Climate Comfort Score
54/100
Moderate
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 45°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
- 45°F
- Avg annual temp
- 54/100
- Comfort score
- 24.1"
- Annual precip
- 139d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Ouray
Ouray, Colorado averages 45°F a year and scores 54/100 on the comfort index - moderate, milder than 27% of U.S. cities.
- 45°F
- average temperature, NOAA 1991-2020 normal
- 54/100
- comfort score, milder than 27% of U.S. cities
- 24.1"
- annual precipitation · 173" snow
- 139 days
- frost-free growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
45°F (7°C)
Avg High
57°F
Avg Low
33°F
Annual Precip
24.1"
Annual Snow
173.4"
Comfort Score
54/100
Moderate
Avg Annual Temperature
45°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
24.1"
Plus 173.4" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Ouray) 54.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Moderate for the Ouray area.
How Ouray compares to every U.S. city
Ouray's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
54 Top 73% higher than 27% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Ouray
MethodologyZooming out from Ouray's own normal, the chart below shows how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has tracked the global mean since 1900 - the most recent decade sits warmer than the 30-year mean shown here.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36°F (2°C) | 16°F (-9°C) | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.8" | 27.7" | 30.8 | 0.0 |
| February | 41°F (5°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.7" | 30.4" | 27.3 | 0.0 |
| March | 47°F (8°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.5" | 27.4" | 25.4 | 0.0 |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 2.5" | 22.6" | 18.4 | 0.0 |
| May | 64°F (18°C) | 38°F (3°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 1.8" | 6.7" | 7.1 | 0.0 |
| June | 76°F (24°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 1.0" | 0.1" | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 66°F (19°C) | 2.7" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| August | 77°F (25°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| September | 71°F (21°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.0" | 0.6" | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| October | 58°F (15°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.2" | 6.1" | 12.4 | 0.0 |
| November | 46°F (8°C) | 24°F (-4°C) | 35°F (2°C) | 1.7" | 18.7" | 24.9 | 0.0 |
| December | 36°F (2°C) | 17°F (-8°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.5" | 33.1" | 30.4 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 1.8"
Snow: 27.7"
10.7 days with precipitation
February 1.7"
Snow: 30.4"
11.6 days with precipitation
March 2.5"
Snow: 27.4"
11.5 days with precipitation
April 2.5"
Snow: 22.6"
12.2 days with precipitation
May 1.8"
Snow: 6.7"
10.7 days with precipitation
June 1.0"
Snow: 0.1"
6.9 days with precipitation
July 2.7"
16.1 days with precipitation
August 2.7"
14.9 days with precipitation
September 2.0"
Snow: 0.6"
11.1 days with precipitation
October 2.2"
Snow: 6.1"
10.0 days with precipitation
November 1.7"
Snow: 18.7"
7.8 days with precipitation
December 1.5"
Snow: 33.1"
11.8 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 4
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
May 18
50% probability date
Growing Season
139 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
7,349
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
130
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Ouray's climate means for you
Ouray runs 45°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 139 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near May 18 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 7,349 heating and 130 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Ouray, CO
Ouray, Colorado runs an annual average of 45°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 57°F to a mean daily low of 33°F, per NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. Drawn from station USC00056205, these thirty-year averages smooth out year-to-year swings into a baseline for what a typical month looks like here.
Beyond temperature, Ouray averages 24.1 inches of precipitation annually, with 173.4 inches typically falling as snow - a real factor for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. The frost-free season averages 139 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near May 18 and the first fall freeze near October 4. Turning to energy use, 7,349 heating degree days and 130 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Ouray scores 54/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. For planning purposes, look to the monthly tables above: shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows, summer brings July-driven heat, and deep winter brings January-driven cold. Treat every figure here as a thirty-year average rather than a forecast - individual years routinely run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than the normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Ouray, CO? ▼
The average annual temperature in Ouray, Colorado is 45°F. The warmest month averages 80°F (27°C) and the coldest averages 16°F (-9°C).
How much rain does Ouray get? ▼
Ouray receives 24.1 inches of precipitation annually, including 173.4 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Ouray? ▼
Ouray has a climate comfort score of 54/100 (Moderate), milder than 27% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Ouray? ▼
Ouray has approximately 139 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around May 18 and the first fall freeze around October 4.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Ouray? ▼
Ouray has 7,349 heating degree days and 130 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Ouray climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00056205 near Ouray.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00056205. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.