Grizzly, Oregon Weather
Town • Central Oregon
Grizzly is a rural ranching locality in southern Jefferson County, north of Prineville, marked on USGS maps by a historical post office site at about 3,700 feet. It lies on the north side of Grizzly Mountain, the 5,629-foot summit of fused volcanic ash that forms part of the ancient Crooked River caldera.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Grizzly weather today and through the year
It's 43°F at Grizzly right now (feels like 36°F), with 10 mph wind and a comfort score of 42. Today's forecast high at Grizzly is 57°F, 10°F above the mid November normal of 47°F. The best window tomorrow is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 44°F with a 17 mph wind (comfort 44).
July is the warmest month at Grizzly, with an average high of 82°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 23°F. December is the wettest month (1.9 in.), out of about 15.9 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and precipitation odds, the most comfortable months at Grizzly are August, September, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 1 PM to 4 PM in September, and 9 AM to noon in July.
Grizzly sits on rolling upland at the foot of Grizzly Mountain, roughly 1,500 feet higher than Madras and the farm plateau to the west. That height puts it in a different climate band from the Deschutes towns. Summers are noticeably cooler and nights colder. The year is also wetter, because the mountain and the Ochoco foothills to the east wring more moisture out of passing storms.
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 Grizzly 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 44°F with a 17 mph wind (comfort 44).
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Monday looks best for Grizzly, with a 44°F high and midday comfort near 47. Thursday looks weakest (28).
Better weather nearby
It's 43°F with a comfort score of 42 at Grizzly right now. Culver, 15 miles away, is 48°F with a comfort score of 58. See that forecast
This weekend
This weekend: Saturday 47°F/36°F with a 36% chance of rain, Sunday 45°F/34°F with a 70% chance of rain.
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (74%, about 0.14 in.).
Snow
Snow is in the forecast: about 1.2 in. over the next week, starting Wednesday.
Freezing nights
4 of the next 7 nights are forecast to reach freezing or colder.
Live weather map
Weather around Grizzly right now
Light rain and 43° at Grizzly right now. Culver, 15 mi away, is 48° and more comfortable.
About the live weather map for Grizzly
The map centers on Grizzly 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.
Grizzly vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Grizzly, 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 Grizzly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly Mountain | 4.5 mi | -1°F | 1% | 9 mph | 1,931 ft higher |
| Gray Butte Trailhead | 9.7 mi | same | 2% | 11 mph | a very similar climate |
| Skull Hollow Trailhead | 10.7 mi | +2°F | 2% | 10 mph | a very similar climate |
| Round Butte Overlook | 18.9 mi | +8°F | 1% | 9 mph | about 8°F warmer on summer afternoons and about 30% less precipitation a year |
| Lake Simtustus | 19.8 mi | +7°F | 1% | 9 mph | 2,113 ft lower and about 7°F warmer on summer afternoons |
| Pelton Park | 20.3 mi | +8°F | 1% | 9 mph | about 8°F warmer on summer afternoons and 2,088 ft lower |
Places with a climate like Grizzly's
- Lava Butte (46 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Black Butte Ranch (38 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Shevlin Park (38 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Grizzly climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Grizzly 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 Grizzly 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.
Grizzly weather by month
July is the warmest month at Grizzly, with an average high of 82°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 23°F. December is the wettest month (1.9 in.), out of about 15.9 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 Grizzly are August, September, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 1 PM to 4 PM in September, and 9 AM to noon in July.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precip | Wet days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 25°F | 1.8 in | 8 | 14% | 28% | 11 mph | 9.2 h | 35 |
| Feb | 43°F | 25°F | 1.4 in | 7 | 9% | 29% | 11 mph | 10.4 h | 37 |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 1.4 in | 7 | 6% | 29% | 11 mph | 11.8 h | 37 |
| Apr | 55°F | 30°F | 1.5 in | 8 | 2% | 24% | 12 mph | 13.5 h | 43 |
| May | 64°F | 37°F | 1.8 in | 8 | 3% | 18% | 11 mph | 14.8 h | 62 |
| Jun | 72°F | 41°F | 1.2 in | 7 | 1% | 10% | 11 mph | 15.5 h | 73 |
| Jul | 82°F | 48°F | 0.5 in | 4 | 0% | 2% | 10 mph | 15.2 h | 79 |
| Aug | 82°F | 48°F | 0.5 in | 4 | 1% | 2% | 9 mph | 14.0 h | 81 |
| Sep | 74°F | 43°F | 0.6 in | 5 | 3% | 8% | 9 mph | 12.4 h | 80 |
| Oct | 60°F | 35°F | 1.4 in | 7 | 3% | 16% | 10 mph | 10.8 h | 57 |
| Nov | 47°F | 28°F | 1.8 in | 8 | 6% | 21% | 10 mph | 9.5 h | 36 |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 1.9 in | 8 | 13% | 23% | 11 mph | 8.8 h | 34 |
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 Grizzly's weather different
When the wind picks up
2 PMwhen afternoon wind builds, April–September
From April through September, wind at Grizzly typically builds after 2 PM. In July it peaks around 7 PM, averaging 14 mph with 29% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
Freezing hours
12 hbelow freezing on a typical February night
In February, the average stays at or below freezing for 12 hours of the night and morning.
