Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Derby, Colorado Weather

Monsoon storms drench the south. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Derby weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Derby, CO
Sunday, July 5 at 1:39 AM
67
°
Clear
Feels like
63°
Humidity
38%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
11:37 PM
Sunset
2:31 PM
Derby, CO
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastDerby, CO: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 60 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 60°H 96°
Derby, CO
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    96°60°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    99°64°+3°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    41%
    —
    98°69°-1°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Rain
    55%
    0.07″
    97°64°-1°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Rain
    35%
    0.07″
    96°67°-1°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Partly Cloudy
    19%
    —
    99°66°+3°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Clear
    —
    —
    97°65°-2°
Derby, CO
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°50°78°105°12a6a12p6pnow 68°high 96°low 60°
Derby, CO
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
S
187° · backing 87°
Direction
S
187°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
14
mph
Peak 24h
23
avg 6
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 6 · pk 23 @ 8:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 174SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 87° from the s.
Derby, CO
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
844.3
-0.6 mb in 3h · falling · 24.93 inHg
Now
844.3
mb
3h
-0.6
mb
12h
-5.9
mb
24h
+1.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 843–851
835840845850855-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW850.7843.4844.5
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Derby, CO
Air quality
53
AQI
Moderate
↓-56 in 6h

AQI 53 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 56 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM2.5 at 13.6 µg/m³ (AQI 59) with a 0.93 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
13.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
15μg/m³
NO₂Good
20μg/m³
OzoneGood
57μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 13.6 µg/m³ (AQI 59) with a 0.93 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.93
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Derby, CO
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
104.4mi
UNLIMITED
185 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
07:39 UTC · Derby, CO · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
07:39 UTC · Derby, CO · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Derby, CO
Satellite · infrared · animated
Derby, CO
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Derby, CO
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:05 AM
Sunrise
11:37 PM
Daylight
14h 54m
Sunset
2:31 PM
Civil dusk
9:04 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Derby, CO
The moon
Waning Gibbous
75% illuminated
Moonrise
11:18 PM
Moonset
11:14 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Derby, CO
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Monsoon storms drench the south

insect
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Derby at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 5°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 15 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

15-Day Forecast — Derby

  1. Sun97°59°2%
  2. Mon99°64°7%
  3. Tue98°69°41%
  4. Wed97°64°55%
  5. Thu96°67°35%
  6. Fri99°66°19%
  7. Sat97°65°6%
  8. Sun101°72°2%
  9. Mon108°73°7%
  10. Tue105°74°19%
  11. Wed105°71°25%
  12. Thu103°71°44%
  13. Fri101°71°45%
  14. Sat104°69°44%
  15. Sun97°75°55%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Derby

