Weather & Climate in Monte Vista, CO

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Monte Vista has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (5°C). Winters average 15°F in January while summers reach 63°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 9.2 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 35.4 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 7,664 feet.

Temperature

15°F Jan (-9°C) 63°F Jul (17°C)

Annual Average	40.4°F
	25% below US avg
January Average	15°F (-9°C)
July Average	63°F (17°C)
Sunny Days	330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	7,664 ft (2,336 m)
Area	2.6 sq mi (6.8 km²)
Population Density	1,583/sq mi
Coordinates	37.5785°N, 106.1499°W
Timezone	America/Denver
County	Rio Grande County County
Nearest Airport	San Luis Valley Regional/Bergman Field (ALS) 18 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 9.2"

76% below US avg

Snowfall 35.4"

Wettest Month (Aug) 1.77"

Driest Month (Feb) 0.24"

Air Quality

AQI Median	41.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively Low
Risk Score	45.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability	91.5 / 100
Community Resilience	7.4 / 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 High
Cold Wave	Relatively Low
Landslide	Relatively Moderate
Avalanche	Relatively High

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

326 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	140 km	4 km
Aug 10, 2005	20 km S of Weston, Colorado	M5.0	136 km	5 km
Sep 5, 2001	0 km SE of Cokedale, Colorado	M4.5	144 km	5 km
Mar 22, 2004	30 km S of Weston, Colorado	M4.4	140 km	5 km
Jan 3, 2007	8 km SSW of Weston, Colorado	M4.4	125 km	5 km
Aug 1, 2004	31 km S of Stonewall Gap, Colorado	M4.3	121 km	5 km
Mar 10, 2023	6 km NNE of Segundo, Colorado	M4.3	133 km	6 km
Jul 29, 2009	32 km NNE of Cimarron, New Mexico	M4.1	146 km	5 km
Aug 10, 2005	20 km SSW of Segundo, Colorado	M4.1	137 km	5 km
Sep 4, 2001	2 km W of Cokedale, Colorado	M4.0	141 km	5 km
Sep 13, 2011	20 km S of Sequndo, Colorado	M4.0	144 km	5 km
Aug 23, 2011	7 km S of Valdez, Colorado	M4.0	142 km	5 km
Aug 26, 2023	19 km SSW of Weston, Colorado	M4.0	127 km	4 km
Feb 6, 2016	Colorado	M4.0	119 km	2 km
Aug 20, 2015	7 km WSW of Weston, Colorado	M3.9	121 km	1 km
Mar 10, 2023	5 km N of Sequndo, Colorado	M3.9	134 km	4 km
Sep 16, 2011	26 km S of Sequndo, Colorado	M3.9	147 km	5 km
Aug 23, 2016	18 km SSW of Weston, CO	M3.9	125 km	4 km
Sep 13, 2003	33 km S of Weston, Colorado	M3.8	138 km	5 km
Mar 20, 2015	25 km S of Sequndo, Colorado	M3.8	146 km	5 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

46 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Jul 31, 1955	EF3	66 km	0.5 mi	0
Oct 10, 1997	EF2	69 km	3.0 mi	0
Jul 4, 1960	EF2	78 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 10, 1955	EF2	29 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 17, 1953	EF2	53 km	1.0 mi	0
Sep 29, 2014	EF1	95 km	2.3 mi	0
Aug 16, 2008	EF1	37 km	0.3 mi	0
Mar 19, 1995	EF1	29 km	0.1 mi	0
May 25, 1993	EF1	99 km	1.0 mi	0
Jun 16, 1991	EF1	60 km	6.5 mi	0
Jun 22, 1983	EF1	19 km	1.5 mi	0
Jun 19, 1982	EF1	11 km	2.0 mi	0
Jun 10, 1980	EF1	43 km	19.9 mi	0
May 5, 1980	EF1	60 km	2.0 mi	0
Jun 25, 1956	EF1	29 km	0.1 mi	0
Feb 13, 1954	EF1	86 km	0.5 mi	0
May 31, 2021	EF0	41 km	3.5 mi	0
Jul 22, 2019	EF0	92 km	0.5 mi	0
Sep 1, 2018	EF0	87 km	0.3 mi	0
May 22, 2014	EF0	47 km	0.3 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	89 km
2013	PAPOOSE	46,991	88 km
2013	WEST FORK COMPLEX - EAST ZONE	34,441	61 km
2013	WEST FORK COMPLEX	18,775	70 km
2016	HAYDEN PASS	17,977	87 km
1996	ARCHULETA	15,613	100 km
2006	MATO VEGA	13,126	77 km
2019	DECKER	9,875	97 km
2002	MILLION	7,923	41 km
2010	MEDANO	4,887	66 km
2011	DUCKETT	4,705	87 km
2022	UNNAMED	3,643	90 km
2023	QUARTZ RIDGE	2,584	58 km
2019	G18	2,264	57 km
2000	SAND	1,911	57 km
1989	MV BROWN	1,476	12 km
2021	MARTINEZ CANYON RX FY21	1,442	99 km
2013	UNNAMED	1,327	61 km
2005	RX	1,203	79 km
2005	RIO BLANCO WFU	1,083	81 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	15°F (-9°C)	0.3 in	Coldest
February	23°F (-5°C)	0.2 in	Driest
March	33°F (1°C)	0.6 in
April	41°F (5°C)	0.6 in
May	50°F (10°C)	0.8 in
June	58°F (14°C)	0.7 in
July	63°F (17°C)	1.4 in	Warmest
August	61°F (16°C)	1.8 in	Wettest
September	55°F (13°C)	1.1 in
October	45°F (7°C)	0.8 in
November	31°F (-0°C)	0.6 in
December	20°F (-7°C)	0.4 in

Monte Vista has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 15°F in January to 63°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.3 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.8") and February the driest (0.2").

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