Elevation

Precipitation increases with elevation both in winter and summer but it is a bigger factor in winter compared to summer. Temperatures decrease with elevation, generally 3-5o F for every increase in 1,000ft. 

Elevations along the Eastern Plains range from 3,350 feet at the lowest point and rise up to 5,000-6,500 feet as you travel west and meet the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. This lower elevation means that the plains see less variation in day-to-night temperatures compared to the mountains. The temperatures are generally warmer on the plains than in the higher elevation areas in the states mountain range.

The high elevations within the Mountain Region means there are less atmospheric layers above the mountain region. The thin atmosphere allows greater penetration of solar radiation which creates pleasant daytime conditions even during the winter. But sunburn and skin cancer is a problem due to the intense high-elevation sunlight. The thin atmosphere doesn’t provide as much insulation from changing temperatures. At night, temperatures drop quickly! Freezing temperatures are possible in some mountain locations every month of the year. 

Since the temperature decreases as you increase elevation, the mountain tops are cooler during the day than lowlying valleys below. However, at night that cooler air which is more dense, sinks into the valleys near the mountains which makes the mountain valleys colder at night than the surrounding mountain peaks. Due to the dramatic changes in elevation, there are large swings in temperature in the mountain region.

The topography of Western Colorado slopes to less extreme elevations that are made of canyons and plateaus. Elevation is a major contributor to the climate but precipitation gets less intense and temperatures increase as you move closer to the western border of Colorado (at the Colorado/Utah border) because the elevation continually decreases as you move West.

Winter weather is colder but calmer compared to the areas east of the mountains. Temperatures in the valleys can drop below zero but this area receives abundant sunshine and the winter climate is not harsh. Summer time temperatures can exceed 100F several times each summer at elevations below 5,500ft.