Bend, located in Central Oregon’s high desert, features a semi-arid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm, dry, and sunny, while winters are cold, crisp, and snowy. With dramatic temperature swings, low humidity, and abundant sunshine, Bend is a year-round playground for outdoor enthusiasts, offering everything from skiing to hiking and river adventures.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Bend’s climate is shaped by its high desert location east of the Cascades, resulting in significant seasonal contrasts and over 180–200 days of sunshine per year. Summers (June–August) are warm and dry, with average highs of 27–31°C (80–88°F) and cool nights around 8–12°C (46–54°F). Humidity is low, rainfall is scarce (0.4–0.6 inches/month), and the sky is often clear, making this the prime season for hiking, biking, and river activities. Evenings can be chilly, so layers are essential.
Winters (December–February) are cold and snowy, with highs of 4–6°C (39–43°F) and lows dipping to –5 to –1°C (23–30°F). Bend receives 55–85 cm (21–34 inches) of snow annually, and the city transforms into a winter sports hub, with nearby Mt. Bachelor offering world-class skiing and snowboarding. Sunshine is still common in winter, but days are shorter and nights are crisp. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with rapidly changing weather – expect everything from sunny 20°C+ (68°F) days to frosty mornings, rain, or even late snow. Spring brings wildflowers and melting snow, while fall is known for golden foliage and quieter trails.
Annual precipitation is low, averaging 280–300 mm (11–12 inches), with most falling as snow in winter and rain in spring. Winds are generally light to moderate (12–18 km/h), but can be brisk during storms. The city’s high elevation (over 1,100 metres/3,600 feet) means sun protection is important year-round, and temperature swings between day and night can be dramatic.
| Average climate data for Bend, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 4 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 26 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -3 | -3 | -1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 4 | -0 | -4 | -4 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 33 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 39 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 30 | 308 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 8 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 107 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 107 | 170 | 119 | 44 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 60 | 98 | 622 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 7 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 45 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 81 | 80 | 75 | 66 | 60 | 57 | 47 | 50 | 56 | 63 | 74 | 82 | 66 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 45 | 45 | 45 | 38 | 30 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 28 | 39 | 46 | 32 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Bend is from June to September, when warm, dry weather and long daylight hours create ideal conditions for hiking, biking, river activities, and festivals. Early autumn (September–October) is also excellent, with mild temperatures, golden foliage, and fewer crowds – perfect for outdoor adventures and local events.
The least favourable time to visit is from December to early March, unless you’re seeking winter sports. Winters are cold and snowy, with some trails and roads closed, and outdoor activities limited to snow-based recreation. Spring (March–April) can be unpredictable, with rain, late snow, and rapidly changing conditions.
Bend has a semi-arid continental climate with warm, dry summers (27–31°C), cold, snowy winters (4–6°C highs, lows to –5°C), and dramatic day-night temperature swings. There are over 180–200 sunny days annually, and precipitation is low.
June to September is best for warm-weather activities, with mild, dry days and cool nights. Early autumn (September–October) offers beautiful foliage, fewer crowds, and great hiking and biking conditions.
Yes, Bend receives 55–85 cm (21–34 inches) of snow per year, mostly from November to March. Snow is common in winter, supporting skiing and snowboarding at nearby Mt. Bachelor.
Summer highs average 27–31°C (80–88°F), with occasional peaks into the low 30s°C (mid-80s°F). Nights are cool, dropping to 8–12°C (46–54°F), so layers are recommended even in summer.
Bend receives about 280–300 mm (11–12 inches) of precipitation annually. Most rain falls in spring, while summers are very dry. Winter precipitation is mainly snow.
Pack layers for large day-night temperature swings, sun protection, and a rain jacket for spring. In winter, bring thermal layers, waterproof boots, and sunglasses for bright, snowy days.
Yes, but summer and early autumn are best for hiking, biking, and river sports. Winter is ideal for skiing and snow sports. Spring is beautiful but unpredictable, with variable weather and late snow possible.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (26.4 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is December (2.2 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (11.2 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is December (-4 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 2.9 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is May (38.6 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is July (9.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 308 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is May (14 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is July (4.9 days). Over the whole year there are 107.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (170.3 mm). The months with the least snowfall are June, July and August (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 622.3 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is March (9.5 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 44.7 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (81.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (47.4 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 65.9 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (11.4 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (8.5 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 10.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (46.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (10.1 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 31.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 11.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 4.9 h). Over the whole year there are 8.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, March, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.2.
