Denver, the capital of Colorado, sits on the high plains at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains at almost exactly 1,600 metres above sea level — the 'Mile-High City' — at approximately 39.74°N, 104.99°W. Its altitude and far-inland position give it a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with four distinct seasons, low humidity, abundant sunshine, and famously changeable weather with large day-to-night temperature swings.

Summer, from June to August, is warm to hot, sunny and dry, with July the warmest month — average highs around 31–32°C — but the low humidity and high elevation make the heat comfortable and the nights cool. Afternoon thunderstorms build over the nearby mountains and roll onto the plains, sometimes bringing large hail; Denver sits in a notably hail-prone corridor. Even in midsummer, nights are pleasantly cool.

Winter, from December to February, is cold but sunny and often surprisingly mild, with January the coldest month — average highs around 6–7°C and lows near -8°C. Arctic cold snaps can plunge temperatures well below -15°C, but they seldom last, and warm, dry chinook winds off the Rockies can melt snow and lift temperatures dramatically within hours. Snow is frequent but usually light and quick to melt under the strong high-altitude sun.

Denver is dry, receiving only around 350–400 mm of precipitation a year, with a clear spring and early-summer maximum — May is often the wettest month — from thunderstorms, while winters are dry. Snow totals around 1.5 metres a year but rarely lingers long. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Denver's weather is famously volatile, a product of its high-plains position where cold mountain and Arctic air meets milder plains air: temperatures can swing 20°C or more in a day, and snow can fall from September through May. The warm chinook winds off the Rockies bring dramatic mid-winter thaws, the strong altitude sun keeps the city bright even in the cold, and spring is the peak of the region's severe hail and thunderstorm season.

To follow any single measurement in Denver more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.