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Weather & Climate in Pitkin, CO
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Pitkin has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 35°F (1°C). Winters average 10°F in January while summers reach 57°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 18.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 19 / among the cleanest air in the country. 96% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 9,230 feet.
Temperature
10°F Jan (-12°C)
57°F Jul (14°C)
| Annual Average | 34.5°F |
| 36% below US avg | |
| January Average | 10°F (-12°C) |
| July Average | 57°F (14°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 9,230 ft (2,813 m) |
| Area | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 488/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.6087°N, 106.5149°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Chaffee County County |
| Nearest Airport | Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional (GUC) 23 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 19.0 |
| Rating | Good |
| Good Days % | 95.7% |
| Unhealthy Days | 0 |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 51.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 18.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 54.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
51 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.4.
| Sep 13, 1994 | 17 km N of Sawpit, Colorado | M4.4 | 137 km | 10 km |
| Aug 9, 2001 | 11 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M4.0 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Feb 10, 2006 | 1 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M3.8 | 135 km | 5 km |
| Dec 23, 1995 | 7 km WNW of Rock Creek Park, Colorado | M3.5 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Aug 21, 2012 | 12 km SSW of Gypsum, Colorado | M3.4 | 111 km | 5 km |
| May 10, 1991 | 24 km SSE of South Fork, Colorado | M3.4 | 128 km | 5 km |
| Feb 28, 2019 | 22 km NNW of Blanca, Colorado | M3.4 | 137 km | 5 km |
| Jan 30, 2017 | 5 km SW of New Castle, Colorado | M3.3 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Feb 28, 2019 | 22 km N of Blanca, Colorado | M3.3 | 140 km | 6 km |
| Jan 18, 1997 | 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado | M3.3 | 134 km | 5 km |
| Jul 8, 1993 | 9 km ENE of Aspen, Colorado | M3.1 | 71 km | 5 km |
| Feb 1, 2019 | 3 km NW of Glenwood Springs, Colorado | M3.1 | 129 km | 2 km |
| Jan 26, 2008 | 12 km NE of Cotopaxi, Colorado | M3.1 | 83 km | 5 km |
| Jul 22, 2001 | 6 km WNW of Woodland Park, Colorado | M3.1 | 129 km | 5 km |
| Sep 12, 1990 | 13 km NW of Silverthorne, Colorado | M3.0 | 124 km | 5 km |
| Feb 26, 2008 | 29 km WNW of Westcreek, Colorado | M2.9 | 117 km | 2 km |
| Oct 18, 2024 | 6 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado | M2.9 | 137 km | 5 km |
| Dec 5, 2000 | 10 km NNW of Redstone, Colorado | M2.9 | 100 km | 5 km |
| May 1, 2009 | 21 km NW of Dotsero, Colorado | M2.9 | 145 km | 5 km |
| May 2, 2013 | 2 km E of Loghill Village, Colorado | M2.9 | 117 km | 4 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
14 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 13, 1977 | EF2 | 88 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1975 | EF2 | 89 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2009 | EF1 | 95 km | 9.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 23, 2008 | EF1 | 95 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| May 13, 2004 | EF1 | 92 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1991 | EF1 | 62 km | 6.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1980 | EF1 | 78 km | 19.9 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 2021 | EF0 | 94 km | 0.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 23, 2018 | EF0 | 77 km | 0.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 2018 | EF0 | 61 km | 0.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 24, 2005 | EF0 | 99 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2000 | EF0 | 96 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 1992 | EF0 | 68 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1991 | EF0 | 46 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
9 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: HAYDEN PASS (17,977 acres, 2016).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2016 | HAYDEN PASS | 17,977 | 74 km |
| 2018 | WESTON PASS | 13,169 | 63 km |
| 2019 | DECKER | 9,875 | 49 km |
| 2011 | DUCKETT | 4,705 | 84 km |
| 2002 | IRON MOUNTAIN | 3,955 | 96 km |
| 2021 | SYLVAN | 3,480 | 96 km |
| 2023 | THREEMILE CREEK RX | 1,863 | 32 km |
| 2023 | LOWLINE | 1,855 | 50 km |
| 2002 | WILEY RIDG | 1,396 | 42 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°F (-12°C) | 1.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 15°F (-9°C) | 1.5 in | |
| March | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.9 in | |
| April | 29°F (-1°C) | 1.3 in | |
| May | 40°F (5°C) | 1.3 in | |
| June | 49°F (10°C) | 1.2 in | Driest |
| July | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 in | Warmest |
| August | 54°F (12°C) | 2.3 in | Wettest |
| September | 48°F (9°C) | 1.7 in | |
| October | 38°F (3°C) | 1.3 in | |
| November | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.5 in | |
| December | 14°F (-10°C) | 1.9 in |
Pitkin has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 10°F in January to 57°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 19.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.3") and June the driest (1.2").