Colorado Springs, CO Climate: Temperature & Rain by Month
Pulled from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals →: climate measurements used in PlainClimate's documented score
30-year climate normals (1991-2020) from Colorado Springs's primary NOAA station, COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP.
The climate verdict for Colorado Springs
Dryness leads the climate profile for Colorado Springs, Colorado, with 15.9 inches of precipitation a year. NOAA records an annual average of 50°F. At 49/100 (moderate) the climate comfort score falls in the bottom third of the station-mapped U.S. score corpus, exceeding only 18% of scores.
- 50°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 49/100
- comfort score, above 18% of station-mapped location scores
- 15.9"
- annual precipitation · 33" snow
- 158 days
- frost-free growing season
Colorado Springs: NOAA 1991-2020 normals describe a typical year, not a forecast. Method: /methodology.
Normals record plate
Sheet USW00093037 · Colorado Springs, CO 50°F mean · 15.9" precip
TEMP-COOL · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · PRCP-DRY · SWING-MID · COMF-LOW · LOAD-HEAT · STN-1 · BOOK-FULL
- TEMP-COOL 50°F
- RANK-MID #2,882
- PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Mtn Dell Dam
- PRCP-DRY 15.9"
- SWING-MID 41°F
- COMF-LOW 49/100
- LOAD-HEAT 5,889 HDD
- STN-1 USW00093037
- BOOK-FULL 6/6 fields
Nearest mean-temperature peer: Mtn Dell Dam, UT (+ 0 °F mean)
Instrument codes from this station's NOAA 1991–2020 normals, mean temperature, corpus warmth rank, photo-finish peer station, precipitation band, seasonal swing, comfort composite, degree-day load, and field book, not a livability rating.
Mean-temperature neighbourhood
Nationwide NOAA normal poles and nearest peers, not a reprint of every CO station list.
- Hot Rochester, MA 51°F
- Near Taunton, MA 51°F
- Colorado Springs (this station) 50°F
- Cold Boulder, UT 50°F
- Near Mtn Dell Dam, UT 50°F
Climate Living Index · Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs: 44/100 · grade D
Colorado Springs publishes all six Living Index dimensions from NOAA annual/seasonal normals · NOAA daily multivariate normals · NOAA hourly normals.
PlainClimate-derived for Colorado Springs, not an official NOAA rating. Rankings still use Comfort Score 49/100 (separate formula). Breakpoints and limits.
| Dimension | Station value | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Summer moisture balance | 47.2°F mean dew point | 78/100 · B |
| Annual temperature balance | 50.4°F · 17.1° from 67.5°F | 42/100 · D |
| Normal heat + freeze calendar | 161 calendar days | 39/100 · F |
| Snowfall burden | 32.5 inches/year | 36/100 · F |
| Frost-free season | 158 days/year | 32/100 · F |
| Precipitation balance | 15.9 in · 19.1 from 35 in | 32/100 · F |
Colorado Springs · 2026-08-04 · NOAA NCEI Climate Normals · method · Comfort Score method.
Colorado Springs's normals sit in a dry climate class: BSk
Precipitation is low relative to temperature but above true desert thresholds: cold semi-arid steppe (BSk). Class BSk is the Peel et al. (2007) label for this station's monthly mean temperature and precipitation normals: dry (arid or semi-arid), specifically cold semi-arid steppe.
- Köppen code
- BSk
- Group
- Dry (arid or semi-arid)
- Warmest month
- 72.4°F
- Coldest month
- 31.7°F
Source: official public datasets monthly normals (1991–2020) at the city’s primary station. This is a station classification, not a mapped regional consensus.
National standing · heating-led station
Where Colorado Springs sits across the climate record
Three NOAA fields for Colorado Springs's primary station, temperature, precipitation, and seasonal swing, are ranked against every station-mapped normal that carries the same field.
- Annual temperature
- 42nd percentile warmth
- Mid-pack annual mean versus 6,861 station normals.
- Annual precipitation
- Drier than 80%
- Colorado Springs's annual total ranks in the drier third of 6,352 measured normals.
- Seasonal temperature swing
- 39th percentile swing
- Typical seasonal amplitude versus 6,861 complete station-years.
How Colorado Springs compares across U.S. station-mapped locations
Colorado Springs's comfort score vs. all station-mapped locations
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
49 18th percentile score exceeds 18% of 6,189 station-mapped location scores
- 0–10: 0 station-mapped locations (0%). Below this entry.
- 10–20: 0 station-mapped locations (0%). Below this entry.