Daylight
8.8–15.5 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Grizzly range from about 8.8 hours in December to 15.5 hours in June. In mid-June the sun sets around 8:49 PM, and in mid-December around 4:28 PM.
Wildfire smoke
14 daysof smoky air per fire season (about AQI 75+)
NOAA's HRRR-Smoke model gives the area around Grizzly an average of 14 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 25 more days a season had lighter smoke.
Snow
13 inof snow per winter (HRRR estimate)
NOAA's HRRR model puts Grizzly at about 13 inches of snow a winter, falling on about 12 days. That is the average of the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 winters.
Seasons at Grizzly
- 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 82°F.
- Cool seasonNov 27 – Feb 24 · highs 45°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 27 to Feb 24, when the average high is 45°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Dec 8, with an average low near 23°F.
- Freezing nightsOct 31 – Apr 27 · lows 32°F or colder
Average lows at Grizzly are at or below freezing from Oct 31 to Apr 27.
- Wet seasonOct 16 – Jun 15 · 82% of the year's precipitation
The wet season runs from Oct 16 to Jun 15, when a day has at least a 22% chance of measurable precipitation. That stretch brings 82% 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 23 and half of its annual total by Feb 21.
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, Grizzly averaged 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights a year at or below freezing. It averaged 2 days a year with at least half an inch of precipitation and 16 afternoons with wind of 20 mph or more at 2 PM. About 20 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Aug 11, 2025 (94°F) and the coldest night was Feb 12, 2025 (2°F). The wettest day was Mar 16, 2025 (1.01 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 40 mph on Feb 24, 2025.
- 9days at 90°F or hotter
- 110nights at or below freezing
- 2days with ½ in. of precipitation or more
- 16afternoons with 20+ mph wind
- 20mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day94°FAug 11, 2025
- Coldest night2°FFeb 12, 2025
- Wettest day1.01 inMar 16, 2025
- Strongest 2 PM gust40 mphFeb 24, 2025
What shapes Grizzly's weather
Grizzly has a long wet season, which starts with fall storms in October and brings a mix of rain and snow in winter. It lasts into June, with showers and thunderstorms that build over Grizzly Mountain on warm afternoons. At this elevation more of the winter precipitation falls as snow than in Madras or Culver, and back roads can be snowy or muddy for long stretches.
Summers are warm rather than hot, with very clear skies in July. Afternoon wind builds across the open grassland from spring through September and peaks in the early evening, and the upland has little shelter from it. Frost season runs from late October to late April, longer than in the lower towns.
Wildfire smoke from the Cascades, the Ochocos and fires across the region reaches Grizzly in late summer. Dry grass makes local fire danger high in July and August. Compared with Haystack Reservoir, about 11 miles west on the lower grassland, Grizzly is cooler, wetter and snowier.
Tips for visiting Grizzly
Treat it as a waypoint, not a town
Grizzly is marked by a historical post office site rather than a town center. Plan fuel, food and water in Madras or Prineville.
Expect snow and mud on back roads
At this elevation, winter storms bring more snow than the lower towns, and spring showers leave dirt roads soft into June.
Camp at Skull Hollow or Haystack
The nearest public campgrounds are on the Crooked River National Grassland. Skull Hollow is open March 15 to November 15, weather permitting, with no drinking water.
