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Denver's Halloween Weather Statistics

 Denver Climatology   
Denver Christmas History   

Updated Through Halloween 2023
National Weather Service, Boulder, CO

There seems to be a popular belief in Denver that it almost always snows on the day that the goblins and ghosts head through the neighborhoods seeking sweet delights. Let us take a quick look through 58 years of weather statistics (1954-2011) for Denver to see if in fact that snow actually plays a role on Halloween.

If you examine only October 31st...snow has only fallen 10 times (which includes trace amounts) during the past 58 years of which 8 of the days had measurable snowfall. This works out to be about once every 7 years or so or 14%. However...if you include the days that had snow on the ground on October 31st but no snow actually fell during the trick or treat times (5pm -8pm), you can add in an additional 10 times.

Then...to this total..if you include the number of times snow fell on November 1st, this increases the total by 13, which will now bring the grand total of snow days associated with the period October 31 through November 1st to 33 times. Since this total equates to approximately 56 percent of the time during the 58 year period...more than half of the time...it is no wonder that people think of snow when Halloween is discussed in Denver. And if you add in the days when there was precipitation but no snow on October 31st...the total days comes to 41 which then tallies up to a whopping 70.6 percent!

Just last year...2011...on Halloween...there was no snowfall recorded on Halloween and none on the ground. However just five days before, on the 26th, Denver had received 8 inches of snow and the following day, on November 1, we recorded 2.0 inches. The high for the last day of October was 71 degrees and the low was 40 degrees which equates to an average of 56 degrees. The average temperature during the trick-or-treat hours was a very comfortable 58 degrees.

Snow was definitely upon us on the old witches and ghosts evening during 2004. Depending on where you were...snowfall amounts around northeast Colorado ranged from 0.3 inches at Greeley up to 14.5 inches at Aspen Park. The Denver International Airport reported 1.4 inches. As forecast...the area started off with rain around 6pm which then quickly changed to snow. By 8pm...only snow was falling. Here are some of the snowfall reports from around the Denver metro area: Bailey 7.0 inches... Larkspur 6.5 inches...Evergreen 5.0 inches... Aurora 4.3 inches...Chatfield Reservoir 6.9 inches...Thornton 2.8 inches... Lafayette 1.5 inches...Sedalia 10.0 inches...Jamestown 6.5 inches...Boulder 2.8 inches...Morrison 5.5 inches... Englewood 5.0 inches...Denver 3.7 inches...Castle Rock 6.8 inches and .Centennial recorded 8.0 inches.

During Halloween 2002...Mother Nature turned on the winter machine and the trick-or-treaters marched through some snow as they collected their sweet goodies. At Stapleton Airport...1.2 inches of snow was recorded on Halloween with an average snow depth of 2 inches. As of 2002...this was only the 7th occurrence of snow in Denver on October 31st since 1954. Temperatures for the kiddos during trick-or-treat time was in the mid to upper teens. Snowfall was also recorded on the day before Halloween...2.2 inches and again on November 1st...0.6 inch.

Previous to 2002...the last measurable snow occurred in 1989. There was a mixture of rain and snow early in the day before changing to all snow late in the day. A total of 3.4 inches of snow fell with another 1.1 inches on November 1st. In 1992...nearly half of an inch of liquid precipitation... 0.42 inch...fell but no snow was recorded because during the time period of the rain... Temperatures were just above the snow temperature threshold.

Mother Nature played a real trick on the Denver treaters for Halloween in 1972. The high on that particular jack-o-lantern day was only 30 degrees and the low bottomed out at a very cold 15 degrees. Eight inches of snow was recorded on October 31st and to top that off... An additional 5.8 inches of snow fell on November 1st.

During Halloween...2003...drizzle...light rain and freezing drizzle accompanied the ghosts and goblins. Some very light snow did occur across parts of the metro area but not at Stapleton International or Denver International. Average temperature during trick or treat time was 27.5 degrees.

