Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Starkville experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 71°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 17.2 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 48.1 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 6,355 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-0°C)71°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average
49.8°F
8% below US avg
January Average
31°F (-0°C)
July Average
71°F (21°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
6,355 ft (1,937 m)
Area
0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Population Density
1,343/sq mi
Coordinates
37.1168°N, 104.5233°W
Timezone
America/Denver
County
Las Animas County County
Nearest Airport
San Luis Valley Regional/Bergman Field (ALS) 77 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall17.2"
55% below US avg
Snowfall48.1"
Wettest Month (Jul)2.80"
Driest Month (Dec)0.39"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
23.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
58.0 / 100
Community Resilience
11.4 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Volcano
No Rating
Avalanche
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
338 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
17 km
4 km
Aug 10, 2005
20 km S of Weston, Colorado
M5.0
33 km
5 km
Aug 22, 2011
9 km SSW of Starkville, Colorado
M4.7
10 km
5 km
Sep 5, 2001
0 km SE of Cokedale, Colorado
M4.5
9 km
5 km
Mar 22, 2004
30 km S of Weston, Colorado
M4.4
41 km
5 km
Jan 3, 2007
8 km SSW of Weston, Colorado
M4.4
33 km
5 km
Mar 10, 2023
6 km NNE of Segundo, Colorado
M4.3
20 km
6 km
Aug 1, 2004
31 km S of Stonewall Gap, Colorado
M4.3
58 km
5 km
Jun 19, 2023
Colorado
M4.1
22 km
6 km
Aug 10, 2005
20 km SSW of Segundo, Colorado
M4.1
32 km
5 km
Jul 29, 2009
32 km NNE of Cimarron, New Mexico
M4.1
45 km
5 km
Feb 6, 2016
Colorado
M4.0
39 km
2 km
Aug 23, 2011
7 km S of Valdez, Colorado
M4.0
17 km
5 km
Aug 26, 2023
19 km SSW of Weston, Colorado
M4.0
40 km
4 km
Sep 13, 2011
20 km S of Sequndo, Colorado
M4.0
28 km
5 km
Sep 4, 2001
2 km W of Cokedale, Colorado
M4.0
12 km
5 km
Mar 10, 2023
5 km N of Sequndo, Colorado
M3.9
19 km
4 km
Sep 16, 2011
26 km S of Sequndo, Colorado
M3.9
32 km
5 km
Aug 20, 2015
7 km WSW of Weston, Colorado
M3.9
35 km
1 km
Aug 23, 2016
18 km SSW of Weston, CO
M3.9
40 km
4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
69 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 fatality, 51 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 29, 1964
EF3
65 km
3.0 mi
1
Jul 31, 1955
EF3
88 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 25, 1996
EF2
77 km
2.0 mi
0
Jul 10, 1978
EF2
61 km
0.3 mi
0
May 8, 2017
EF1
99 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 6, 2014
EF1
11 km
8.6 mi
0
Jun 6, 2014
EF1
32 km
1.4 mi
0
Jun 7, 1998
EF1
91 km
3.0 mi
0
May 25, 1993
EF1
60 km
1.0 mi
0
Aug 17, 1992
EF1
73 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 10, 1983
EF1
36 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 10, 1983
EF1
4 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 19, 1980
EF1
87 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 19, 1980
EF1
88 km
6.4 mi
0
May 15, 1979
EF1
82 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 1, 1977
EF1
80 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1965
EF1
5 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 5, 1961
EF1
94 km
5.7 mi
0
Jun 17, 2023
EF0
67 km
2.0 mi
0
May 28, 2021
EF0
71 km
0.6 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
73 km
2002
PONIL COMPLEX
89,084
67 km
2008
BRIDGER
46,612
84 km
2011
BEAR SPRINGS CALLIE MARIE
36,863
75 km
2018
UTE PARK
30,177
79 km
2011
TRACK
28,893
19 km
2006
CASA
27,452
86 km
2002
SPRING
24,044
42 km
2005
GLADSTONE
16,794
97 km
2006
MATO VEGA
13,126
86 km
1996
FARLEY
10,456
99 km
1996
CANYON
10,233
100 km
2013
EAST PEAK
10,082
47 km
2011
CALLIE MARIE
9,393
93 km
1988
UNNAMED
8,454
93 km
2002
JAMES AND JOHN
7,190
13 km
2011
BEAR
6,585
27 km
2011
PURGATOIRE FIRE
6,233
46 km
2021
HART CANYON RX FY22
5,781
61 km
2018
LOOP ROAD RX
5,688
70 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
31°F (-0°C)
0.4 in
February
32°F (0°C)
0.4 in
March
38°F (3°C)
0.7 in
April
45°F (7°C)
0.9 in
May
54°F (12°C)
1.9 in
June
62°F (17°C)
1.6 in
July
71°F (21°C)
2.8 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
65°F (18°C)
2.8 in
September
59°F (15°C)
1.3 in
October
50°F (10°C)
0.9 in
November
38°F (4°C)
0.7 in
December
31°F (-0°C)
0.4 in
Coldest, Driest
Starkville has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 31°F in December to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.7 inches, with July being the wettest month (2.8") and December the driest (0.4").