Amherst, CO

Full City Profile · Colorado · Phillips County County

2.2 /5.0
C Fair
84 Population 187/sq mi density
49°F Avg Temperature
C
Overall
2.2 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
0.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Amherst experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 17.9 inches. The area receives 30.4 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

27°F Jan (-3°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average48.9°F
9% below US avg
January Average27°F (-3°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)

Geography

Elevation3,691 ft (1,125 m)
Area0.5 sq mi (1.2 km²)
Population Density187/sq mi
Coordinates40.6832°N, 102.1726°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyPhillips County County
Nearest AirportColorado Plains Regional (AKO)
65 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 17.9"
53% below US avg
Snowfall 30.4"
Wettest Month (May) 2.83"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.32"

Air Quality

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score12.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability11.4 / 100
Community Resilience6.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Very Low
Lightning Very Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

2 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.0. Most recent: M3.0 on Apr 16, 2007.

Sep 30, 1990 29 km SE of Hyannis, Nebraska M3.0 138 km
Apr 16, 2007 11 km WSW of Maywood, Nebraska M3.0 121 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

570 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 2 fatalities, 53 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 15, 1990 EF4 99 km 0
Oct 29, 1956 EF4 80 km 0
Aug 8, 2023 EF3 87 km 0
Jul 5, 2000 EF3 45 km 0
May 2, 1991 EF3 30 km 0
Aug 15, 1974 EF3 84 km 0
Jun 6, 1967 EF3 59 km 0
Jun 27, 1960 EF3 27 km 2
Jun 27, 1960 EF3 71 km 0
Jun 5, 1953 EF3 70 km 0
May 23, 2024 EF2 72 km 0
May 19, 2024 EF2 73 km 0
May 26, 2021 EF2 79 km 0
Sep 11, 2019 EF2 66 km 0
Sep 11, 2019 EF2 70 km 0
May 7, 2016 EF2 63 km 0
Mar 28, 2007 EF2 35 km 0
Jun 20, 2003 EF2 80 km 0
Jul 13, 1996 EF2 83 km 0
May 21, 1995 EF2 59 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

16 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: LOGAN (30,076 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 LOGAN 30,076 47 km
2012 UNNAMED 17,990 100 km
2012 KEITH COUNTY COMPLEX 13,526 78 km
2000 DRYWELLS 6,492 95 km
1997 UNNAMED 4,777 70 km
2002 UNNAMED 3,275 85 km
2000 UNNAMED 3,192 93 km
2022 COUNTY ROAD R 2,080 75 km
2018 COUNTY ROAD 56 1,866 34 km
1994 STABLE 1,706 82 km
1989 UNNAMED 1,544 76 km
2002 UNNAMED 1,476 88 km
2000 UNNAMED 1,318 79 km
1990 UNNAMED 1,285 82 km
1994 UNNAMED 1,262 100 km
2006 I 76 1,033 87 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 27°F (-3°C) 0.3 in Coldest, Driest
February 29°F (-1°C) 0.5 in
March 38°F (4°C) 0.9 in
April 46°F (8°C) 1.9 in
May 57°F (14°C) 2.8 in Wettest
June 68°F (20°C) 2.8 in
July 73°F (23°C) 2.8 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 2.4 in
September 63°F (17°C) 1.4 in
October 49°F (9°C) 1.2 in
November 37°F (3°C) 0.5 in
December 28°F (-2°C) 0.4 in

Amherst has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 27°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 17.9 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.8") and January the driest (0.3").

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