Will you see Grand Canyon? Clear-view odds by month
Short answer: Grand Canyon is most likely to be visible in June, when 79% of mornings are mostly clear, and least likely in March (40%). Mornings are usually clearer than afternoons.
Clear most of the year; July and August bring afternoon thunderstorms (the monsoon).
How often the view from the South Rim is clear
| Month | Clear mornings (7–9 am) | Clear afternoons (2–4 pm) | Overcast mornings |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40% | 45% | 41% |
| February | 50% | 52% | 31% |
| March | 40% | 35% | 35% |
| April | 57% | 46% | 17% |
| May | 70% | 43% | 12% |
| June | 79% | 54% | 7% |
| July | 65% | 29% | 13% |
| August | 64% | 29% | 12% |
| September | 76% | 53% | 9% |
| October | 74% | 62% | 12% |
| November | 61% | 59% | 21% |
| December | 44% | 47% | 36% |
Tours
Questions
What is the best month to see Grand Canyon?
Grand Canyon is most likely to be visible in June, when 79% of mornings are mostly clear, and least likely in March (40%). Mornings are usually clearer than afternoons.
Is Grand Canyon clearer in the morning or the afternoon?
Mornings: in 8 of 12 months the sky over the South Rim is clear more often between 7 and 9 am than between 2 and 4 pm. Clouds tend to build during the day.
How often is Grand Canyon hidden by cloud?
In March, 35% of mornings are overcast; in June only 7%. Clear most of the year; July and August bring afternoon thunderstorms (the monsoon).
Share of days from 2016-2025 when total cloud cover averaged under 30% in the given hours, from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus) via Open-Meteo, on a ~25 km grid around Arizona, USA. Peaks can make their own cloud that the grid misses; check a webcam on the day.