Denver Weather

Colorado has a reputation for extreme weather, but on the flip side, the conditions never last very long. Denver’s climate is dictated by the Rocky Mountains to the west and the flat Great Plains to the east. When the weather from these two extremes meet, anything is possible. That’s not to say that the weather in Denver is bad. In fact, it’s a dynamic and beautiful environment with four very distinct seasons.

Summer and winter extremes

Despite being right on the edge of the mountains, Denver has rather warm summers, with daytime temperatures averaging at 26°C, but occasionally topping 37°C in July and August. Nights can be pleasantly cool and there’s always a good chance of a dramatic afternoon thunderstorm.

Winters, on the other hand, are cold snowy affairs, with daytime highs only reaching -6°C or just above freezing. Snow falls often in the Mile High City from November to March, sometimes in the form of powerful blizzards which roll in from the Great Plains, so come prepared for some extreme weather if you visit during the winter. However, the sun is never far behind the storms, quickly melting the urban snowfall and providing welcome solar warmth.

The shoulder seasons

Spring and autumn bring the most capricious weather to Denver, as the extremes of summer and winter change place. Autumn is perhaps the nicest season to visit, as the city is drenched in sunshine and near-perfect temperatures. The hundreds of thousands of trees in Denver burst into colour, in sharp contrast against the sapphire sky. Spring, which lasts from April to late May, is less of a pleasure, as the melting snow in the mountains makes conditions messy and the city is still cleaning the winter soot off its streets.

Average Temperature (°C)

30 22 15 8 0

Jan -0.9

Feb 0.4

Mar 3.7

Apr 8.8

May 13.9

Jun 19.5

Jul 22.8

Aug 21.9

Sep 17.0

Oct 10.7

Nov 4.0

Dec 0.0

Rainfall (mm)

70 52 35 18 0

Jan 11.8

Feb 14.6

Mar 29.1

Apr 49.0

May 60.9

Jun 36.9

Jul 42.6

Aug 35.8

Sep 26.8

Oct 25.7

Nov 17.5

Dec 15.9