Denver, Colorado, sits at a mile high and features a semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons. The city is renowned for its abundant sunshine, low humidity, and dramatic temperature swings. Winters are dry and snowy, while summers are hot and dry, offering comfortable evenings and an active outdoor lifestyle year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Denver’s climate is shaped by its elevation (1,609 m), proximity to the Rocky Mountains, and inland location. The city enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually and experiences a wide diurnal temperature range. Summers (June–August) are hot and dry, with average highs of 27–31°C and lows around 12–14°C. July is the hottest month, but humidity remains low, making the heat more tolerable. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, especially from May to August, but rainfall is brief and totals are modest (50–65 mm/month). Evenings cool off quickly, providing relief from daytime warmth.
Winters (December–February) are cold and dry, with average highs of 7–9°C and lows near -8°C. Snow is frequent but melts rapidly due to sunshine and occasional warm chinook winds descending from the mountains. Denver averages 136 cm of snow annually, with the snowiest months being March and November. Despite the cold, winter days can be mild, and days above 10°C are not uncommon. Spring and autumn are transitional, with rapidly changing temperatures and moderate rainfall. Annual precipitation is about 363–400 mm, with most falling from April to August. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be brisk during storms, especially in spring. Daylight ranges from 9 hours in winter to 15 hours in summer, and the city’s clear skies make for stunning sunsets and starry nights.
| Average climate data for Denver, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 5 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 29 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -6 | -6 | -1 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 3 | -2 | -6 | -6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 10 | 19 | 32 | 36 | 60 | 34 | 47 | 28 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 329 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 4 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 119 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 76 | 150 | 158 | 159 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 106 | 85 | 905 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 6 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 44 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 65 | 67 | 55 | 52 | 52 | 42 | 44 | 43 | 43 | 46 | 52 | 62 | 52 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 20 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Denver is from late May to early October, when temperatures are warm (22–31°C), humidity is low, and the city enjoys abundant sunshine. Summer and early autumn are ideal for outdoor activities, festivals, and exploring the nearby mountains, with comfortable evenings and vibrant city life.
The least favourable time to visit Denver is from late November to early March, when temperatures are cold (highs 7–9°C, lows -8°C), snow is frequent, and weather can be unpredictable. However, winter is still pleasant for those interested in skiing and snow sports in the nearby Rockies.
Denver’s annual average temperature is about 10°C. January is the coldest month (highs 7–8°C, lows -8°C), while July is the warmest (highs 31°C, lows 14°C).
Denver receives about 363–400 mm of precipitation annually, with most rain falling from April to August. Snow is frequent, averaging 136 cm per year, but melts quickly due to sunshine and chinook winds.
Denver enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, making it one of the sunniest major cities in the United States. Sunshine is abundant in all seasons.
Late spring through early autumn (May–October) is best for outdoor activities, with warm temperatures, low humidity, and long, sunny days. Summer is ideal for hiking, festivals, and exploring the mountains.
Denver itself is not a ski resort, but it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains, where world-class skiing, snowboarding, and snow sports are available from November to April.
Swimming outdoors is most comfortable in July and August, when air temperatures reach 30–31°C. Even then, water in lakes and pools can be cool, and summer thunderstorms are possible.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and sun protection for summer, and insulated, waterproof clothing for winter. Sunglasses are useful year-round due to bright sun and snow glare.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (29.2 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is December (4.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 16.1 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (15.2 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (-6.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 3.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is May (59.6 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (10.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 329.3 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (18.3 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (3.6 days). Over the whole year there are 119.5 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is April (159.4 mm). The months with the least snowfall are June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 905.4 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (9.4 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 43.9 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is February (67 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is June (41.6 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 51.9 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is April (10.6 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is September (9.3 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 9.7 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is April (25.3 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is September (15 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 20.1 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 11.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 6.1 h). Over the whole year there are 9 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.7.