- 20–30: 96 station-mapped locations (2%). Below this entry.
- 30–40: 280 station-mapped locations (5%). Below this entry.
- 40–50: 1,113 station-mapped locations (18%). This entry sits in this band.
- 50–60: 1,329 station-mapped locations (21%). Above this entry.
- 60–70: 1,236 station-mapped locations (20%). Above this entry.
- 70–80: 650 station-mapped locations (11%). Above this entry.
- 80–90: 921 station-mapped locations (15%). Above this entry.
- 90–100: 564 station-mapped locations (9%). Above this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Colorado Springs's measured station temperature trend
MethodologyAcross 80 complete annual observations from 1943 to 2025, COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP warmed at a fitted rate of 0.18°C per decade. The line shows the fitted change relative to its first year, not raw year-to-year temperatures or a forecast.
- Colorado Springs primary station fitted change +0.18 °C/decade
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45°F (7°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 0.3" | 4.9" | 29.7 | 0.0 |
| February | 47°F (8°C) | 20°F (-7°C) | 33°F (1°C) | 0.3" | 4.6" | 26.5 | 0.0 |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 0.8" | 5.7" | 23.7 | 0.0 |
| April | 61°F (16°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 1.4" | 5.5" | 13.5 | 0.0 |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 44°F (6°C) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.0" | 0.6" | 2.3 | 0.4 |
| June | 82°F (28°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.3" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 5.6 |
| July | 87°F (30°C) | 58°F (15°C) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.1" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 11.0 |
| August | 84°F (29°C) | 57°F (14°C) | 70°F (21°C) | 3.0" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 5.0 |
| September | 77°F (25°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.4" | 0.2" | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| October | 65°F (18°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 51°F (10°C) | 0.8" | 2.5" | 9.6 | 0.0 |
| November | 53°F (12°C) | 26°F (-3°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 0.4" | 4.4" | 24.0 | 0.0 |
| December | 45°F (7°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 0.2" | 4.1" | 29.8 | 0.0 |
The year, day by day
Summer here tops out rather than builds: the warmest normal high is 87°F around July 14, short of 90°F on every date, while 161 dates carry a normal low at or below freezing, the coldest 18°F near December 22.
The freezing stretch
The normal low stays at or below 32°F into April 6, then returns to freezing around October 29, covering 161 dates in all.
Derived from the normal daily minimum. This is a different measure from the 50%-probability frost dates shown elsewhere on this page, which come from NOAA’s frost product.
Where the wet dates fall
The likeliest wet date is August 2, when 43% of years recorded at least a hundredth of an inch. The driest is January 2 at 11%. Summed across the calendar, that is about 88 wet dates a year.
The widest day
June 24 carries the biggest normal gap between afternoon and dawn, 29°F between the normal high and the normal low.
Look up any date
Any date's 1991–2020 normal for Colorado Springs.
Where Colorado Springs Stands Nationally
A drier-than-most normal water year — around 16 inches, below what four out of five ranked stations collect.
Colorado Springs earns one nationally notable standing (outer quintile) against 6,860 NOAA 1991–2020 normals stations, middle-of-the-pack metrics stay silent here.
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
Snow: 4.9"
3.6 days with precipitation
Snow: 4.6"
4.6 days with precipitation
Snow: 5.7"
6.7 days with precipitation
Snow: 5.5"
8.2 days with precipitation
Snow: 0.6"
10.3 days with precipitation
9.8 days with precipitation
12.1 days with precipitation
12.4 days with precipitation
Snow: 0.2"
6.6 days with precipitation
Snow: 2.5"
4.8 days with precipitation
Snow: 4.4"
4.5 days with precipitation
Snow: 4.1"
3.7 days with precipitation
Colorado Springs runs a summer-peaked wet season
52% of Colorado Springs's yearly precipitation falls in June, July and August alone, against the 25% an evenly spread year would give those three months. The wettest month is July at 3.1", on a 40.7°F seasonal spread. Warm-season convection and, across the Southwest, the North American monsoon produce this shape: rain arrives in short heavy bursts during the hottest part of the year rather than as long cool-season soaking.
- Wettest three months: July, August, June, taking 52% of the annual total between them.
- Driest month: December at 0.2".
- Winter share: 5% falls in December, January and February.
Shares are computed from this station's own 1991-2020 monthly precipitation normals. A summer-peaked label means the June-August share reaches 35%; it describes timing across an average year, not any single season, and says nothing about how heavy an individual storm can be.
