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Weather & Climate in Fort Garland, CO
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Fort Garland has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 65°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 9.0 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 7,936 feet.
Temperature
22°F Jan (-6°C)
65°F Jul (18°C)
| Annual Average | 44.0°F |
| 19% below US avg | |
| January Average | 22°F (-6°C) |
| July Average | 65°F (18°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 7,936 ft (2,419 m) |
| Area | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,121/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 37.4279°N, 105.4350°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Costilla County County |
| Nearest Airport | San Luis Valley Regional/Bergman Field (ALS) 24 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 6.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 96.5 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 0.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | No Rating |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
343 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.3.
| Aug 23, 2011 | 6 km S of Valdez, Colorado | M5.3 | 77 km | 4 km |
| Aug 10, 2005 | 20 km S of Weston, Colorado | M5.0 | 76 km | 5 km |
| Aug 22, 2011 | 9 km SSW of Starkville, Colorado | M4.7 | 90 km | 5 km |
| Sep 5, 2001 | 0 km SE of Cokedale, Colorado | M4.5 | 79 km | 5 km |
| Mar 22, 2004 | 30 km S of Weston, Colorado | M4.4 | 82 km | 5 km |
| Jan 3, 2007 | 8 km SSW of Weston, Colorado | M4.4 | 62 km | 5 km |
| Aug 1, 2004 | 31 km S of Stonewall Gap, Colorado | M4.3 | 68 km | 5 km |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 6 km NNE of Segundo, Colorado | M4.3 | 68 km | 6 km |
| Jul 29, 2009 | 32 km NNE of Cimarron, New Mexico | M4.1 | 88 km | 5 km |
| Jun 19, 2023 | Colorado | M4.1 | 86 km | 6 km |
| Aug 10, 2005 | 20 km SSW of Segundo, Colorado | M4.1 | 76 km | 5 km |
| Sep 4, 2001 | 2 km W of Cokedale, Colorado | M4.0 | 76 km | 5 km |
| Sep 13, 2011 | 20 km S of Sequndo, Colorado | M4.0 | 83 km | 5 km |
| Aug 23, 2011 | 7 km S of Valdez, Colorado | M4.0 | 78 km | 5 km |
| Aug 26, 2023 | 19 km SSW of Weston, Colorado | M4.0 | 68 km | 4 km |
| Feb 6, 2016 | Colorado | M4.0 | 57 km | 2 km |
| Aug 23, 2016 | 18 km SSW of Weston, CO | M3.9 | 66 km | 4 km |
| Sep 16, 2011 | 26 km S of Sequndo, Colorado | M3.9 | 86 km | 5 km |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 5 km N of Sequndo, Colorado | M3.9 | 69 km | 4 km |
| Aug 20, 2015 | 7 km WSW of Weston, Colorado | M3.9 | 58 km | 1 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
65 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 31, 1955 | EF3 | 1 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 4, 1960 | EF2 | 67 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1955 | EF2 | 39 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 17, 1953 | EF2 | 69 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 2017 | EF1 | 63 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2014 | EF1 | 96 km | 8.6 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 2008 | EF1 | 35 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Mar 19, 1995 | EF1 | 39 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 25, 1993 | EF1 | 36 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1983 | EF1 | 48 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1983 | EF1 | 58 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1983 | EF1 | 90 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 13, 1982 | EF1 | 90 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 19, 1982 | EF1 | 57 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1980 | EF1 | 99 km | 19.9 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1980 | EF1 | 33 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1965 | EF1 | 91 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 25, 1956 | EF1 | 37 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Feb 13, 1954 | EF1 | 78 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 17, 2023 | EF0 | 93 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: SPRING CREEK (107,108 acres, 2018).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2018 | SPRING CREEK | 107,108 | 29 km |
| 2002 | PONIL COMPLEX | 89,084 | 90 km |
| 2002 | SPRING | 24,044 | 62 km |
| 2016 | JUNKINS | 19,023 | 83 km |
| 2006 | MATO VEGA | 13,126 | 25 km |
| 2005 | MASON | 11,630 | 88 km |
| 2013 | EAST PEAK | 10,082 | 49 km |
| 1996 | HONDO | 8,258 | 89 km |
| 2021 | HART CANYON RX FY22 | 5,781 | 81 km |
| 2016 | BEULAH HILL | 5,769 | 84 km |
| 2018 | LOOP ROAD RX | 5,688 | 79 km |
| 2008 | WEST FORK | 5,436 | 82 km |
| 2010 | MEDANO | 4,887 | 43 km |
| 2011 | DUCKETT | 4,705 | 94 km |
| 1998 | BEARD | 4,553 | 89 km |
| 2010 | H12 | 4,393 | 57 km |
| 2006 | MAURICIO CANYON | 4,370 | 56 km |
| 2021 | RING RX FY21 | 4,172 | 79 km |
| 2023 | MCCRYSTAL ROCK RX (EAST) FY24 | 4,054 | 75 km |
| 2022 | UNNAMED | 3,643 | 57 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°F (-6°C) | 0.4 in | Driest |
| February | 26°F (-4°C) | 0.4 in | |
| March | 33°F (1°C) | 0.8 in | |
| April | 40°F (5°C) | 0.8 in | |
| May | 50°F (10°C) | 1.2 in | |
| June | 59°F (15°C) | 1.1 in | |
| July | 65°F (18°C) | 2.0 in | Warmest |
| August | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 in | Wettest |
| September | 55°F (13°C) | 1.3 in | |
| October | 44°F (7°C) | 1.0 in | |
| November | 32°F (-0°C) | 0.7 in | |
| December | 22°F (-6°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest |
Fort Garland has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 22°F in December to 65°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.3 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.2") and January the driest (0.4").