Respect ranch land
The country around Grizzly is mostly private ranch land. Stay on public roads and close any gates you pass through.
Grizzly through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Spring is cool, showery and green, with frost lingering into late April. Thunderstorms start building over Grizzly Mountain in May.
- Summer (June–August)
- Summer brings warm, sunny days and cool nights, a few degrees cooler than Madras. Fire danger and smoke peak in August.
- Fall (September–November)
- Early fall days are clear, and the wet season starts in October, with hard frosts by early November.
- Winter (December–February)
- Winter is cold, with the wettest weather of the year and more snow than the Deschutes towns.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Scenic driving below Grizzly Mountain: The 5,629-foot summit dominates the view. Clear, calm mornings are best, and spring thunderstorms can roll off the mountain in the afternoon.
- Camping and fishing at Haystack Reservoir: The reservoir lies on the grassland to the west, with a campground open April 1 to October 31. Mornings are calmest.
- Geology viewing: Grizzly Mountain's rock, a welded tuff of fused volcanic ash, is part of the Crooked River caldera, the same ancient volcanic system as Gray Butte. Dry, clear days give the best views of the landforms.
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 | 57 | 45.6° / 31.9° | 4.4h | 1d | 0.51" | 4 |
| December 2024 | 52 | 44° / 30.3° | 4h | 5d | 2.35" | 2 |
| January 2025 | 59 | 42.2° / 25.8° | 5.4h | 3d | 0.52" | 5 |
| February 2025 | 58 | 40° / 25.3° | 5.2h | 2d | 0.45" | 3 |
| March 2025 | 66 | 49.5° / 33.5° | 6.5h | 1d | 1.43" | 10 |
| April 2025 | 89 | 58.5° / 34° | 10.4h | 0d | 0.06" | 25 |
| May 2025 | 90 | 64.1° / 39.7° | 11.7h | 2d | 0.33" | 27 |
| June 2025 | 95 | 74.7° / 47.2° | 12.6h | 0d | 0.01" | 29 |
| July 2025 | 95 | 82.6° / 55.4° | 12.5h | 0d | 0.05" | 31 |
| August 2025 | 94 | 81.5° / 55.6° | 11h | 0d | 0.08" | 31 |
| September 2025 | 93 | 76.7° / 51° | 9.8h | 0d | 0.28" | 28 |
| October 2025 | 79 | 57.2° / 36.9° | 7.6h | 0d | 0.17" | 20 |
| November 2025 | 72 | 52° / 35.9° | 5.8h | 0d | 0.22" | 13 |
| December 2025 | 57 | 47.3° / 34.2° | 4.1h | 2d | 1.71" | 5 |
| January 2026 | 61 | 43.4° / 30.5° | 5.5h | 5d | 0.23" | 5 |
| February 2026 | 67 | 47.3° / 31.8° | 6.5h | 3d | 0.58" | 7 |
| March 2026 | 78 | 55.2° / 35° | 8.3h | 1d | 0.14" | 18 |
| April 2026 | 84 | 57.3° / 34.5° | 9.8h | 0d | 0.14" | 22 |
| May 2026 | 92 | 67.5° / 42.1° | 11.7h | 1d | 0.65" | 28 |
| June 2026 | 93 | 71.8° / 46.2° | 12.1h | 0d | 0.27" | 29 |
| July 2026 | 93 | 83.3° / 54.3° | 12.4h | 0d | 0.03" | 31 |
| August 2026 | 94 | 82.1° / 53.1° | 11.8h | 0d | 0" | 31 |
| September 2026 | 91 | 67.3° / 44.7° | 9.6h | 1d | 0.36" | 27 |
| October 2026 | 84 | 61.3° / 38.8° | 7.8h | 0d | 0.04" | 23 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Grizzly climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Grizzly, 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 Grizzly. 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 0.2″ on that date.
