Pitkin County Climate
Pitkin County, Colorado
NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate NormalsAvg Annual Temp
40.7°F
Annual Precip
19.7"
Annual Snowfall
170.8"
Extreme Heat Days
2
days >= 90°F/yr
Monthly Temperature
Precipitation Calendar
Growing Season & Gardening
5b
Minimum winter temperature range for plant survival
1,177
Limited to cold-tolerant varieties
Seasonal Overview
National Comparison
7-Day Outlook
Forecast
Current Conditions
Air Quality
Safety
Weather Alerts
Climate Advisory: Pitkin County
Climate Verdict
Pitkin County has a cool, averaging 40.7°F annually, semi-arid conditions with only 19.7 inches of annual precipitation, rare extreme heat with only 2.0666666666666664 days above 90°F annually, heavy winter snowfall averaging 170.8 inches per year. This climate profile shapes everything from energy costs to outdoor recreation opportunities.
Seasonal Breakdown
Winters are very cold — January averages 20.5°F. summers are pleasantly cool with July averaging 62.5°F. The 42°F seasonal variation provides noticeable but manageable change.
Outdoor & Gardening Guidance
Winter sports enthusiasts benefit from reliable snow cover for 3-4 months annually.
Regional Context
Pitkin County is 5.2°F cooler than the Colorado statewide average of 45.9°F, it is somewhat wetter than average for Colorado, the county experiences 24.5493675988914 fewer extreme heat days than the state average.
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 sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Forecast and alert data from National Weather Service API. Air quality data from Open-Meteo.
Climate normals are 30-year averages of weather variables. Station data is aggregated to county level. Forecasts and alerts are fetched live and may change frequently. Data is informational only — not a substitute for official National Weather Service forecasts or emergency weather warnings.