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Weather & Climate in Hotchkiss, CO
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Hotchkiss experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 74°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 14.3 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 41.4 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 5,330 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 50.6°F |
| 6% below US avg | |
| January Average | 27°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5,330 ft (1,625 m) |
| Area | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,233/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.7990°N, 107.7134°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Delta County County |
| Nearest Airport | Montrose Regional (MTJ) 22 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 51.3 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 60.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 27.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
74 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.5.
| Mar 4, 2019 | 29 km E of La Sal, Utah | M4.5 | 119 km | 1 km |
| Sep 13, 1994 | 17 km N of Sawpit, Colorado | M4.4 | 76 km | 10 km |
| May 27, 2000 | 29 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado | M4.4 | 117 km | 10 km |
| Aug 9, 2001 | 11 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M4.0 | 100 km | 5 km |
| Jan 24, 2013 | 22 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.9 | 123 km | 1 km |
| Feb 10, 2006 | 1 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M3.8 | 91 km | 5 km |
| May 31, 2022 | 37 km ENE of Thompson Springs, Utah | M3.8 | 140 km | 7 km |
| Jul 6, 1999 | 27 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado | M3.7 | 117 km | 2 km |
| Jun 3, 1999 | 28 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.7 | 120 km | 1 km |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 16 km S of Ophir, Colorado | M3.6 | 121 km | 7 km |
| Aug 21, 2012 | 12 km SSW of Gypsum, Colorado | M3.4 | 103 km | 5 km |
| Nov 3, 1994 | 30 km W of Meeker, Colorado | M3.4 | 146 km | 5 km |
| Jan 30, 2017 | 5 km SW of New Castle, Colorado | M3.3 | 83 km | 5 km |
| Apr 3, 2025 | 34 km W of Delta, Colorado | M3.2 | 66 km | 5 km |
| Dec 15, 1997 | 7 km ENE of La Sal, Utah | M3.2 | 137 km | 6 km |
| Jul 8, 1993 | 9 km ENE of Aspen, Colorado | M3.1 | 99 km | 5 km |
| Feb 1, 2019 | 3 km NW of Glenwood Springs, Colorado | M3.1 | 92 km | 2 km |
| Mar 15, 2000 | Colorado | M3.1 | 120 km | -1 km |
| Jun 6, 2002 | 29 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.0 | 116 km | -1 km |
| May 8, 1998 | 15 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.0 | 130 km | 3 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
11 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 20, 1975 | EF2 | 60 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 2015 | EF1 | 46 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 6, 2005 | EF1 | 30 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 13, 2004 | EF1 | 21 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Sep 11, 2002 | EF1 | 40 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 8, 2000 | EF1 | 51 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2009 | EF0 | 69 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 29, 2005 | EF0 | 78 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2000 | EF0 | 72 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1998 | EF0 | 82 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 31, 1994 | EF0 | 34 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: PINE GULCH (138,141 acres, 2020).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2020 | PINE GULCH | 138,141 | 98 km |
| 2018 | BULL DRAW | 37,178 | 88 km |
| 2012 | PINE RIDGE | 13,862 | 73 km |
| 2018 | LAKE CHRISTINE | 12,506 | 90 km |
| 2002 | COAL SEAM | 12,007 | 91 km |
| 2004 | CAMPBELL | 4,429 | 85 km |
| 2023 | COWCREEKRXNORTH | 4,147 | 94 km |
| 2023 | LITTLE MESA | 4,048 | 57 km |
| 1987 | BATTLEMENT | 3,839 | 74 km |
| 1994 | WAKE | 3,834 | 8 km |
| 1990 | HORESEFLY | 3,760 | 81 km |
| 2023 | SPRING CREEK | 3,279 | 71 km |
| 2009 | DOMINGUEZ | 3,235 | 76 km |
| 2004 | MCGRUDER | 2,998 | 20 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 2,758 | 69 km |
| 2018 | CACHE CREEK | 2,690 | 69 km |
| 2002 | MIRACLE COMPLEX | 2,580 | 98 km |
| 2010 | BEAVER | 2,496 | 86 km |
| 2002 | BUCKTAIL | 2,282 | 79 km |
| 2010 | DOMINGUEZ | 2,104 | 77 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.9 in | Coldest |
| February | 32°F (-0°C) | 0.8 in | |
| March | 40°F (5°C) | 0.9 in | |
| April | 48°F (9°C) | 1.0 in | |
| May | 57°F (14°C) | 1.0 in | |
| June | 67°F (19°C) | 0.7 in | Driest |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 1.1 in | Warmest |
| August | 71°F (22°C) | 1.2 in | |
| September | 62°F (17°C) | 1.3 in | |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 1.3 in | Wettest |
| November | 37°F (3°C) | 1.1 in | |
| December | 28°F (-2°C) | 0.9 in |
Hotchkiss has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 27°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.2 inches, with October being the wettest month (1.3") and June the driest (0.7").