places with a climate like Derrick Cave's
- Brothers (24 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- East Fort Rock OHV Area (20 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Sand Spring Campground (13 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Derrick Cave climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Derrick Cave with the available local baseline. Temperature and year-to-date rainfall use long-term normals when available. Fog, sunshine, wind, and comfort use the matching recent or modeled baseline identified on each card.
Positive and negative differences describe how Derrick Cave departs from its own usual pattern. They should not be read as a direct comparison with another city or as a forecast beyond the period shown.
Derrick Cave weather by month
July is the warmest month at Derrick Cave, with an average high of 83°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 19°F. December is the wettest month (2.1 in.), out of about 14.3 in. a year. July has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 2% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and precipitation odds, the most comfortable months at Derrick Cave are August, September, and June. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 2 PM to 5 PM in September, and noon to 3 PM in June.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precip | Wet days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 20°F | 1.7 in | 8 | 9% | 14% | 9 mph | 9.3 h | 43 |
| Feb | 42°F | 22°F | 1.2 in | 7 | 6% | 17% | 11 mph | 10.4 h | 38 |
| Mar | 48°F | 24°F | 1.7 in | 8 | 4% | 21% | 13 mph | 11.8 h | 38 |
| Apr | 54°F | 27°F | 1.1 in | 6 | 2% | 15% | 12 mph | 13.4 h | 43 |
| May | 63°F | 34°F | 1.5 in | 7 | 1% | 12% | 11 mph | 14.7 h | 61 |
| Jun | 71°F | 39°F | 0.8 in | 5 | 0% | 7% | 11 mph | 15.4 h | 78 |
| Jul | 83°F | 45°F | 0.5 in | 4 | 0% | 2% | 10 mph | 15.1 h | 77 |
| Aug | 82°F | 44°F | 0.5 in | 4 | 1% | 2% | 9 mph | 13.9 h | 80 |
| Sep | 74°F | 37°F | 0.5 in | 4 | 1% | 4% | 10 mph | 12.4 h | 79 |
| Oct | 60°F | 30°F | 1.1 in | 6 | 3% | 10% | 10 mph | 10.9 h | 54 |
| Nov | 45°F | 24°F | 1.5 in | 7 | 7% | 13% | 10 mph | 9.6 h | 43 |
| Dec | 37°F | 19°F | 2.1 in | 9 | 10% | 13% | 9 mph | 9.0 h | 42 |
Morning fog is the share of hours from 6 to 10 AM with fog or low cloud. Midday cloud is the average from 11 AM to 3 PM, and afternoon wind is the average from 1 to 5 PM. The highlighted rows are the most comfortable months.
What makes Derrick Cave's weather different
When the wind picks up
noonwhen afternoon wind builds, February–November
From February through November, wind at Derrick Cave typically builds after noon. In March it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 13 mph with 34% of those hours windy, while mornings average 7 mph.
Freezing hours
18 hbelow freezing on a typical December night
In December, the average stays at or below freezing for 18 hours of the night and morning.
Daylight
9–15.4 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Derrick Cave range from about 9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June. In mid-June the sun sets around 8:45 PM, and in mid-December around 4:33 PM.
Wildfire smoke
19 daysof smoky air per fire season (about AQI 75+)
NOAA's HRRR-Smoke model gives the area around Derrick Cave an average of 19 smoky days a fire season from 2021 to 2025. On each of those days, smoke held the air quality index at about 75 or higher for at least three hours. About 29 more days a season had lighter smoke.
Snow
30 inof snow per winter (HRRR estimate)
NOAA's HRRR model puts Derrick Cave at about 30 inches of snow a winter, falling on about 24 days. That is the average of the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 winters.
Seasons at Derrick Cave
- Warm seasonJun 26 – Sep 23 · highs 73°F+
The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jun 26 to Sep 23, when the average high is 73°F or warmer. Highs peak around Jul 8 at about 83°F.
- Cool seasonNov 26 – Feb 26 · highs 44°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 26 to Feb 26, when the average high is 44°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Dec 8, with an average low near 19°F.
- Freezing nightsOct 4 – May 4 · lows 32°F or colder
Average lows at Derrick Cave are at or below freezing from Oct 4 to May 4.
- Wet seasonOct 24 – May 28 · 77% of the year's precipitation
The wet season runs from Oct 24 to May 28, when a day has at least a 21% chance of measurable precipitation. That stretch brings 77% of the year's precipitation.
The dark line marks today. Season dates come from the smoothed daily NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Counting from Oct. 1, a typical year has its first inch of precipitation by Oct 28 and half of its annual total by Feb 17.
