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Weather & Climate in New Castle, CO
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
New Castle experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 70°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 12.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 26.8 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 5,825 feet.
Temperature
24°F Jan (-5°C)
70°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 46.4°F |
| 14% below US avg | |
| January Average | 24°F (-5°C) |
| July Average | 70°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5,825 ft (1,775 m) |
| Area | 2.7 sq mi (7.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,951/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 39.5776°N, 107.5265°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Garfield County County |
| Nearest Airport | Eagle County Regional (EGE) 33 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 64.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 15.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 12.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
80 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.5.
| Mar 20, 1995 | 10 km NNW of Rangely, Colorado | M4.5 | 132 km | -3 km |
| Jan 31, 2002 | 28 km SSW of Craig, Colorado | M4.3 | 80 km | 5 km |
| May 20, 1995 | 434km E of Wendover, Utah | M4.1 | 140 km | 4 km |
| Aug 9, 2001 | 11 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M4.0 | 16 km | 5 km |
| Feb 10, 2006 | 1 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M3.8 | 8 km | 5 km |
| Apr 22, 2017 | 4 km NW of Rangely, Colorado | M3.8 | 127 km | 7 km |
| Aug 18, 2009 | 19 km N of Craig, Colorado | M3.7 | 124 km | 5 km |
| Apr 20, 2017 | 24 km NE of Maybell, Colorado | M3.5 | 126 km | 13 km |
| Jun 6, 2011 | 17 km NNW of Oak Creek, Colorado | M3.5 | 103 km | 5 km |
| May 13, 1993 | 10 km NW of Rangely, Colorado | M3.5 | 134 km | -3 km |
| Dec 10, 1999 | 11 km NE of Dinosaur, Colorado | M3.5 | 143 km | 8 km |
| Apr 10, 2011 | 12 km N of Oak Creek, Colorado | M3.4 | 103 km | 5 km |
| Aug 21, 2012 | 12 km SSW of Gypsum, Colorado | M3.4 | 47 km | 5 km |
| Nov 3, 1994 | 30 km W of Meeker, Colorado | M3.4 | 82 km | 5 km |
| Jan 30, 2017 | 5 km SW of New Castle, Colorado | M3.3 | 7 km | 5 km |
| May 3, 2017 | 4 km NW of Rangely, Colorado | M3.3 | 127 km | 7 km |
| Apr 3, 2025 | 34 km W of Delta, Colorado | M3.2 | 126 km | 5 km |
| Apr 1, 1995 | 13 km S of Dinosaur, Colorado | M3.2 | 143 km | 0 km |
| Feb 1, 2019 | 3 km NW of Glenwood Springs, Colorado | M3.1 | 15 km | 2 km |
| Sep 2, 2024 | 21 km NW of Steamboat Springs, Colorado | M3.1 | 123 km | 2 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
10 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 20, 1975 | EF2 | 51 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 2015 | EF1 | 75 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 21, 2006 | EF1 | 70 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 8, 2000 | EF1 | 97 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 6, 1974 | EF1 | 61 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1957 | EF1 | 61 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2009 | EF0 | 81 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 30, 2004 | EF0 | 63 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2000 | EF0 | 96 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 20, 1986 | EF0 | 84 km | 0.5 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 | 89 km |
| 2020 | GRIZZLY CREEK | 30,705 | 29 km |
| 2002 | BIG FISH | 17,273 | 53 km |
| 2012 | PINE RIDGE | 13,862 | 77 km |
| 2018 | LAKE CHRISTINE | 12,506 | 46 km |
| 2002 | COAL SEAM | 12,007 | 14 km |
| 2002 | SPRING CREEK | 10,552 | 14 km |
| 2004 | GREASEWOOD WFU | 6,963 | 72 km |
| 2018 | INDIAN VALLEY | 6,376 | 89 km |
| 2002 | LOST LAKES | 5,888 | 64 km |
| 2018 | CABIN LAKE | 5,765 | 38 km |
| 1996 | HATCHET | 5,685 | 99 km |
| 2016 | LOST SOLAR | 5,141 | 36 km |
| 2021 | MUDDY SLIDE | 4,372 | 91 km |
| 2002 | NORTH BARCUS | 4,042 | 95 km |
| 1987 | BATTLEMENT | 3,839 | 44 km |
| 1994 | WAKE | 3,834 | 80 km |
| 2000 | SCANDARD | 3,617 | 63 km |
| 2021 | SYLVAN | 3,480 | 70 km |
| 2020 | FAWN CREEK | 3,399 | 77 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°F (-5°C) | 1.1 in | Coldest |
| February | 28°F (-2°C) | 1.1 in | Driest |
| March | 36°F (2°C) | 1.3 in | |
| April | 43°F (6°C) | 1.3 in | |
| May | 52°F (11°C) | 1.4 in | |
| June | 62°F (16°C) | 1.1 in | |
| July | 70°F (21°C) | 1.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 66°F (19°C) | 1.4 in | |
| September | 58°F (14°C) | 1.4 in | |
| October | 47°F (8°C) | 1.5 in | Wettest |
| November | 34°F (1°C) | 1.2 in | |
| December | 24°F (-5°C) | 1.4 in |
New Castle has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 24°F in January to 70°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 15.4 inches, with October being the wettest month (1.5") and February the driest (1.1").