Saguache County Climate
Saguache County, Colorado
Avg Annual Temp
41.5°F
Annual Precip
11.9"
Annual Snowfall
82.0"
Extreme Heat Days
4.933333333333334
days >= 90°F/yr
Monthly Temperature
Precipitation Calendar
Seasonal Overview
National Comparison
Climate Profile
About Saguache County Weather
High desert with modest precipitation, cold winters
Saguache County's 41.5°F annual average is 5.0°F cooler than the national median of 46.5°F, while its 11.9 inches of annual precipitation falls well below the national average of 18.2 inches. This high-altitude San Luis Valley location creates a cold, dry climate with significant snowfall concentrated in winter months.
Among Colorado's coldest and driest counties
Saguache's 41.5°F ranks it among Colorado's coldest counties, sitting 4.5°F below the state average of 46.0°F, with only 11.9 inches of precipitation—among the state's lowest. The county's 9,000+ foot valley elevation and isolated location create these extreme conditions.
Slightly warmer and wetter than Rio Grande
Saguache's 41.5°F and 11.9 inches closely match Rio Grande County's 42.2°F and 8.7 inches to the south, making both San Luis Valley counties among Colorado's coldest and driest. However, Saguache receives 3.2 more inches of precipitation and is slightly warmer than its southern neighbor.
Extreme cold, minimal heat, heavy mountain snow
Saguache records only 5 days per year above 90°F while winters average 20.5°F with January at 18.7°F and July at just 63.5°F. The county receives 82.0 inches of annual snowfall, with summer averaging a cool 61.3°F—creating a compressed warm season and prolonged winter.
Cold desert demands efficient heating and water conservation
With winter temperatures near 21°F and 82 inches of annual snowfall, residents need substantial heating capacity, weatherproofing, and snow management systems for a 6-month winter season. The 11.9 inches of precipitation and only 5 extreme heat days annually mean water conservation is critical, but air conditioning is rarely necessary.
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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.