Colorado Annual Temperatures and Records

City

Avg High Temp

Avg Low Temp 

Avg Annual Temp

 Avg # days > 90F Avg # days < 32F  Record High Temp Record Low Temp
Alamosa 59 24 42 1 227 96 -50
Colorado Springs 62 36 49 18 161 101 -24
Denver 64 37 51 33 155 105 -25
Grand Junction 65 40 53 62 134 105 -23
Pueblo  69 37 53 64 156 108 -28
  • Colorado annual average temperature - 45.15 degrees, 38th warmest state in the U.S.
  • Record Hottest year in Colorado - 1934 / Avg temperature 48.88 degrees
  • Record Coldest year in Colorado - 1912 / Avg temperature 41.60 degrees
  • Colorado average Summer temperature (June, July, August) - 65.2 F degrees, 42nd warmest U.S. summer state
  • Colorado average Winter temperature (December, January, February) - 25.8 F degrees, 16th coldest U.S. winter state

Colorado Temperature Records 

  • Hottest temperature ever recorded: 114 F, Las Animas, southeeastern Colorado, 6/23/2012
  • Coldest temperature ever recorded: -61 F, Maybell, northwestern Colorado, 2/1/1985
  • Hottest location ranked by highest average annual temperature: Las Animas, southeastern Colorado, 54.0 F
  • Coldest location ranked by lowest average annual temperature: Crested Butte, west-central Colorado, 33.0 F
  • During January 1948, Colorado's high temperature reached a record high of 73 degrees, and the low temperature
    plummeted to a record low of -29 degrees. This produced the greatest state monthly temperature range on record
    of 102 degrees.
  • From August 1985 through June 1986, Taylor Park experienced a state record 310 consecutive days with the
    temperature at or below 32 degrees
  • From June 9 through June 26, 2012, Denver set 8 new daily high temperature records and the month ended up being
    the hottest June in Denver history. 
  • From June 22 through June 27, 2012, Pueblo recorded 6 consecutive 105 + days , a new all-time record for the city

  

Most of Colorado has a climate commonly thought of as a mountain climate. Generally, the Colorado climate is cool and comfortable. The humidity is low and temperatures are moderated by the altitude. The thin atmosphere allows for a greater penetration of solar radiation and results in pleasant temperatures even during the winter months. This accounts for the general lack of heavy clothing being worn by some skiers.

The mountains are the most significant moderators of Colorado’s climate. They have an effect on all aspects of weather passing through the State. Huge variations in weather can be felt in relatively short distances. For example, the difference in annual mean temperature between Pikes Peak and Las Animas is equal to that of Iceland and Florida. This is a large range when you take into account the 100 miles between Pikes Peak and Las Animas versus the several thousand miles between Florida and Iceland.

It is not uncommon for temperatures to differ by 10 to 15° F within a 50 mile radius. Elevation is the main reason for this observed difference. The effect of elevation on temperature is what makes it difficult to summarize Colorado climate. In the winter, much of the State below 5,000 feet has maximum temperatures of 40 to 48° F. Above 5,000 feet, a cooling with altitude is noticed. The average maximum mean temperatures for the higher elevations of Colorado range from 28 to 40° F throughout the winter. The mean maximum temperature for January at stations at 5,000 feet elevation is about 40° F, while stations at elevations of 7,000 feet have temperatures near 32° F, and stations at elevations of 8,000 feet have temperatures around 25 F

 

Colorado precipitation averages and extremes, Denver climate averages/extremes, precipitation and temperature data for all U.S. states and 
Top 10 U.S. climate extremes
Data source: National Climatic Data Center