The Dalles in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), The Dalles sees average daytime highs around 40°F and overnight lows near 29°F, with 13.5 in of precipitation over about 43 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 40°F in early December to 45°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is The Dalles's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see The Dalles's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 40°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 29°F
- Precipitation
- 13.5 in
- 43 wet days
- Avg wind
- 4 mph
- Travel score
- 0.2
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in The Dalles in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 40°F in early December to 45°F by late February.
A typical winter day in The Dalles reaches about 40°F and drops to 29°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How winter really feels in The Dalles
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 90 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
The Dalles weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39° / 29° | 4.6 | 14.6 | 6.7 | 8.9 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 44° / 30° | 3.6 | 12.8 | 5.2 | 10.1 | 0.6 |
| Mar | 51° / 34° | 3.4 | 13.6 | 3.1 | 11.6 | 2.2 |
| Apr | 57° / 39° | 2.3 | 11.4 | 0.4 | 13.3 | 3.9 |
| May | 66° / 45° | 1.6 | 7.9 | 0 | 14.7 | 6.3 |
| Jun | 73° / 50° | 0.9 | 5.1 | 0 | 15.4 | 7.7 |
| Jul | 82° / 55° | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0 | 15.1 | 7.7 |
| Aug | 83° / 55° | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0 | 13.9 | 7.6 |
| Sep | 74° / 50° | 0.8 | 3.2 | 0 | 12.3 | 8.2 |
| Oct | 60° / 42° | 2.3 | 8.4 | 0.2 | 10.7 | 5.2 |
| Nov | 46° / 34° | 4.1 | 13.5 | 2.4 | 9.3 | 1.2 |
| Dec | 38° / 28° | 5.3 | 15.3 | 7.7 | 8.6 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
The Dalles gets around 13.5 in of rain and snow over 43 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 4 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 8 h 48 min in early December to 10 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 1.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for The Dalles
In winter, The Dalles overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
The Dalles's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit The Dalles?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in The Dalles.
What to pack for The Dalles in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, The Dalles sees daytime highs around 40°F and nights near 29°F. Pack a warm layer and rain gear. Worth having: a heavy coat. About 43 days see rain.
UV index in The Dalles in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in The Dalles peaks around July 16 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | High | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 5 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 7 | High |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | High |
| Sep | 5 | Moderate |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 1 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in The Dalles in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in The Dalles is worst in August — around 43 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 8.8× the cleanest month (December, 5 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 43 | 29 | 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Poor | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | Good |
| Feb | 6 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 8 | Good |
| May | 8 | Good |
| Jun | 8 | Good |
| Jul | 8 | Good |
| Aug | 43 | Poor |
| Sep | 29 | Moderate |
| Oct | 10 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 5 | Good |
Where is The Dalles?
The Dalles sits at 45.6°N, 121.2°W, 253 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Washougal, 57 mi away.
Topography around The Dalles
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of The Dalles.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around The Dalles has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,047 ft around an average of 397 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,140 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 12,215 ft.
The land around The Dalles is covered by trees (38%), grassland (29%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 2 miles, grassland (58%) and trees (24%) within 10 miles, and trees (50%) and grassland (39%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for The Dalles (45.5946°, -121.1787°, elevation 253 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.