South Fork, CO climate
South Fork has cold winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to -1°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in South Fork feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
South Fork weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34° | -1° | 0.5" | 11° – 23° |
| February | 37° | 4° | 0.5" | 15° – 28° |
| March | 47° | 14° | 0.6" | 25° – 36° |
| April | 54° | 22° | 0.6" | 34° – 43° |
| May | 64° | 29° | 0.7" | 42° – 50° |
| June | 74° | 36° | 0.5" | 51° – 59° |
| July | 78° | 42° | 1.4" | 57° – 64° |
| August | 75° | 41° | 1.7" | 56° – 61° |
| September | 70° | 34° | 1.2" | 47° – 55° |
| October | 59° | 24° | 1.0" | 37° – 46° |
| November | 46° | 12° | 0.6" | 22° – 38° |
| December | 35° | 1° | 0.6" | 13° – 26° |
| Year | 56° | 22° | 9.9" |
“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 South Fork
South Fork gets 10 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and February the driest.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in South Fork
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In South Fork, 100% of that work is heating and 0% 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 South Fork 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 South Fork averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.9°). The shift is larger than in 69% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at South Fork’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 22° to 38°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about South Fork’s climate
What is the coldest month in South Fork?
January, with a typical high of 34° and a low of -1°.
What is the hottest month in South Fork?
July, with a typical high of 78° and a low of 42°.
When is the first frost in South Fork?
Frost is uncommon. Only 100% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in South Fork?
August, with 1.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 10 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for South Fork itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Creede, CO (20 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.