Now
0″
Typical peak
6.9″
Deepest
30″
2012–13
About this chart and each season's peak
Each gray line is one winter at Grizzly (3,688 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 | 1.3″ | Feb 20 | 2 |
| 2024–25 | 5.8″ | Feb 14 | 39 |
| 2023–24 | 11″ | Jan 14 | 28 |
| 2022–23 | 6.2″ | Mar 2 | 38 |
| 2021–22 | 6.9″ | Jan 4 | 23 |
| 2020–21 | 5.8″ | Feb 14 | 32 |
| 2019–20 | 6.4″ | Nov 30 | 29 |
| 2018–19 | 19″ | Mar 7 | 55 |
| 2017–18 | 7″ | Mar 4 | 31 |
| 2016–17 | 25″ | Jan 12 | 85 |
| 2015–16 | 11″ | Jan 8 | 48 |
| 2014–15 | 9.4″ | Nov 15 | 24 |
| 2013–14 | 13″ | Feb 9 | 19 |
| 2012–13 | 30″ | Jan 29 | 84 |
| 2011–12 | 5.2″ | Dec 22 | 21 |
| 2010–11 | 10″ | Feb 21 | 38 |
| 2009–10 | 5.3″ | Jan 25 | 19 |
| 2008–09 | 11″ | Dec 23 | 39 |
| 2007–08 | 6.6″ | Feb 4 | 50 |
| 2006–07 | 3.1″ | Nov 29 | 9 |
| 2005–06 | 5.2″ | Dec 4 | 25 |
| 2004–05 | 2.2″ | Jan 8 | 13 |
| 2003–04 | 12″ | Jan 7 | 22 |
Hourly Temperature, Wind, and Cloud Cover Patterns
Average local hour by month from 2016-05-01 to 2026-05-01
- Temperature: At Grizzly, the warmest typical hour is 4 PM in July (83°F). The coldest is 7 AM in February (29°F).
- Wind: From April through September, wind at Grizzly typically builds after 2 PM. In July it peaks around 7 PM, averaging 14 mph with 29% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
- Cloud Cover: July middays are the clearest at Grizzly (2% average cloud cover), and February middays are the cloudiest (29%).
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Grizzly
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Grizzly 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 Grizzly 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 Grizzly 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 Grizzly
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Grizzly averaged a high of 61°F, 1°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 60°F.
Location Details
Grizzly weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Grizzly
What is the weather like at Grizzly today?
It's 43°F at Grizzly right now, with a comfort score of 42 (moderate). Today's forecast high at Grizzly is 57°F, 10°F above the mid November normal of 47°F. The best window tomorrow is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 44°F with a 17 mph wind (comfort 44).
What is the best month to visit Grizzly?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and precipitation odds, the most comfortable months at Grizzly are August, September, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 1 PM to 4 PM in September, and 9 AM to noon in July. 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 82°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Grizzly?
July is the warmest month at Grizzly, with an average high of 82°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 23°F. Average lows at Grizzly are at or below freezing from Oct 31 to Apr 27.
When is it windiest at Grizzly?
From April through September, wind at Grizzly typically builds after 2 PM. In July it peaks around 7 PM, averaging 14 mph with 29% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
Does it snow at Grizzly?
Yes, in most winters. NOAA's HRRR model puts Grizzly at about 13 inches of snow a winter, falling on about 12 days. That is the average of the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 winters.
How much rain and snow does Grizzly get?
December is the wettest month (1.9 in.), out of about 15.9 in. a year. The wet season runs from Oct 16 to Jun 15, when a day has at least a 22% chance of measurable precipitation. That stretch brings 82% of the year's precipitation.
How smoky does Grizzly get in fire season?
NOAA's HRRR-Smoke model gives the area around Grizzly an average of 14 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 25 more days a season had lighter smoke.
What kind of place is Grizzly?
Grizzly is a rural ranching locality in southern Jefferson County, north of Prineville, marked on USGS maps by a historical post office site at about 3,700 feet. It lies on the north side of Grizzly Mountain, the 5,629-foot summit of fused volcanic ash that forms part of the ancient Crooked River caldera.
What is Grizzly weather like in November?
November at Grizzly averages a high of 47°F and a low of 28°F, with 1.8 in. of precipitation over about 8 wet days. Afternoon wind averages 10 mph.
More about Grizzly weather
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.
- TopoQuest (USGS GNIS data), Grizzly Post Office (historical), Jefferson County (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Wikipedia, Grizzly Mountain (Oregon) (accessed 2026-10-29)
- USDA Forest Service, Skull Hollow Campground (accessed 2026-10-29)
- USDA Forest Service, Haystack Reservoir Campground and Day Use Area (accessed 2026-10-29)
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