You think you know Colorado. You’ve seen the postcards of Pikes Peak dusted in white and the red sandstone of Garden of the Gods glowing under a summer sun. But if you're planning a move or a week-long vacation based on a generic "mountain climate" stereotype, you're going to get caught in a hail storm or a random October blizzard without a coat.
Colorado Springs monthly weather is a chaotic, high-altitude symphony. It doesn't follow the rules of the Midwest or the predictable seasons of the Coast. One day you’re wearing flip-flops in February; the next, you’re shoveling six inches of heavy, wet "heart attack" snow off your driveway.
Living at 6,035 feet changes everything. The air is thinner. The sun is more aggressive. And the mountains? They aren't just scenery—they are weather machines that chew up clouds and spit out surprises.
The Reality of the "300 Days of Sunshine" Myth
Let's address the elephant in the room. You’ve heard the "300 days of sunshine" stat. It's everywhere. Local realtors love it. Tourism boards treat it like gospel. Honestly, though, it’s a bit of a marketing stretch.
According to the National Weather Service, if you count any day where the sun peeks out for a few minutes, sure, you get a high number. But if you’re looking for purely "clear" days, that number drops significantly. What makes Colorado Springs monthly weather so unique isn't just the sun—it's the intensity of the light when it is out. At this elevation, you’re getting about 25% less atmospheric protection from UV rays than people at sea level. You will burn in 15 minutes in July. It's just a fact.
The city sits in a semi-arid climate. We don't get "rainy seasons" like the Pacific Northwest. Instead, we get "evaporation seasons."
January and February: The Great Deception
Winter here isn't a three-month slog of gray skies. It’s a series of mood swings.
In January, the average high is around 43°F. That sounds cold, but in the dry Colorado air, 43°F with the sun hitting your face feels like 55°F. You'll see people running in shorts on the Santa Fe Trail while there's still ice in the shadows. But don't be fooled. When the sun drops behind the Front Range at 4:30 PM, the temperature craters. It feels like someone turned off a space heater.
February is often our driest month, but it's also when the "Arctic Express" likes to visit. These are the days when a cold front slides down from Canada, gets trapped against the mountains, and pins the city in sub-zero temperatures for three days straight.
Why the "Chinook" Matters
You need to know about Chinook winds. These are warm, dry winds that blow down the eastern side of the Rockies. They can raise the temperature by 30 degrees in an hour. You’ll wake up to a frozen tundra and be eating lunch outside by noon. It's jarring. It’s also why we don't have permanent snowpack in the city like they do up in Breckenridge or Vail. The snow melts, then freezes, then disappears.
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March and April: The Real Winter
Ask any local: March is the month we all lose our minds.
Statistically, March is the snowiest month in Colorado Springs. While the rest of the country is seeing crocuses and spring buds, we’re usually getting hammered by heavy, moisture-laden upslope storms. An "upslope" happens when the wind blows from the east, pushing air up the slope of the Rockies. The air cools, condenses, and dumps massive amounts of snow on the city.
In April, the weather is basically a coin flip.
- Morning: 60°F and sunny.
- Afternoon: Thunderstorm.
- Evening: Two inches of slush.
You’ll see the lilac bushes try to bloom, only to get crushed by a late-season freeze. It’s a cycle of hope and betrayal. If you're visiting during this time, pack layers. Layers aren't a suggestion; they are a survival strategy.
May and June: The Tornado and Hail Dance
By May, the threat of deep snow fades, replaced by something a bit more violent. The transition from spring to summer brings the "Dryline" battles.
Colorado Springs sits right where the cool mountain air meets the warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. This is a recipe for severe weather. June is peak hail season. We aren't talking about little ice pellets. We’re talking about "total your car and destroy your roof" hail. In 2018, a massive hail storm hit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, injuring people and unfortunately killing several animals. It was a stark reminder that the weather here has teeth.
If you see a cloud that looks slightly green? Get your car under a roof. Fast.
July and August: The Monsoon Pattern
Summer in the Springs is glorious, but it's predictable in a very specific way.
The "North American Monsoon" kicks in around mid-July. Almost every single day, the morning starts clear and blue. Around 1:00 PM, clouds start gathering over Pikes Peak. By 3:00 PM, you’ve got a localized, intense thunderstorm. By 5:00 PM, it’s gone, and the evening is cool and crisp.
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Humidity is non-existent. This is a "dry heat" that actually feels dry. Even when it hits 90°F, you don't feel that oppressive, sticky weight you get in Houston or Orlando. You just feel the sun cooking your skin.
