Pitkin County Climate
Pitkin County, Colorado
Avg Annual Temp
40.7°F
Annual Precip
19.7"
Annual Snowfall
170.8"
Extreme Heat Days
2.0666666666666664
days >= 90°F/yr
Monthly Temperature
Precipitation Calendar
Seasonal Overview
National Comparison
Climate Profile
About Pitkin County Weather
Pitkin sits coldest among US mountain counties
Pitkin County's 40.7°F annual temperature runs 6.8°F below the U.S. median of 47.5°F, confirming its ultra-alpine status. Its 19.7 inches of precipitation sit above national average, but elevation captures these as snow—170.8 inches annually—creating one of North America's snowiest inhabited regions.
Second-coldest Colorado county, extreme snow
At 40.7°F, Pitkin ranks as Colorado's second-coldest county, sitting 5.3°F below the state average of 46.0°F. Only Park County runs colder, yet Pitkin actually exceeds Park in annual snowfall (170.8 vs. 66.0 inches), making it Colorado's true snow capital.
Snowier than Park, warmer but wetter than Ouray
Pitkin (40.7°F) sits 3.8°F warmer than Park (38.2°F) but receives 44 more inches of annual snow (170.8 vs. 126.9). Compared to Ouray (44.5°F), Pitkin is colder but receives similar snowfall, positioning it as the state's wettest and snowiest county overall.
Two extreme heat days, perpetual ice and snow
Pitkin records just 2 days above 90°F annually, rivaling Park's zero-heat profile, while summer averages only 60.1°F. Winter temperatures plunge to 21.5°F average, and 170.8 inches of annual snowfall create a landscape buried in white from October through May.
Aspen-grade mountain infrastructure required
Residents must engineer for 170+ inches of snow, requiring roof reinforcement, industrial removal equipment, and constant winter vigilance. Heating systems run year-round; summer windows are brief and weather-dependent, making season-specific outdoor equipment and emergency avalanche/weather protocols absolutely essential for survival and sanity.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020.
Climate normals are 30-year averages of weather variables computed from 1991 to 2020. Station data is aggregated to county level using spatial averaging. Data is informational only — not a substitute for official National Weather Service forecasts or emergency weather warnings.