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Weather & Climate in Orchard City, CO
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Orchard City experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 72°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 12.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 39.7 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 5,385 feet.
Temperature
28°F Jan (-2°C)
72°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 48.8°F |
| 10% below US avg | |
| January Average | 28°F (-2°C) |
| July Average | 72°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5,385 ft (1,641 m) |
| Area | 11.4 sq mi (29.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 277/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.8181°N, 107.9673°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 | 102 km | 1 km |
| May 27, 2000 | 29 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado | M4.4 | 100 km | 10 km |
| Sep 13, 1994 | 17 km N of Sawpit, Colorado | M4.4 | 74 km | 10 km |
| Aug 9, 2001 | 11 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M4.0 | 107 km | 5 km |
| Jan 24, 2013 | 22 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.9 | 105 km | 1 km |
| Feb 10, 2006 | 1 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M3.8 | 97 km | 5 km |
| May 31, 2022 | 37 km ENE of Thompson Springs, Utah | M3.8 | 118 km | 7 km |
| Jul 6, 1999 | 27 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado | M3.7 | 99 km | 2 km |
| Jun 3, 1999 | 28 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.7 | 102 km | 1 km |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 16 km S of Ophir, Colorado | M3.6 | 123 km | 7 km |
| Nov 3, 1994 | 30 km W of Meeker, Colorado | M3.4 | 138 km | 5 km |
| Aug 21, 2012 | 12 km SSW of Gypsum, Colorado | M3.4 | 116 km | 5 km |
| Jan 30, 2017 | 5 km SW of New Castle, Colorado | M3.3 | 87 km | 5 km |
| Apr 3, 2025 | 34 km W of Delta, Colorado | M3.2 | 45 km | 5 km |
| Dec 15, 1997 | 7 km ENE of La Sal, Utah | M3.2 | 117 km | 6 km |
| Feb 1, 2019 | 3 km NW of Glenwood Springs, Colorado | M3.1 | 99 km | 2 km |
| Jul 8, 1993 | 9 km ENE of Aspen, Colorado | M3.1 | 117 km | 5 km |
| Mar 15, 2000 | Colorado | M3.1 | 103 km | -1 km |
| Jun 6, 2002 | 29 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.0 | 97 km | -1 km |
| May 8, 1998 | 15 km E of La Sal, Utah | M3.0 | 111 km | 3 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
16 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 20, 1975 | EF2 | 75 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 2015 | EF1 | 31 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 4, 2005 | EF1 | 96 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| May 6, 2005 | EF1 | 21 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 13, 2004 | EF1 | 39 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Sep 11, 2002 | EF1 | 22 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 8, 2000 | EF1 | 30 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2009 | EF0 | 52 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 2, 2005 | EF0 | 99 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 29, 2005 | EF0 | 57 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 17, 2004 | EF0 | 87 km | 7.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 3, 2002 | EF0 | 99 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2000 | EF0 | 97 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2000 | EF0 | 52 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1998 | EF0 | 61 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 31, 1994 | EF0 | 18 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 | 82 km |
| 2018 | BULL DRAW | 37,178 | 69 km |
| 2002 | BURN CANYON | 30,573 | 93 km |
| 2012 | PINE RIDGE | 13,862 | 57 km |
| 2002 | COAL SEAM | 12,007 | 98 km |
| 1999 | TOMS CYN | 6,030 | 94 km |
| 2012 | SUNRISE MINE | 5,905 | 98 km |
| 1995 | TRIANGLE | 5,688 | 97 km |
| 1996 | HATCHET | 5,685 | 86 km |
| 2000 | CONE MOUNTAIN | 4,708 | 92 km |
| 2004 | CAMPBELL | 4,429 | 68 km |
| 2023 | COWCREEKRXNORTH | 4,147 | 73 km |
| 2023 | LITTLE MESA | 4,048 | 38 km |
| 1989 | RYAN CREEK | 3,843 | 96 km |
| 1987 | BATTLEMENT | 3,839 | 68 km |
| 1994 | WAKE | 3,834 | 26 km |
| 1990 | HORESEFLY | 3,760 | 72 km |
| 2023 | SPRING CREEK | 3,279 | 64 km |
| 2009 | DOMINGUEZ | 3,235 | 55 km |
| 2004 | MCGRUDER | 2,998 | 18 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°F (-2°C) | 0.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 35°F (2°C) | 0.6 in | Driest |
| March | 43°F (6°C) | 0.8 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 0.8 in | |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 0.9 in | |
| June | 70°F (21°C) | 0.6 in | |
| July | 72°F (22°C) | 0.9 in | |
| August | 74°F (23°C) | 1.1 in | Warmest |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 1.1 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 1.2 in | Wettest |
| November | 39°F (4°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.7 in |
Orchard City has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 28°F in January to 74°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 10.0 inches, with October being the wettest month (1.2") and February the driest (0.6").