Climate: Denver

We know, this site is about Colorado and not Denver, per se; but it would be virtually impossible to cover the many weather variations of the state since there are so many terrain factors to be taken into consideration. So we’re providing an overview about Denver’s climate for those considering relocating to the area since it is the city that draws the most transplants.Denver’s climate is known as a semi-arid continental climate for those weather aficionados, but what that means to everyone else is that the average temperature is 50 degrees, and the average yearly precipitation is 15.81inches. The average high temperature in Denver throughout all four seasons is 64 degrees.

  • Winters in Denver are considered cold and dry, with the season’s first snowfall generally occurring around October 19th. Winter snow storms occur but are usually short lived because the snow melts rapidly in this region, often before night fall. The normal highs are in the mid 40s and low 50s, and the lows are in the low 20s and into the teens. Denver’s winters can vary from mild to cold, and although large amounts of snow can fall on the mountains just west of the city.
  • Spring brings with it significant changes as Denver can be affected by air masses on all sides. Arctic air from the north can often combine with Pacific storm fronts bringing snow to the city. In Surprisingly, March is Denver’s snowiest month, averaging 11.7inches of snow. Additionally, warm air from the Gulf of Mexico can bring the first thunderstorms of the season, and continental warm air can bring summer-like warm and dry conditions.
  • Summers in Denver are very hot and dry, with minimal precipitation. The normal temperatures during the day are in the low to upper 90s, sometimes down in the upper 80s on cool days. Very hot days can come in at the low 100s. Starting in mid-July, the monsoon brings tropical moisture into the city and with it come frequent late-afternoon thunderstorms.
  • Autumn sees the tropical monsoon flow dying down and as Arctic air begins to approach, it can combine with moisture from the Pacific Northwest to bring significant snowfall to the city November is Denver’s second snowiest month (remember March?), with the city’s greatest recorded snowfall from a single storm, 45.7inches, falling in late autumn 1913.

The National Weather Service records an annual average of sunshine during 69 percent of all possible daylight hours (which equate to over 300 days of sunshine) and annual precipitation of 15.4 inches.Not too shabby, eh?