Salida, CO climate
Salida has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 10°, and about 37 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Salida feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Salida weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 10° | 0.2" | 4.0" | 2 | 20° – 31° |
| February | 45° | 13° | 0.3" | 4.1" | 2 | 24° – 35° |
| March | 53° | 22° | 0.5" | 6.5" | 4 | 33° – 43° |
| April | 60° | 27° | 0.8" | 8.0" | 5 | 39° – 48° |
| May | 70° | 35° | 0.8" | 2.7" | 5 | 47° – 57° |
| June | 81° | 43° | 0.6" | 0 | 4 | 57° – 67° |
| July | 85° | 49° | 1.3" | 0 | 8 | 63° – 70° |
| August | 83° | 48° | 1.4" | 0 | 10 | 63° – 68° |
| September | 76° | 40° | 0.8" | 0 | 5 | 53° – 62° |
| October | 65° | 29° | 0.7" | 2.6" | 5 | 41° – 51° |
| November | 52° | 19° | 0.3" | 4.1" | 3 | 28° – 42° |
| December | 42° | 11° | 0.4" | 4.7" | 3 | 21° – 32° |
| Year | 63° | 29° | 8.0" | 36.7" | 57 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Salida
Salida gets 8 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 57 days a year.
About 112 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 29 and the first one by September 20. That leaves about 112 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 98% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Salida
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Salida, 97% of that work is heating and 3% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Salida compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Salida averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.5°). The shift is smaller than in 52% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Salida’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. November swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 28° to 42°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Salida’s climate
What is the coldest month in Salida?
January, with a typical high of 42° and a low of 10°.
What is the hottest month in Salida?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 49°. About 15 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Salida get?
About 37 inches in a normal winter, most of it in April.
When is the first frost in Salida?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 20, and the last spring frost by May 29.
What is the rainiest month in Salida?
August, with 1.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 8 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Salida itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Salida, CO (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.