February averages
- Average high
- 47.5°F
- Average low
- 19.3°F
- Snow
- 7.6 in
- Precipitation
- 0.53 in
Monthly averages: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, Denver-Stapleton station. Averages, not forecasts.
- February in Denver averages about 7.6 inches of snow, more than December or January, according to federal climate normals.
- Avalanche conditions in Colorado’s mountains are forecast by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
- In winter, Rocky Mountain National Park does not require timed entry reservations; a one-day vehicle pass costs $30.
By February, newcomers have usually survived a few storms and learned to watch the forecast. The month is still firmly winter, with a little more snow than January, but the days are lengthening and the sun feels stronger. For mountain lovers it is the heart of the season, which brings its own risks and rules.
What February usually does
| Measure | February normal |
|---|---|
| Average high | about 47.5°F |
| Average low | about 19.3°F |
| Nights at or below freezing | about 26 |
| Snowfall | about 7.6 inches |
| Precipitation | about 0.53 inch |
These figures come from federal climate normals for the Denver Stapleton weather station, averaged over 1991 to 2020. The average hides a lot of variation. February can bring a warm, windy week followed by a heavy, upslope snowstorm. The National Weather Service lists February 1, 1951, and February 8, 1936, among the coldest days on record, each at 25 below zero.
Snow at home
In the city, February snow is usually manageable if you are ready:
- Shovel early, before foot traffic packs snow into ice.
- Clear around your car’s tailpipe if it is buried, and brush snow off the roof before driving.
- Watch for ice on north-facing sidewalks and driveways, which can stay frozen for days while sunny sides melt.
- Use ice melt sparingly near plants and new concrete.
Tip: Denver’s bright sun melts snow fast on south-facing surfaces and leaves the north side of a building icy. When you look at homes or apartments, notice which way the front walk and driveway face.
Mountain trips and avalanches
February is a popular month for skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking, and it falls in the heart of the avalanche season. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) produces the state’s avalanche forecasts and education, and its free Avalanche Aware program is an easy first step for anyone heading into snow-covered mountains. If you plan to leave groomed ski runs or venture onto snowy slopes, check CAIC’s forecast first, travel with partners and get proper training and gear. The $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass helps fund CAIC’s forecasting.
For driving, the state’s traction law still applies on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero, which CDOT can enforce from September 1 to May 31. Tires need adequate tread and an all-weather or snow rating, and in severe storms the chain law can require chains or approved alternatives.
Rocky Mountain National Park in winter
Winter is the easiest season to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Timed entry reservations, required for much of the day from late May to mid-October, do not apply. You still need an entrance pass, which the park says is required 24 hours a day, every day:
| Pass | Price listed by the park |
|---|---|
| 1-day vehicle pass | $30 |
| 7-day vehicle pass | $35 |
| 1-day per person (walk-in or bicycle) | $15 |
| Park annual pass | $70 |
The park accepts debit and credit cards only at entrance stations. Winter visitors often see elk in the lower meadows, since the park explains that herds move down to lower elevations and into the Front Range in winter. Give them space: the park asks visitors to stay at least 75 feet, about two bus lengths, from elk.
How elk get through winter
The park’s own description of elk explains what you are seeing. Both sexes grow a thicker coat each winter and shed it in spring. Herds can number a few hundred animals and move with the food: up to the tundra in summer, down to lower valleys in winter. An elk eats about 20 pounds of vegetation a day, mostly in the morning and evening. Bulls drop their antlers each winter, and after the stress of the autumn rut they enter winter in a weakened state, which is one more reason not to approach them.
State parks near the city
Colorado’s state parks are open in winter too. If you bought the $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass when registering your car, it covers entry to all state parks. Lower-elevation parks near Denver are good for winter walks and wildlife watching when the mountains are stormy.
Indoors
Cold or stormy days are a chance to use the city’s free resources. The Denver Public Library’s 26 locations offer classes, makerspaces and community programs, and a free card lets you borrow museum and state parks passes. Newcomers can also use the library’s community resource specialists for help with services.
Looking ahead
February is the bridge to Denver’s snowiest month. March storms can be heavy and wet, and they are covered in Denver in March: The Snowiest Month and the Start of Spring. Before then, check your snow shovel and your tires, and enjoy the lengthening afternoons.