Weather Forecast and Radar for Rocky Mountain National Park

Routes Running Nearby to Rocky Mountain National Park

• US-34 runs east-west through Rocky Mountain National Park.

• The I-25 runs north-south about 50 miles east of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Weather in Rocky Mountain National Park

In Rocky Mountain National Park, the summers are comfortable; the winters are freezing, snowy, and windy; and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 12°F to 77°F and is rarely below -2°F or above 85°F.

The warm season lasts for 3 months, from June to September, with an average daily high temperature above 68°F. The hottest month of the year in Rocky Mountain National Park is July, with an average high of 77°F and low of 49°F.

The cold season lasts for 3.5 months, from November to March, with an average daily high temperature below 39°F. The coldest month of the year in Rocky Mountain National Park is January, with an average low of 13°F and high of 31°F.

The complex interactions of elevation, slope, exposure and regional-scale air masses determine the climate within the park, which is noted for its extreme weather patterns. A "collision of air masses" from several directions produces some of the key weather events in the region. When cold arctic air from the north meets warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico at the Front Range, "intense, very wet snowfalls with total snow depth measured in the feet" accumulate in the park.

Higher elevation areas within the park receive twice as much precipitation as lower elevation areas, generally in the form of deep winter snowfall. Arctic conditions are prevalent during the winter, with sudden blizzards, high winds, and deep snowpack. High country overnight trips require gear suitable for -35 °F or below.

Sudden dramatic changes in the weather may occur during the summer, typically due to afternoon thunderstorms that can cause as much as a 20 °F drop in temperature and windy conditions.

The park's climate is also affected by the Continental Divide, which runs northwest to southeast through the center of the park atop the high peaks. The Continental Divide creates two distinct climate patterns - one typical of the east side near Estes Park and the other associated with the Grand Lake area on the park's west side. The west side of the park experiences more snow, less wind, and clear cold days during the winter months.

Fast Facts About Rocky Mountain National Park

The park was established in 1915.

Major Cities Nearby Rocky Mountain National Park

• Boulder, Colorado (roughly 50 miles to the southeast)
• Denver, Colorado (roughly 73 miles to the southeast)

This map shows the current & 7-day weather forecast, weather alerts, and weather radar for Rocky Mountain National Park.