Weather in Rock Creek Park, Colorado
High country wildflowers peak. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Overcast—79°60°
- SundayMay 17Overcast13%77°53°
- MondayMay 18Drizzle79%61°38°
- TuesdayMay 19Overcast48%57°32°
- WednesdayMay 20Light Showers67%67°42°
- ThursdayMay 21Light Drizzle67%66°46°
- FridayMay 22Light Drizzle38%65°44°
- PM 2.5
- 1.2 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 1.9 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 1.3 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 124.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.2 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 11:55 AM
- Moonset
- 2:37 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
High country wildflowers peak
Rock Creek Park at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 3°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 8 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Warm-season window is open
As of May 17, the last spring frost has passed for most years. Transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, and cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, melons) now. Direct-sow beans and corn into warm soil.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Rock Creek Park's warmest month is July (~72°F mean) and its coldest is December (~32°F). Rainfall peaks in July (3.1 inches) and bottoms out in December (0.2 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| February | 33° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| March | 41° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| April | 48° | 1.4″ | 4 |
| May | 57° | 2.0″ | 5 |
| June | 67° | 2.3″ | 4 |
| July | 72° | 3.1″ | 6 |
| August | 70° | 3.0″ | 6 |
| September | 63° | 1.4″ | 3 |
| October | 51° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| November | 40° | 0.4″ | 1 |
| December | 32° | 0.2″ | 1 |
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Rock Creek Park?
- Rock Creek Park's last spring frost typically falls around mid-April, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Rock Creek Park?
- July is the wettest month with about 3.1 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 16 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Rock Creek Park?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 72°F.
- What is the coldest month in Rock Creek Park?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 32°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Rock Creek Park?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-April); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Rock Creek Park get?
- Rock Creek Park averages about 37 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Rock Creek Park?
- Rock Creek Park's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Rock Creek Park, Colorado sits in a hot desert climate zone. January means hover near 32°F while July averages 72°F — a 41°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Rock Creek Park receives about 16 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 37 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (38.7°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.