Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush, a weird and scenic landscape where volcanic events of the recent past are likely to continue. Its weather is characterized by hot summers and cold winters. In February, average snow depth ranges from 26 inches at the north end of the monument to just 2 inches at the south end. Intense summer sun bakes the black lava, generating surface temperatures of 170 degrees Fahrenheit and air temperatures in the 90s. Drying winds are a daily occurrence, especially in the afternoon, and may reach 15 to 30 miles per hour.