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Weather & Climate in Montrose, CO
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Montrose experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 75°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 9.3 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 21.5 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 5,860 feet.
Temperature
29°F Jan (-2°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 51.5°F |
| 5% below US avg | |
| January Average | 29°F (-2°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5,860 ft (1,786 m) |
| Area | 17.8 sq mi (46.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,096/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.4688°N, 107.8589°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Ouray County County |
| Nearest Airport | Montrose Regional (MTJ) 3 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 17.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 47.5 / 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 | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
69 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 | 94 km | 1 km |
| May 27, 2000 | 29 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado | M4.4 | 92 km | 10 km |
| Sep 13, 1994 | 17 km N of Sawpit, Colorado | M4.4 | 37 km | 10 km |
| Aug 9, 2001 | 11 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M4.0 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Jan 24, 2013 | 22 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.9 | 100 km | 1 km |
| Feb 10, 2006 | 1 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M3.8 | 130 km | 5 km |
| May 31, 2022 | 37 km ENE of Thompson Springs, Utah | M3.8 | 141 km | 7 km |
| Jul 6, 1999 | 27 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado | M3.7 | 91 km | 2 km |
| Jun 3, 1999 | 28 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.7 | 95 km | 1 km |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 16 km S of Ophir, Colorado | M3.6 | 84 km | 7 km |
| Aug 21, 2012 | 12 km SSW of Gypsum, Colorado | M3.4 | 140 km | 5 km |
| Jan 30, 2017 | 5 km SW of New Castle, Colorado | M3.3 | 122 km | 5 km |
| Apr 3, 2025 | 34 km W of Delta, Colorado | M3.2 | 59 km | 5 km |
| Dec 15, 1997 | 7 km ENE of La Sal, Utah | M3.2 | 115 km | 6 km |
| May 13, 1993 | 19 km SSE of Monticello, Utah | M3.1 | 150 km | -3 km |
| Feb 1, 2019 | 3 km NW of Glenwood Springs, Colorado | M3.1 | 130 km | 2 km |
| Jul 8, 1993 | 9 km ENE of Aspen, Colorado | M3.1 | 130 km | 5 km |
| Mar 15, 2000 | Colorado | M3.1 | 95 km | -1 km |
| Jun 6, 2002 | 29 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.0 | 93 km | -1 km |
| May 8, 1998 | 15 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.0 | 107 km | 3 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
12 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 20, 1975 | EF2 | 96 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 2015 | EF1 | 71 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 4, 2005 | EF1 | 90 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| May 6, 2005 | EF1 | 21 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 13, 2004 | EF1 | 32 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Sep 11, 2002 | EF1 | 35 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 8, 2000 | EF1 | 63 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2009 | EF0 | 90 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 29, 2005 | EF0 | 87 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2000 | EF0 | 87 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1998 | EF0 | 91 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 31, 1994 | EF0 | 30 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: BULL DRAW (37,178 acres, 2018).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2018 | BULL DRAW | 37,178 | 70 km |
| 2002 | BURN CANYON | 30,573 | 68 km |
| 2012 | PINE RIDGE | 13,862 | 96 km |
| 1986 | UNNAMED | 6,205 | 89 km |
| 2012 | SUNRISE MINE | 5,905 | 99 km |
| 2000 | CONE MOUNTAIN | 4,708 | 100 km |
| 2004 | CAMPBELL | 4,429 | 62 km |
| 2023 | COWCREEKRXNORTH | 4,147 | 84 km |
| 2023 | LITTLE MESA | 4,048 | 45 km |
| 1994 | WAKE | 3,834 | 47 km |
| 1990 | HORESEFLY | 3,760 | 45 km |
| 1996 | DISAPPOINTMENT | 3,642 | 97 km |
| 2009 | DOMINGUEZ | 3,235 | 69 km |
| 2004 | MCGRUDER | 2,998 | 54 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 2,758 | 48 km |
| 2000 | HAMILTON | 2,704 | 79 km |
| 2010 | BEAVER | 2,496 | 48 km |
| 2002 | BUCKTAIL | 2,282 | 51 km |
| 2010 | DOMINGUEZ | 2,104 | 71 km |
| 2001 | BULL HILL | 2,058 | 90 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°F (-2°C) | 0.7 in | |
| February | 32°F (-0°C) | 0.5 in | Driest |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 0.8 in | |
| April | 46°F (8°C) | 0.8 in | |
| May | 56°F (13°C) | 1.0 in | |
| June | 65°F (19°C) | 0.7 in | |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 1.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 69°F (21°C) | 1.4 in | Wettest |
| September | 61°F (16°C) | 1.3 in | |
| October | 49°F (10°C) | 1.3 in | |
| November | 36°F (2°C) | 1.0 in | |
| December | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.8 in | Coldest |
Montrose has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 27°F in December to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 11.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.4") and February the driest (0.5").