During the past 57 years...the average temperature during the time most kids are out (5pm-8pm) is 42.5 degrees. The coldest trick-or-treat period was in 2002...with an average temperature of only 18 degrees. The warmest trick-or-treat time was in 1990 with an average temperature of 63 degrees.

In 1999...Halloween day turned out to be the warmest October 31st since we started keeping these Halloween statistics in 1954. But during the 5pm to 8pm time frame...1990 actually had a warmer average temperature with a 63 degree average compared to 59 degree average trick or treat temperature in 1999. That was 23 degrees warmer than the average temperature just one year prior in 1998 when the mercury averaged only a very chilly 36 degrees.

The average high temperature for the last day of October is 59 degrees while the average low temperature is 31 degrees. Note: the temperature normally drops about 8 degrees from sunset until the time that the kiddos are collecting their treats.

Top 10 Warmest Halloween's   Top 10 Warmest Min Halloween's
(1872-Present)   (1872-Present)
Rank High Year   Rank Low Year
1 79 1950   1 51 1933
  79 2016   2 49 1945
3 77 1999   3 47 1987
4 76 2008     47 1950
  76 1980     47 1934
  76 1933   6 46 1938
  76 1898   7 45 2016
  76 1875   8 44 1915
9 75 1938     44 1907
10 73 1988   10 44 1898
  73 1945        
  73 1937        
  73 1887        
  73 1884        
             
             
Top 10 Coldest Halloween's   Top 10 Lowest Max Halloween's
(1872-Present)   (1872-Present)
Rank Low Year   Rank High Year
1 7 2019   1 19 2002
2 10 1991   2 28 1874
3 12 1905   3 29 1951
4 13 1874   4 30 2003
5 15 1972     30 1972
  15 2002   6 31 1920
7 17 2023   7 32 1996
8 18 1935     32 1991
9 19 1900     32 1889
10 20 1920   10 34 1912
  20 1879        
             
             
Top 10 Wettest Halloween's   Top 10 Snowiest Halloween's
(1872-Present)   (1882-Present)
Rank Total Year   Rank Total Year
1 0.66 1889   1 8 1972
2 0.53 1972   2 5 1889
3 0.51 1986   3 3.5 1920
4 0.42 1992   4 3.4 1989
5 0.39 1977   5 3.3 1977
6 0.38 1985   6 2.9 1912
7 0.27 2004   7 2.5 1943
8 0.26 1968   8 2 1951
  0.26 1920   9 1.4 1966
10 0.24 1989   10 1.2 2002
          1.2 1986
             
Top 10 Driest Halloween's   Top 10 Least Snowiest Halloween's
(1872-Present)   (1882-Present)
Rank Low Year   Rank Total Year
Numerous Years with "0"   Numerous Years with "0"

 

