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Weather & Climate in Ward, CO

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

Ward has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 35°F (2°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 55°F in July. The area gets 275 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 33.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 9,506 feet.

Temperature

20°F Jan (-7°C) 55°F Jul (13°C)
Annual Average35.2°F
35% below US avg
January Average20°F (-7°C)
July Average55°F (13°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation9,506 ft (2,897 m)
Area0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)
Population Density165/sq mi
Coordinates40.0730°N, 105.5148°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyBoulder County County
Nearest AirportNorthern Colorado Regional (FNL)
37 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 33.9"
11% below US avg
Wettest Month (Apr) 2.68"
Driest Month (Oct) 1.46"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score90.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability11.4 / 100
Community Resilience91.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively High
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Very High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

42 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.0.

Dec 25, 1994 9 km NE of Larkspur, Colorado M4.0 106 km 10 km
Jun 6, 2011 17 km NNW of Oak Creek, Colorado M3.5 134 km 5 km
Apr 10, 2011 12 km N of Oak Creek, Colorado M3.4 126 km 5 km
Aug 21, 2012 12 km SSW of Gypsum, Colorado M3.4 139 km 5 km
Jan 18, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M3.3 114 km 5 km
Jun 1, 2014 9 km NNW of Kersey, Colorado M3.2 89 km 1 km
Jul 8, 1993 9 km ENE of Aspen, Colorado M3.1 139 km 5 km
Sep 2, 2024 21 km NW of Steamboat Springs, Colorado M3.1 141 km 2 km
Jul 22, 2001 6 km WNW of Woodland Park, Colorado M3.1 122 km 5 km
Feb 7, 2000 19 km NE of Steamboat Springs, Colorado M3.0 114 km 5 km
Sep 12, 1990 13 km NW of Silverthorne, Colorado M3.0 72 km 5 km
Jan 19, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.9 114 km 5 km
Jan 1, 2003 6 km SE of Aspen, Colorado M2.9 148 km 5 km
Mar 30, 2019 7 km NE of Greeley, Colorado M2.9 87 km 6 km
Feb 26, 2008 29 km WNW of Westcreek, Colorado M2.9 89 km 2 km
May 1, 2009 21 km NW of Dotsero, Colorado M2.9 149 km 5 km
Oct 27, 2013 17 km NNW of Oak Creek, Colorado M2.8 134 km 1 km
Oct 13, 2002 13 km S of Norrie, Colorado M2.8 137 km 5 km
Apr 11, 2021 9 km E of Woody Creek, Colorado M2.8 139 km 2 km
Apr 12, 2015 5 km NE of Aspen, Colorado M2.8 143 km 5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

474 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 fatality, 157 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jun 4, 2015 EF3 42 km 6.7 mi 0
May 22, 2008 EF3 67 km 38.7 mi 1
Jun 15, 1988 EF3 63 km 2.5 mi 0
Jun 12, 1982 EF3 89 km 3.0 mi 0
May 18, 1975 EF3 74 km 4.1 mi 0
May 15, 1952 EF3 85 km 7.4 mi 0
Jun 7, 2021 EF2 53 km 7.5 mi 0
Jul 31, 1996 EF2 94 km 5.0 mi 0
Jul 13, 1996 EF2 100 km 12.0 mi 0
Jun 9, 1990 EF2 86 km 23.0 mi 0
Jun 15, 1988 EF2 63 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 5, 1988 EF2 47 km 2.0 mi 0
Jun 5, 1988 EF2 40 km 0.5 mi 0
Jul 2, 1987 EF2 70 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 20, 1987 EF2 83 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 8, 1986 EF2 83 km 2.0 mi 0
Jun 8, 1986 EF2 66 km 1.1 mi 0
Jul 19, 1985 EF2 82 km 0.5 mi 0
May 18, 1984 EF2 80 km 5.0 mi 0
May 18, 1984 EF2 72 km 5.0 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CAMERON PEAK (208,910 acres, 2020).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2020 CAMERON PEAK 208,910 61 km
2020 EAST TROUBLESOME 188,924 45 km
2002 HAYMAN 129,417 97 km
2012 HIGH PARK 90,769 66 km
2018 SILVER CREEK 20,725 93 km
2020 WILLIAMS FORK 14,679 48 km
1996 BUFFALO CREEK 11,690 81 km
2000 BOBCAT 10,444 48 km
2020 CALWOOD 9,836 18 km
2000 HIGH MEADOWS 9,607 76 km
2004 PICNIC ROCK 9,014 76 km
2001 MVD PSFRXASST 4 7,375 99 km
2021 MARSHALL 6,286 31 km
2010 FOURMILE CANYON 5,865 11 km
2002 BIG ELK 4,348 25 km
2012 LOWER NORTH FORK FIRE 3,436 75 km
2003 OVERLAND 3,232 15 km
2009 OLD STAGE 3,160 20 km
2011 CRYSTAL FIRE 2,855 57 km
2002 SCHOONOVER 2,821 96 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 20°F (-7°C) 1.9 in
February 20°F (-7°C) 1.6 in Coldest
March 22°F (-6°C) 2.3 in
April 27°F (-3°C) 2.7 in Wettest
May 37°F (3°C) 2.5 in
June 47°F (8°C) 2.0 in
July 55°F (13°C) 2.3 in Warmest
August 52°F (11°C) 2.2 in
September 45°F (7°C) 1.8 in
October 36°F (2°C) 1.5 in Driest
November 25°F (-4°C) 1.8 in
December 20°F (-6°C) 1.9 in

Ward has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 20°F in February to 55°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 24.4 inches, with April being the wettest month (2.7") and October the driest (1.5").

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