Weather & How to Pack

Weather

Colorado Springs' pleasant climate is a key element in the area's high quality of life. Weather in the Pikes Peak region is surprisingly mild; uncomfortable extremes are rare.

Colorado Springs is classified as an alpine desert with more than 300 days of sunshine annually and only 15 to 16 inches of precipitation per year. Humidity remains comfortably low throughout the day.

At an elevation of 6,035 feet, our residents enjoy a number of climatic advantages. During the summer months the days may be seasonally warm but when the sun sets, the evening and nights are refreshingly cool. Long and lingering autumns are common, while spring is a mild precursor to summer.

Despite a moderately high-altitude location, Colorado Springs gets less snow, on average, than Denver, Salt Lake City or Minneapolis. Sunny days are abundant during the winter, and the sun's intensity quickly melts the snow allowing residents and visitors to golf, bike, hike, play tennis and enjoy all types of outdoor activities year round.

How to Pack

At an elevation of 6,035 feet, Colorado Springs is located on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains at the base of Pikes Peak. Mountains to the west and the Monument Divide to the north protect the Pikes Peak area from harsh and snowy winters. When it does snow, it rarely stays on the ground more than a few days, with average winter high temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

Abundant sunshine and pockets of yellow aspen trees make autumn a refreshing and beautiful season to visit the region. Warm days and cool nights usher in springtime. In summer, visitors escape from hot, sticky conditions to our low humidity and highs in the 80s. Afternoon thunderstorms have a cool, cleansing effect and usually last less than an hour. In the winter, sweaters, gloves and coats are recommended (though temperatures can climb into the 60s and 70s when Chinook winds blow through).  Always dress in layers so that you are comfortable through temperature and altitude changes.

Cool-weather clothing is proper dress for summer days, but carry a windbreaker or light jacket for evening. Please remember that temperatures at the top of Pikes Peak are usually 20-30 degrees below temperatures measured in Colorado Springs - giving you a great reason to pick up a Pikes Peak sweatshirt at one of our many fine gift or clothing shops.

Though some restaurants require more formal attire, the region's dress code is mostly casual, as vacationers mingle with the local community at restaurants, pubs and nightclubs throughout the region.