Colorado Springs is dry, and what does fall arrives gently
Only about 87 days a year record measurable precipitation here, 24% of the calendar, and they carry 15.9" between them. At roughly 0.18 inches on an average wet day, this is not the damp drizzle of a marine climate; it is an arid record in which precipitation is both uncommon and light when it appears.
The wettest month by count is August at about 12 wet days; the driest is January at about 4.
A low per-event average in a dry record is a statement about typical days only. Arid regions can still take a large share of a year's total from a single convective storm, which a normal cannot show.
A wet day is one recording at least 0.01 inches. These are 1991-2020 normals: they describe an average year, not the extremes within it.
Winter brings real snow to Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs averages 32.5 inches of snowfall a year, with March the snowiest month on the normals, spread across roughly 27 days that record measurable snow. That is depth accumulating on the ground, which is why it can exceed the annual precipitation figure: precipitation counts the liquid the snow melts down to, and fresh snow is mostly air.
- Annual snowfall: 32.5 inches of depth.
- Days recording measurable snow: about 27 a year.
- At a rough ten-to-one melt ratio, snow accounts for on the order of 20% of the year's precipitation.
NOAA 1991-2020 normals. The ten-to-one ratio is a convention, not a measurement: real ratios vary with temperature, so treat the share as an order of magnitude rather than an exact split.
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 8
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
May 3
50% probability date
Growing Season
158 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
5,889
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
608
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
Humidity & Wind
Monthly averages from hourly observations
| Month | Humidity | Wind (mph) | Clear Sky % | Overcast % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48% | 8.9 | N/A | N/A |
| February | 43% | 10.1 | 45% | 17% |
| March | 43% | 11.2 | 45% | 20% |
| April | 45% | 11.0 | 49% | 22% |
| May | 47% | 10.4 | 40% | 17% |
| June | 42% | 9.5 | 58% | 6% |
| July | 52% | 8.6 | N/A | N/A |
| August | 49% | 8.6 | 41% | 9% |
| September | 44% | 9.1 | 48% | 9% |
| October | 46% | 8.9 | 49% | 14% |
| November | 45% | 9.0 | N/A | N/A |
| December | 48% | 8.6 | 59% | 14% |
Nationwide similar cities
Other rankable U.S. places outside CO closest to Colorado Springs on two NOAA annual-normal axes (mean temperature and annual precipitation). Chip rows use distinct link sets.
Closest by average temperature
Nearest out-of-state peers by annual mean temperature (50°F here).
- Alcalde, NM 50°F · 0.0°F off
- Beaver Falls, PA 50°F · 0.0°F off
- Brewster, KS 50°F · 0.0°F off
- Crawfordsville, IN 50°F · 0.0°F off
Closest by annual precipitation
Nearest out-of-state peers by annual precipitation (15.9" here), excluding temperature-peer places.
- Roosevelt, AZ 15.9" · 0.0" off
- Judith Gap, MT 15.9" · 0.0" off
- New England, ND 15.9" · 0.0" off
- Bagdad, AZ 15.9" · 0.0" off
Snow and freeze rhythm
When cold and snow define Colorado Springs
heating led · dry · mid swing
Colorado Springs's energy balance leans toward cold weather: 5,889 annual heating degree days against 608 for cooling. Its 40.7°F seasonal range still makes the monthly rows more useful than the annual average alone.
Colorado Springs's frost-free season lasts about 158 days, a middle-length window whose endpoints matter more than the annual average. It describes freeze probability, not year-specific planting conditions.
-
1. Colorado Springs coldest normal
January
The monthly mean of 32°F (0°C) sits near freezing, so cold nights and above-freezing afternoons share the same month.
-
2. Colorado Springs typical freeze period
January through December
The station reports average freezing days from January through December.
-
3. Colorado Springs snow peak
March
Colorado Springs averages 32.5 inches of snow a year, with March the snowiest month on the normals.
Questions about Colorado Springs's climate
How much snow does Colorado Springs get? ▼
How cold does Colorado Springs get in winter? ▼
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Colorado Springs? ▼
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). All figures on this page are from Colorado Springs's primary station: COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP (USW00093037). For informational purposes only.
Place identity: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer places. The 2024 Census Gazetteer identifies the exact name-and-state match as an incorporated place (GEOID 0816000). Match rule for Colorado Springs: exact normalized name + state only, no fuzzy expansion, so nearby differently spelled facilities stay unmatched.
On this page every temperature, precipitation, and derived score for Colorado Springs comes from its primary NOAA station record. No figure on this page is typed in by an editor - each value is rendered from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 1991–2020 normals.