Days per year and extremes (Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026)
This record runs from Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026. Over this record, Derrick Cave averaged 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights a year at or below freezing. It averaged 4 days a year with at least half an inch of precipitation and 22 afternoons with wind of 20 mph or more at 2 PM. About 17 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Aug 7, 2026 (93°F) and the coldest night was Feb 12, 2025 (-7°F). The wettest day was Mar 16, 2025 (1.86 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 63 mph on Dec 18, 2025.
- 6days at 90°F or hotter
- 158nights at or below freezing
- 4days with ½ in. of precipitation or more
- 22afternoons with 20+ mph wind
- 17mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day93°FAug 7, 2026
- Coldest night-7°FFeb 12, 2025
- Wettest day1.86 inMar 16, 2025
- Strongest 2 PM gust63 mphDec 18, 2025
What shapes Derrick Cave's weather
Wind is a big part of the surface weather at Derrick Cave. From late winter through fall, it builds across the lava plain after midday. March is the windiest month, with strong mid-afternoon wind. At Fort Rock or the Badlands, wind peaks on summer evenings. Here it is as much a spring problem as a summer one, so a March or April visit can be raw and blowing even on a sunny day.
Underground, the weather barely matters. The BLM notes the cave is quite cool, and it stays far cooler than the surface on a hot summer afternoon. In winter, water draining into the tube can freeze into ice formations that usually melt by summer, so footing can be slick in the colder months.
The road is the real weather limit. Rain and snowmelt turn the unpaved access roads to mud, and the BLM warns they may be impassable to every vehicle in the rainy season and winter. Late-summer thunderstorms can do the same in a single afternoon.
Tips for visiting Derrick Cave
Drive in only when the road is dry
Two-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicles can usually reach the trailhead. When the road is wet you may need four-wheel drive, and in winter or the rainy season it may be impassable.
Bring a jacket and good lights
The cave is cool even in summer. Bring reliable battery-powered lights, since the passage past the skylights is fully dark.
From Bend, go via Moffitt Road
Take U.S. 20 east about 45 miles and turn onto Moffitt Road. Continue on Forest Road 2312, then turn left on Forest Road 23 (Sand Springs Road) and left on Forest Road 2325 to the cave.
Leave pets and stoves at home
Camping, campfires, stoves, smoking and domestic animals are all prohibited in and around the cave.
Let the bats sleep
Townsend's big-eared bats hibernate in the cave. Waking a hibernating bat can be fatal to it, so keep winter visits quiet and brief.
Derrick Cave through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Spring is the windiest season on the surface. Roads can be muddy after storms, and ice may linger inside the cave.
- Summer (June–August)
- Summer is hot, dry and exposed above ground but cool inside the tube. It is the most reliable season for road access, apart from thunderstorm days.
- Fall (September–November)
- Fall brings cool days, calmer than spring, and the best weather for the drive until fall rains soften the roads.
- Winter (December–February)
- Winter is cold, and snow often covers the roads, which may be impassable. Ice formations can grow inside the cave, and bats hibernate there.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Caving: The tube is about 30 feet high and 50 feet wide in places. Weather above ground matters only for the drive, but wear a jacket underground.
- Hiking the Devils Garden lava: The open lava field has no shade. Go on cool, calm mornings in spring or fall, and avoid gusty spring afternoons.
- History: The cave was stocked as a nuclear fallout shelter in the 1960s and is named for pioneer rancher H.E. Derrick. It makes a good stop on any day the road is passable.
Official sources and current conditions
Numbers on this page come from NOAA data. The text draws on the official sources linked above.