SPC includes Derby in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Deep freeze grips the high peaks.January 6–10: Ice thickens on alpine tarns.January 11–15: Springs stir beneath locked earth.January 16–20: Grouse call from the transition zone.January 21–25: First signals of the soil's turning.January 26–31: Stream water crystallizes thick.February 1–5: The year's coldest fortnight begins.February 6–10: East wind carries a subtle promise.February 11–15: Snowmelt springs whisper beneath ice.February 16–20: Red-wing calls rise from the wetlands.February 21–25: Rain begins to trace the snowline upward.February 26–28: Mist gathers in the warming canyons.March 1–5: Grass and trees stir from their sleep.March 6–10: Hibernators break through frozen ground.March 11–15: First blooms open to the spring sun.March 16–20: Mountain bluebirds return to the summits.March 21–25: Spring equinox at the divide.March 26–31: Aspen catkins burst in clusters.April 1–5: Thunderstorms rumble over granite peaks.April 6–10: Swallows and swifts slice the warming sky.April 11–15: Sandhill cranes call through the wetlands.April 16–20: Rainbows arch over the snowfields.April 21–25: New growth explodes across the montane.April 26–30: Last frost yields to summer growth.May 1–5: Wildflowers crest the high meadows.May 6–10: Summer monsoon clouds gather southward.May 11–15: Snowmelt crests toward the divide.May 16–20: High country wildflowers peak.May 21–25: Summer heat accelerates the growing season.May 26–31: Summer settles into the high country.June 1–5: Pikas hayfeeding in granite peaks.June 6–10: Glacier lily carpets the snowmelt.June 11–15: Paintbrush crowns the ridges.June 16–20: Thunderheads build by noon.June 21–25: Long light holds the peaks.June 26–30: Monsoon moisture drifts north.July 1–5: Monsoon storms drench the south.July 6–10: Wind builds through canyons.July 11–15: Lightning crowns every peak.July 16–20: Elk herds claim alpine meadows.July 21–25: Pika caches reach their peak.July 26–31: Monsoon pulses weaken northward.August 1–5: Summer heat breaks with monsoon.August 6–10: First frost creeps to peaks.August 11–15: Cool wind returns from north.August 16–20: Monsoon clouds gather over the peaks.August 21–25: The monsoon breaks into scattered showers.August 26–31: Summer insects thin as autumn wind rises.September 1–5: Elk descend from summer high meadows.September 6–10: Dew crystallizes on high grass at dawn.September 11–15: Hawks begin the long crossing southward.September 16–20: Equinox: darkness claims the high passes.September 21–25: Thunder retreats as the monsoon dies.September 26–30: First frost hardens the high valleys.October 1–5: October: the aspen stands reach their peak.October 6–10: Aspen gold slides downslope with the chill.October 11–15: Snow settles on the high passes.October 16–20: Elk bugling fades as rut nears its end.October 21–25: First hard frost grips the basin.October 26–31: Late rains settle into November patterns.November 1–5: Aspen canopy falls to earth.November 6–10: Granite bones emerge from cover.November 11–15: Earth begins to harden.November 16–20: Bare ranges hold silence.November 21–25: Snow returns to the peaks.November 26–30: North wind strips the landscape.December 1–5: Deep darkness settles over the ranges.December 6–10: Winter locks the high country.December 11–15: Elk withdraw to winter range.December 16–20: Ice thickens across frozen water.December 21–25: Winter solstice — the sun returns.December 26–31: The year closes in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Monsoon storms drench the south

Monsoon established in southern Mountain West (New Mexico, southern Utah, Arizona north); afternoon downpours and lightning common.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Derby peaks at about 72°F in July and bottoms near 25°F in December; May brings the heaviest rain (3.3 inches) and January the least (0.9 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January25°0.9″10
February28°1.1″11
March33°1.9″15
April44°2.6″18
May55°3.3″21
June66°2.1″20
July72°2.2″23
August70°1.8″23
September63°1.4″15
October48°1.4″11
November33°1.4″12
December25°0.9″10

Regional context

Per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Derby runs from a 25°F January mean to 72°F in July, a 46°F seasonal spread, with near 21 inches of precipitation across about 191 wet days.

Summer convection drives Derby's precipitation: May logs 3.3 inches on 21.2 rainy days, against January's 0.9 inches on 10.4 — warm-season storms carry Derby's moisture. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Derby shares with places like Welby, CO, North Washington, CO and Commerce City, CO.

Around mid-April, Derby sheds its freezing nights — kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips go into Derby's beds. Derby's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Derby's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. By mid-November, frost is back in Derby — protect or harvest anything tender. A creek-bottom lot in Derby can lag Derby's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Welby, CO, North Washington, CO, Commerce City, CO, Sherrelwood, CO, Twin Lakes, CO.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Derby?
Frost typically leaves Derby by mid-April and returns to Derby near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Derby?
Derby sees its heaviest rain in May (around 3.3 inches), part of roughly 21 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Derby?
July is Derby's warmest month, averaging about 72°F.
What is the coldest month in Derby?
Derby bottoms out in December, with a mean near 25°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Derby?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-April in Derby; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Derby get?
Derby records around 191 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Derby?
Derby sits in the USDA zone set by December lows near 25°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Derby?
Derby's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Derby?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Derby in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Derby?
Current conditions for Derby and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Derby forecast updated?
The Derby forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Derby?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Derby are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Derby?
The next few days in Derby's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Derby, Colorado has a hot desert climate: January averages roughly 25°F, July about 72°F, 47°F between them.

Across the year, Derby collects about 21 inches of precipitation over roughly 191 days with measurable rain or snow.

Latitude 39.8°N gives Derby its 47°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Derby's growing season.

All cities in Colorado →

Commerce City, CO weather →

ZIP codes in Derby

  • 80022
  • 80024

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.