Weather & Climate in Sanford, CO

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

Sanford has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 65°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 7.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 29.7 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 7,599 feet.

Temperature

20°F Jan (-7°C) 65°F Jul (18°C)

Annual Average	43.8°F
	19% below US avg
January Average	20°F (-7°C)
July Average	65°F (18°C)
Sunny Days	330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	7,599 ft (2,316 m)
Area	0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)
Population Density	717/sq mi
Coordinates	37.2574°N, 105.9008°W
Timezone	America/Denver
County	Alamosa County County
Nearest Airport	San Luis Valley Regional/Bergman Field (ALS) 12 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 7.8"

80% below US avg

Snowfall 29.7"

Wettest Month (Aug) 1.69"

Driest Month (Feb) 0.24"

Air Quality

AQI Median	41.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	40.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability	93.3 / 100
Community Resilience	26.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Earthquake	Relatively Low
Wildfire	Very Low
Flood	Relatively Low
Hail	Relatively Low
Strong Wind	Very Low
Heat Wave	Very Low
Winter Weather	Relatively Low
Lightning	Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm	Very Low
Drought	Relatively High
Cold Wave	Relatively Low
Landslide	Very Low
Avalanche	Relatively Moderate

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

Earthquake History

353 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	109 km	4 km
Aug 10, 2005	20 km S of Weston, Colorado	M5.0	101 km	5 km
Aug 22, 2011	9 km SSW of Starkville, Colorado	M4.7	122 km	5 km
Sep 5, 2001	0 km SE of Cokedale, Colorado	M4.5	114 km	5 km
Jan 3, 2007	8 km SSW of Weston, Colorado	M4.4	92 km	5 km
Mar 22, 2004	30 km S of Weston, Colorado	M4.4	103 km	5 km
Mar 10, 2023	6 km NNE of Segundo, Colorado	M4.3	104 km	6 km
Aug 1, 2004	31 km S of Stonewall Gap, Colorado	M4.3	83 km	5 km
Jul 12, 2021	5 km E of Capulin, New Mexico	M4.2	137 km	13 km
Aug 10, 2005	20 km SSW of Segundo, Colorado	M4.1	102 km	5 km
Jun 19, 2023	Colorado	M4.1	126 km	6 km
Jul 29, 2009	32 km NNE of Cimarron, New Mexico	M4.1	108 km	5 km
Sep 4, 2001	2 km W of Cokedale, Colorado	M4.0	112 km	5 km
Sep 13, 2011	20 km S of Sequndo, Colorado	M4.0	109 km	5 km
Feb 6, 2016	Colorado	M4.0	86 km	2 km
Aug 23, 2011	7 km S of Valdez, Colorado	M4.0	110 km	5 km
Aug 26, 2023	19 km SSW of Weston, Colorado	M4.0	92 km	4 km
Aug 20, 2015	7 km WSW of Weston, Colorado	M3.9	89 km	1 km
Sep 16, 2011	26 km S of Sequndo, Colorado	M3.9	111 km	5 km
Mar 10, 2023	5 km N of Sequndo, Colorado	M3.9	104 km	4 km

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

Tornado History

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

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Jul 31, 1955	EF3	46 km	0.5 mi	0
Jul 4, 1960	EF2	94 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 10, 1955	EF2	22 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 17, 1953	EF2	25 km	1.0 mi	0
Sep 29, 2014	EF1	90 km	2.3 mi	0
Aug 16, 2008	EF1	44 km	0.3 mi	0
Mar 19, 1995	EF1	19 km	0.1 mi	0
May 25, 1993	EF1	81 km	1.0 mi	0
Jun 16, 1991	EF1	99 km	6.5 mi	0
Jun 22, 1983	EF1	25 km	1.5 mi	0
Jun 10, 1983	EF1	100 km	0.5 mi	0
Jun 19, 1982	EF1	31 km	2.0 mi	0
Jun 10, 1980	EF1	85 km	19.9 mi	0
May 5, 1980	EF1	21 km	2.0 mi	0
Jun 25, 1956	EF1	25 km	0.1 mi	0
May 31, 2021	EF0	9 km	3.5 mi	0
Sep 1, 2018	EF0	45 km	0.3 mi	0
Aug 9, 2018	EF0	98 km	2.3 mi	0
May 22, 2014	EF0	46 km	0.3 mi	0
May 20, 2013	EF0	48 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: SPRING CREEK (107,108 acres, 2018).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2018	SPRING CREEK	107,108	74 km
2002	PONIL COMPLEX	89,084	99 km
2013	WEST FORK COMPLEX - EAST ZONE	34,441	93 km
2002	SPRING	24,044	86 km
2013	WEST FORK COMPLEX	18,775	97 km
2006	MATO VEGA	13,126	68 km
2013	EAST PEAK	10,082	93 km
1996	HONDO	8,258	74 km
2002	MILLION	7,923	76 km
2017	BONITA	7,754	79 km
2017	HONDITO	6,949	73 km
2021	HART CANYON RX FY22	5,781	93 km
2018	LOOP ROAD RX	5,688	86 km
2022	MIDNIGHT	5,293	95 km
2003	ENCEBADO	5,064	100 km
2010	MEDANO	4,887	73 km
2023	ALAMOSA RX UNIT 1 FY24	4,616	93 km
1998	BEARD	4,553	98 km
2010	H12	4,393	74 km
2006	MAURICIO CANYON	4,370	98 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	20°F (-7°C)	0.3 in	Coldest
February	25°F (-4°C)	0.2 in	Driest
March	34°F (1°C)	0.4 in
April	42°F (5°C)	0.4 in
May	50°F (10°C)	0.8 in
June	58°F (15°C)	0.6 in
July	65°F (18°C)	1.3 in	Warmest
August	62°F (16°C)	1.7 in	Wettest
September	55°F (13°C)	1.1 in
October	45°F (7°C)	0.8 in
November	32°F (-0°C)	0.6 in
December	20°F (-7°C)	0.4 in

Sanford has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 20°F in January to 65°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 8.6 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.7") and February the driest (0.2").

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