Historical Climate Data
Long-term weather patterns and climate data
Data sources: Recent temperature, precipitation, fog, cloud, wind, humidity, and sunshine come from NOAA HRRR, and long-term baselines from NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
Climate Overview
Based on NOAA 30-year temperature/rain normals (1991-2020) with recent fog/sun baseline
🌟 Best Months to Visit
⚠️ Challenging Months
Monthly Breakdown
| Month | Comfort | High/Low | ☀️ Sun | 🌫️ Fog | 💧 Rain | Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | 52 | 40.2° / 27.3° | 4.7h | 4d | 1.54" | 3 |
| December 2024 | 47 | 36.8° / 25.8° | 4.4h | 3d | 3.3" | 0 |
| January 2025 | 54 | 35.1° / 20.4° | 5.8h | 4d | 1.02" | 0 |
| February 2025 | 55 | 35.5° / 19.7° | 6h | 3d | 1.89" | 3 |
| March 2025 | 60 | 43.9° / 28.3° | 6.4h | 2d | 2.19" | 7 |
| April 2025 | 87 | 57° / 31.9° | 10.4h | 0d | 0.16" | 26 |
| May 2025 | 88 | 64.9° / 38.2° | 11.7h | 1d | 0.31" | 28 |
| June 2025 | 95 | 74.5° / 45.5° | 12.7h | 0d | 0" | 29 |
| July 2025 | 93 | 81.8° / 52.8° | 12.3h | 0d | 0.39" | 31 |
| August 2025 | 93 | 80° / 52.1° | 11.1h | 1d | 0.22" | 30 |
| September 2025 | 92 | 74° / 46.8° | 9.8h | 0d | 0.1" | 28 |
| October 2025 | 80 | 55.6° / 33.6° | 7.5h | 0d | 0.36" | 20 |
| November 2025 | 72 | 49.8° / 32.1° | 6.3h | 1d | 0.3" | 10 |
| December 2025 | 54 | 43.4° / 29.9° | 4.7h | 6d | 2.19" | 4 |
| January 2026 | 63 | 42.1° / 25.8° | 6.4h | 2d | 0.46" | 5 |
| February 2026 | 63 | 44.8° / 26.6° | 6.4h | 2d | 1.37" | 5 |
| March 2026 | 78 | 55.3° / 32.6° | 8.7h | 0d | 0.31" | 19 |
| April 2026 | 81 | 55.7° / 31.2° | 9.8h | 0d | 0.26" | 20 |
| May 2026 | 89 | 67.1° / 39.2° | 12.2h | 0d | 1.07" | 29 |
| June 2026 | 91 | 72.4° / 44.1° | 12h | 0d | 0.67" | 28 |
| July 2026 | 89 | 83.4° / 52.1° | 12.1h | 0d | 0.01" | 30 |
| August 2026 | 91 | 82.6° / 50.6° | 11.6h | 0d | 0.01" | 31 |
| September 2026 | 89 | 66.3° / 41.6° | 9.6h | 0d | 1.43" | 27 |
| October 2026 | 83 | 61.4° / 36.4° | 8.3h | 0d | 0.09" | 22 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Derrick Cave climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Derrick Cave, showing both the seasonal cycle and the typical day-to-night range. The comfort chart summarizes how often the combined weather pattern is favorable rather than judging temperature alone.
Precipitation shows the total recorded or modeled rainfall for each month at Derrick Cave. Sunshine compares average bright-sky hours with the daylight available, while fog shows the average number of morning fog or low-cloud hours per day. Switch between the chart tabs to compare the same months across each measure.
Snow Depth by Season
0″ on the ground as of Nov 13, compared with an average of 0.8″ on that date.
Now
0″
Typical peak
11″
Deepest
29″
2016–17
About this chart and each season's peak
Each gray line is one winter at Derrick Cave (4,948 ft), from August through July. The dashed line is the average for each date, and the blue line is this season. Depths come from NOAA's daily SNODAS snow analysis, adjusted for the elevation of this spot, and are updated through Nov 13, 2026.
| Season | Peak depth | Peak date | Days with 1″+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | 2.7″ | Dec 24 | 5 |
| 2024–25 | 20″ | Feb 5 | 99 |
| 2023–24 | 14″ | Jan 14 | 44 |
| 2022–23 | 8.3″ | Dec 13 | 94 |
| 2021–22 | 15″ | Jan 5 | 52 |
| 2020–21 | 5.1″ | Nov 15 | 41 |
| 2019–20 | 12″ | Apr 3 | 57 |
| 2018–19 | 18″ | Feb 27 | 94 |
| 2017–18 | 8.9″ | Mar 4 | 75 |
| 2016–17 | 29″ | Jan 11 | 92 |
| 2015–16 | 24″ | Dec 22 | 76 |
| 2014–15 | 5.4″ | Dec 17 | 20 |
| 2013–14 | 5.6″ | Feb 9 | 21 |
| 2012–13 | 23″ | Feb 21 | 117 |
| 2011–12 | 15″ | Jan 23 | 64 |
| 2010–11 | 13″ | Dec 21 | 89 |
| 2009–10 | 9.8″ | Feb 7 | 71 |
| 2008–09 | 11″ | Jan 27 | 74 |
| 2007–08 | 16″ | Feb 4 | 74 |
| 2006–07 | 3.9″ | Feb 25 | 24 |
| 2005–06 | 6.9″ | Jan 30 | 67 |
| 2004–05 | 6.9″ | Dec 9 | 28 |
| 2003–04 | 7.7″ | Jan 7 | 17 |
Hourly Temperature, Wind, and Cloud Cover Patterns
Average local hour by month from 2016-05-01 to 2026-05-01
- Temperature: At Derrick Cave, the warmest typical hour is 4 PM in July (83°F). The coldest is 7 AM in February (24°F).
