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Weather & Climate in Gunnison, CO
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gunnison has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 38°F (3°C). Winters average 10°F in January while summers reach 62°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 10.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 45.5 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 47. 66% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 7,710 feet.
Temperature
10°F Jan (-12°C)
62°F Jul (17°C)
| Annual Average | 37.7°F |
| 30% below US avg | |
| January Average | 10°F (-12°C) |
| July Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 7,710 ft (2,350 m) |
| Area | 4.9 sq mi (12.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,384/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.5480°N, 106.9246°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Chaffee County County |
| Nearest Airport | Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional (GUC) 1 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 47.0 |
| Rating | Good |
| Good Days % | 66.4% |
| Unhealthy Days | 0 |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 51.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 18.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 54.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
48 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.4.
| Sep 13, 1994 | 17 km N of Sawpit, Colorado | M4.4 | 102 km | 10 km |
| Aug 9, 2001 | 11 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M4.0 | 130 km | 5 km |
| Feb 10, 2006 | 1 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M3.8 | 124 km | 5 km |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 16 km S of Ophir, Colorado | M3.6 | 123 km | 7 km |
| May 10, 1991 | 24 km SSE of South Fork, Colorado | M3.4 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Aug 21, 2012 | 12 km SSW of Gypsum, Colorado | M3.4 | 110 km | 5 km |
| Jan 30, 2017 | 5 km SW of New Castle, Colorado | M3.3 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Apr 3, 2025 | 34 km W of Delta, Colorado | M3.2 | 135 km | 5 km |
| Jan 26, 2008 | 12 km NE of Cotopaxi, Colorado | M3.1 | 118 km | 5 km |
| Jul 8, 1993 | 9 km ENE of Aspen, Colorado | M3.1 | 78 km | 5 km |
| Feb 1, 2019 | 3 km NW of Glenwood Springs, Colorado | M3.1 | 120 km | 2 km |
| Sep 12, 1990 | 13 km NW of Silverthorne, Colorado | M3.0 | 142 km | 5 km |
| Feb 26, 2008 | 29 km WNW of Westcreek, Colorado | M2.9 | 150 km | 2 km |
| Jan 1, 2003 | 6 km SE of Aspen, Colorado | M2.9 | 69 km | 5 km |
| May 2, 2013 | 2 km E of Loghill Village, Colorado | M2.9 | 82 km | 4 km |
| Jun 18, 2002 | 39 km SW of Creede, Colorado | M2.9 | 110 km | 5 km |
| Oct 18, 2024 | 6 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M2.9 | 127 km | 5 km |
| Dec 5, 2000 | 10 km NNW of Redstone, Colorado | M2.9 | 86 km | 5 km |
| May 1, 2009 | 21 km NW of Dotsero, Colorado | M2.9 | 141 km | 5 km |
| Jan 20, 2017 | 4 km NW of Redstone, Colorado | M2.8 | 79 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
9 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Oct 10, 1997 | EF2 | 97 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1975 | EF2 | 75 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 6, 2005 | EF1 | 92 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 13, 2004 | EF1 | 57 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1991 | EF1 | 81 km | 6.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1980 | EF1 | 85 km | 19.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 2018 | EF0 | 93 km | 0.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 1992 | EF0 | 87 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1991 | EF0 | 80 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
9 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: PAPOOSE (46,991 acres, 2013).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2013 | PAPOOSE | 46,991 | 98 km |
| 2018 | WESTON PASS | 13,169 | 95 km |
| 2018 | LAKE CHRISTINE | 12,506 | 97 km |
| 2019 | DECKER | 9,875 | 82 km |
| 1994 | WAKE | 3,834 | 74 km |
| 2004 | MCGRUDER | 2,998 | 91 km |
| 2023 | THREEMILE CREEK RX | 1,863 | 68 km |
| 2023 | LOWLINE | 1,855 | 23 km |
| 2002 | WILEY RIDG | 1,396 | 9 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°F (-12°C) | 1.1 in | Coldest |
| February | 17°F (-9°C) | 0.9 in | |
| March | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.9 in | |
| April | 37°F (3°C) | 0.8 in | Driest |
| May | 47°F (8°C) | 0.9 in | |
| June | 55°F (13°C) | 0.8 in | |
| July | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 in | Warmest |
| August | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 in | Wettest |
| September | 52°F (11°C) | 1.3 in | |
| October | 41°F (5°C) | 0.9 in | |
| November | 28°F (-2°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 14°F (-10°C) | 1.1 in |
Gunnison has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 10°F in January to 62°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.9 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.8") and April the driest (0.8").