Lightning Capital
Fun fact that isn't very fun: the Pikes Peak region is one of the lightning strike capitals of the world. Because of the topography, we get intense electrical activity. If you are hiking a 14er (a peak over 14,000 feet), the rule is simple: Be off the summit by noon. No exceptions. People die every year because they think they can beat the clouds. You can't.
September and October: The Golden Window
If you want the best of Colorado Springs monthly weather, this is it.
September is perfect. The heat loses its edge. The afternoon storms die down. The Aspens in the high country start turning gold around the third week of the month. Down in the city, the scrub oaks turn a deep rusty red.
October is a wild card but usually pleasant. We often get our first "real" snow in mid-October, but it rarely stays. The ground is still too warm. You’ll see trees with full green leaves suddenly covered in white. It’s beautiful, but it’s a mess for the power lines because those heavy leaves hold onto the snow and snap branches.
November and December: The Big Quiet
November is brown. There’s no other way to put it. The leaves are gone, the grass is dormant, and we’re waiting for winter to actually start.
December brings the wind. Because of the "gap" in the mountains near the Air Force Academy, we get high-wind warnings that can gust up to 70 or 80 mph. It’s not a hurricane; it’s just the atmosphere trying to balance itself out over the peaks.
Christmas is rarely a "White Christmas" in the city. More often than not, it’s 45°F and dry. If you want snow for the holidays, you usually have to drive 20 minutes west into Ute Pass.
Breaking Down the Averages (The Prose Version)
Instead of a dry table, let's look at what these numbers actually mean for your life.
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In the heat of summer (July), you’re looking at average highs of 85°F. But remember, the "average" includes those days where it spikes to 96°F. The nights stay cool, dropping into the mid-50s. You will never need an air conditioner as much as you need a good window fan to pull in that 10 PM mountain breeze.
In the dead of winter (December/January), the average lows are around 17°F. That sounds brutal until you realize the humidity is often near 20%. It doesn't "bone-chill" you the way a damp Chicago winter does. You put on a down vest and you're fine.
Precipitation is the real story. We only get about 16 inches of liquid rain a year. Most of that comes in the summer monsoons. Snowfall averages about 38 to 40 inches total for the season in the city, but just five miles west in Manitou Springs, that number can double. Elevation is everything.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Colorado Springs is a "ski town weather" spot. It isn't. We are on the high plains, tucked against the mountains.
- The "Mountains Block the Weather" Fallacy: People think Pikes Peak protects us. It doesn't. It creates "Lee Cyclogenesis." Basically, the mountains help create low-pressure systems that can actually intensify storms right over the I-25 corridor.
- The "Always Snowing" Myth: If you moved here from the Northeast, you’ll be shocked at how fast the snow vanishes. The sun is so strong and the air so dry that snow often "sublimates"—turning directly from ice to gas without even puddling.
- The "Summer is Hot" Mistake: It's hot in the sun. It's cool in the shade. The difference can be 10-15 degrees. If you’re standing in the sun at 1 PM, you’ll sweat. Step under a pine tree? You’ll want a long-sleeve shirt.
Essential Gear for the Springs Climate
If you are moving here or visiting, your wardrobe needs a strategy change. Forget the heavy parkas unless you’re going skiing.
- The Shell: A high-quality windbreaker or rain shell is non-negotiable for the afternoon monsoons.
- The Puffy: A light down or synthetic "puffy" jacket is the local uniform. It works for 9 months of the year.
- Moisturizer and Lip Balm: The weather will suck the moisture out of your body. You will get nosebleeds. You will have cracked skin. Drink twice as much water as you think you need.
- Polarized Sunglasses: The glare off the snow and the intensity of the high-altitude sun is hard on the eyes.
Final Thoughts for the Planner
Understanding Colorado Springs monthly weather requires throwing away your expectations of "seasons." We have "Winter," "False Spring," "Second Winter," "Hail Season," and "Gold Season."
If you're looking for the best outdoor experience, aim for late August through September. You'll miss the violent hail of June and the unpredictable blizzards of April, catching the Rockies at their most stable and colorful.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the "Dew Point": In Colorado Springs, the dew point is a better indicator of comfort than the temperature. If it's below 30 (which is common), the air will feel much cooler than the thermometer says.
- Install a Weather App with Radar: Don't just look at the daily forecast. Look at the radar around 2:00 PM every day during the summer. If you see "popcorn" clouds forming over the mountains, cancel your outdoor bike ride.
- Prepare Your Vehicle: If you live here, get "all-weather" tires (not just all-season). The rapid freeze-thaw cycles create black ice that sends people sliding off Woodmen Road every single November.
- Sunscreen is Daily: Even in January. If you’re hiking or skiing, the UV reflection off the snow will give you a "goggle tan" faster than you can say "Pikes Peak."