- Wind: From February through November, wind at Derrick Cave typically builds after noon. In March it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 13 mph with 34% of those hours windy, while mornings average 7 mph.
- Cloud Cover: July middays are the clearest at Derrick Cave (2% average cloud cover), and March middays are the cloudiest (21%).
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Derrick Cave
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Derrick Cave changes by hour and month. Read left to right for the seasons and top to bottom for the time of day. Warmer colors mark the usual afternoon peaks, and cooler colors show overnight and winter lows.
This heatmap shows the typical hourly wind pattern at Derrick Cave through the year. It makes recurring afternoon wind, calmer overnight periods, and seasonal changes easier to compare than a single daily wind value.
This heatmap shows average cloud cover at Derrick Cave for every month and hour. Use it to see whether cloudiness is mainly an overnight and morning pattern or commonly persists during the part of the day you plan to visit.
Each cell combines one month with one local hour. Hover over or focus on a cell for its value and sample coverage. The red marker shows the current month and hour.
How recent months compared at Derrick Cave
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Derrick Cave averaged a high of 61°F, 6°F warmer than October 2025 (56°F).
Location Details
Derrick Cave weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Derrick Cave
What is the weather like at Derrick Cave today?
It's 37°F at Derrick Cave right now, with a comfort score of 32 (poor). Today's forecast high at Derrick Cave is 50°F, 5°F above the mid November normal of 45°F. The best window tomorrow is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 38°F with a 13 mph wind (comfort 35).
What is the best month to visit Derrick Cave?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and precipitation odds, the most comfortable months at Derrick Cave are August, September, and June. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 2 PM to 5 PM in September, and noon to 3 PM in June. The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jun 26 to Sep 23, when the average high is 73°F or warmer. Highs peak around Jul 8 at about 83°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Derrick Cave?
July is the warmest month at Derrick Cave, with an average high of 83°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 19°F. Average lows at Derrick Cave are at or below freezing from Oct 4 to May 4.
When is it windiest at Derrick Cave?
From February through November, wind at Derrick Cave typically builds after noon. In March it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 13 mph with 34% of those hours windy, while mornings average 7 mph.
Does it snow at Derrick Cave?
Yes, in most winters. NOAA's HRRR model puts Derrick Cave at about 30 inches of snow a winter, falling on about 24 days. That is the average of the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 winters.
How much rain and snow does Derrick Cave get?
December is the wettest month (2.1 in.), out of about 14.3 in. a year. The wet season runs from Oct 24 to May 28, when a day has at least a 21% chance of measurable precipitation. That stretch brings 77% of the year's precipitation.
How smoky does Derrick Cave get in fire season?
NOAA's HRRR-Smoke model gives the area around Derrick Cave an average of 19 smoky days a fire season from 2021 to 2025. On each of those days, smoke held the air quality index at about 75 or higher for at least three hours. About 29 more days a season had lighter smoke.
What kind of place is Derrick Cave?
Derrick Cave is a lava tube, a tunnel left when molten lava drained out from under a hardened crust. It runs about a quarter mile on BLM land at the northeast corner of the Devils Garden lava field in northern Lake County. The BLM's Lakeview District manages it as a free, year-round day-use site. It is reached by a long, rough dirt road with no facilities at the end.
What is Derrick Cave weather like in November?
November at Derrick Cave averages a high of 45°F and a low of 24°F, with 1.5 in. of precipitation over about 7 wet days. Afternoon wind averages 10 mph.
More about Derrick Cave weather
Guides that explain the weather here and nearby
Data sources and methods
- Monthly temperatures and precipitation: NOAA 1991-2020 normals.
- Fog, cloud, wind, sun, and comfort by hour and month: NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from May 2016 to May 2026.
- Daily records and recent months: NOAA HRRR analyses, including its hourly precipitation.
- Nearby comparisons and regional rankings use the same hourly HRRR summaries for every destination in the region.
- Alerts: National Weather Service.
- All statements on this page are computed from these datasets, apart from the “What shapes the weather” guide, which cites its sources inline.
- Bureau of Land Management, Derrick Cave (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Wikipedia, Derrick Cave (accessed 2026-10-29)
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