Comparing Colorado's Temperature Extremes With Neighboring States

A running joke that has become a viral meme points out that Colorado has been known to experience all four seasons in one day. The fact that Colorado has such extreme temperatures is not just funny, it’s also true.

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With that being said, it may come as a surprise that historically, some of the states that border Colorado have even more extreme differences between record high and low temperatures.

What Are Colorado’s Highest and Lowest Recorded Temperatures?

Colorado’s highest recorded temperature, which was recorded at John Martin Reservoir on July 20, 2019, is 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest recorded temperature was in the town of Maybell on February 1, 1985, and was a frigid -61 degrees Fahrenheit.

The difference between Colorado’s highest and lowest recorded temperatures is 176 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Do Colorado’s Neighboring States’ Extreme Temperatures Differ?

Three states that border Colorado have had record high and low temperatures that differ from each other more than those of Colorado.

These states are New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah.

New Mexico’s record high was 122 degrees Fahrenheit, and its record low was -57 degrees, giving a difference in temperature of 179 degrees.

Wyoming’s highest recorded temperature was 116 degrees Fahrenheit, and its lowest recorded temperature was -63 degrees, a difference of 179 degrees as well.

Finally, the state that borders Colorado with the most extreme difference in highest and lowest recorded temperatures is Utah. The Beehive State’s highest recorded temperature was 117 degrees, while its lowest was -69 degrees, a difference of 186 degrees.

The difference between Arizona's highest and lowest temperatures is 168 degrees, the difference in Kansas is 161 degrees, the difference in Nebraska is 165 degrees, and the difference in Oklahoma is 151 degrees.

Check out data from all 50 states here.

Colorado's Record High Temperatures

Take a look at the record high temperatures for communities all over the state of Colorado. For this gallery, we're including communities whose record high temps exceeded 100 degrees.

Gallery Credit: Waylon Jordan

20 of the Coldest Winter Temperatures of All Time in Colorado

Colorado is no stranger to extreme winter temperatures. Here's a look back at 20 of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in the state.

What Is The Average Temperature of the Colorado River in September?

Have you ever taken a swim in the Colorado River at the end of summer? Smart money says you were probably a little chilly. The temperature of the Colorado River can get well down into the 60s and even the upper 50s in September.

While this may be a bit on the cold side for people, the trout love it. Here's a look at the day-to-day high temperatures for the Colorado, measured at three locations by Northern Water, for the month of September 2023.

Gallery Credit: Waylon Jordan

Source: From 115° to -61°: Colorado’s Insane Temperature Record — and the States That Top It

Filed Under: Colorado Weather

Categories: Colorado Local, Colorado News