How cold are Durango winters, month by month?
Cold at night, mild by day. At Durango-La Plata County Airport, the National Weather Service's 1991-2020 normals put the average January low at 9.6°F and the average high at 37.9°F. Here are the winter months from the NWS Grand Junction office's monthly climate reports:
| Month | Average high | Average low | Days with a low of 32°F or less | Days with a low of 0°F or less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 50.6°F | 21.2°F | 28.5 | 0.1 |
| December | 39.2°F | 12.9°F | 30.7 | 3.5 |
| January | 37.9°F | 9.6°F | 30.8 | 6.3 |
| February | 43.2°F | 16.2°F | 27.7 | 2.3 |
| March | 53.2°F | 22.6°F | 29.7 | 0.3 |
The mean temperature in January is 23.7°F, the lowest of the five months in the table. Notice that the average low stays at or below freezing on almost every night from November through March. Days can be a different story. The airport averages 7.4 days in January when the high never gets above 32°F, and 3.3 in February.
When do the freezing nights start and stop?
Earlier and later than you'd guess. The same NWS reports show October averaging a 63.8°F high and a 30.5°F low, with 18.5 nights at 32°F or below. April still averages 22.8 freezing nights, with a 61.5°F high and a 27.9°F low. So a warm afternoon in either month doesn't mean the overnight lows have caught up.
How low does it actually go?
Below zero, some years. Last winter shows how it can play out. The NWS reports for the airport recorded these coldest readings:
- December 2025: 14°F on December 6, with no subzero days.
- January 2026: minus 2°F on January 10, and one day at or below zero.
- February 2026: minus 8°F on February 21, and three days at or below zero.
That winter ran warm overall. January 2026 averaged a low of 18.0°F, about 8 degrees above normal, and December's average low was 9.1 degrees above normal. Don't count on that. The normals are what a typical winter looks like, and a typical January has about six days at zero or below.
Why do the numbers vary by spot?
Because the airport sits at about 6,689 feet, 10 miles southeast of town, per FAA data on AirNav. Durango proper is listed at 6,512 feet (Downtown Durango), and Fort Lewis College is higher still. Weather stations report the spot where they sit. A tourism profile of the town cites "a possible January low of 12 degrees," a different figure than the airport's 9.6°F average. Neither one is wrong. They describe different places and different measures.
What does that mean for your car and your house?
Nights this cold are worth planning for. Our Durango seasonal home maintenance guide covers winter prep, and the heating contractors guide lists local pros.
On the road, storms can trigger Colorado's traction rules on mountain highways. Our answer on tire chains in Durango explains when they apply. For the bigger picture of the season, see the Durango in winter guide.
Does altitude add to the chill?
The CDC says high-altitude places expose travelers to cold, low humidity, stronger ultraviolet light and lower air pressure. Durango isn't high by that standard, but the passes and the ski area are. Our answer on altitude sickness in Durango sums up what the CDC says. This page gives weather data only, not medical advice.
Where do you check the current weather?
The NWS Grand Junction office posts a climate report for the Durango airport every month, and each one lists the normal for that month next to what actually happened. Use it to see whether a cold snap is typical. For storms and road conditions, use COtrip.org.