Historical Data

Date Max Temp Min Temp Average Precipitation Snowfall Snow Depth
10/31/2023 51 17 34 0 0 2
10/31/2022 69 36 52.5 0 0 0
10/31/2021 44 34 39 0 0 0
10/31/2020 65 31 48 0 0 0
10/31/2019 42 7 24.5 0 0 4
10/31/2018 46 30 38 T T 0
10/31/2017 52 26 39 0 0 0
10/31/2016 79 45 62 0 0 0
10/31/2015 69 37 53 0 0 0
10/31/2014 58 34 46 0 0 0
10/31/2013 56 31 43.5 0 0 0
10/31/2012 70 41 55.5 0 0 0
10/31/2011 71 40 55.5 0 0 0
10/31/2010 62 37 49.5 T 0 0
10/31/2009 55 32 43.5 0 0 0
10/31/2008 76 38 57 0 0 0
10/31/2007 48 32 40 0.01 T 0
10/31/2006 38 23 30.5 0 0 0
10/31/2005 55 31 43 0 0 0
10/31/2004 55 24 39.5 0.27 0 0
10/31/2003 30 23 26.5 0.07 0 0
10/31/2002 19 15 17 0.01 1.2 2
10/31/2001 71 37 54 0 0 0
10/31/2000 46 33 39.5 0.07 0 0
10/31/1999 77 31 54 0 0 0
10/31/1998 38 34 36 0.06 0 0
10/31/1997 59 38 48.5 T 0 0
10/31/1996 32 28 30 T T 0
10/31/1995 45 27 36 0 0 0
10/31/1994 59 27 43 0 0 0
10/31/1993 65 27 46 0 0 1
10/31/1992 53 35 44 0.42 0 0
10/31/1991 32 10 21 0 0 3
10/31/1990 72 37 54.5 0 0 0
10/31/1989 59 25 42 0.24 3.4 0
10/31/1988 73 34 53.5 0 0 0
10/31/1987 62 47 54.5 0 0 0
10/31/1986 44 33 38.5 0.51 1.2 0
10/31/1985 59 36 47.5 0.38 0 0
10/31/1984 67 24 45.5 0 0 0
10/31/1983 71 42 56.5 T 0 0
10/31/1982 53 34 43.5 0.04 0 0
10/31/1981 53 36 44.5 0 0 0
10/31/1980 76 36 56 0 0 0
10/31/1979 40 23 31.5 0 0 T
10/31/1978 59 32 45.5 0 0 0
10/31/1977 56 28 42 0.39 3.3 0
10/31/1976 64 31 47.5 0 0 T
10/31/1975 55 37 46 T 0 0
10/31/1974 56 28 42 0 0 0
10/31/1973 62 38 50 0 0 0
10/31/1972 30 15 22.5 0.53 8 2
10/31/1971 54 24 39 0 0 T
10/31/1970 53 21 37 0 0 0
10/31/1969 45 24 34.5 0 0 T
10/31/1968 63 37 50 0.26 0 0
10/31/1967 63 33 48 0 0 0
10/31/1966 48 26 37 0.16 1.4 0
10/31/1965 66 29 47.5 0 0 0
10/31/1964 66 35 50.5 0 0 0
10/31/1963 46 27 36.5 0.16 1.1 0
10/31/1962 71 31 51 0 0 0
10/31/1961 56 29 42.5 0 0 1
10/31/1960 61 34 47.5 0 0 0
10/31/1959 48 21 34.5 0 0 4
10/31/1958 57 28 42.5 0 0 0
10/31/1957 70 39 54.5 0 0 0
10/31/1956 65 32 48.5 0 0 0
10/31/1955 65 35 50 T T 0
10/31/1954 58 24 41 0 0 0
10/31/1953 68 34 51 0 0 0
10/31/1952 72 38 55 0 0 0
10/31/1951 29 21 25 0.06 2 T
10/31/1950 79 47 63 0 0 0
10/31/1949 67 28 47.5 0 0 M
10/31/1948 61 37 49 0 0 M
10/31/1947 56 38 47 0 0 0
10/31/1946 55 31 43 0 0 0
10/31/1945 73 49 61 T 0 0
10/31/1944 67 43 55 0 0 0
10/31/1943 45 29 37 0.21 2.5 0
10/31/1942 54 31 42.5 0 0 0
10/31/1941 50 25 37.5 0 0 0
10/31/1940 56 35 45.5 0 0 0
10/31/1939 60 37 48.5 0 0 0
10/31/1938 75 46 60.5 0 0 0
10/31/1937 73 36 54.5 0 0 0
10/31/1936 62 41 51.5 T 0 0
10/31/1935 41 18 29.5 0.04 0.6 0
10/31/1934 65 47 56 0 0 0
10/31/1933 76 51 63.5 0 0 0
10/31/1932 48 25 36.5 0 0 0
10/31/1931 63 26 44.5 0 0 0
10/31/1930 72 36 54 0 0 0
10/31/1929 36 23 29.5 0.01 1.1 4
10/31/1928 42 24 33 0.15 0.4 T
10/31/1927 58 34 46 0 0 0
10/31/1926 62 27 44.5 0 0 T
10/31/1925 58 35 46.5 0 0 0
10/31/1924 69 34 51.5 0 0 0
10/31/1923 41 25 33 0 0 0
10/31/1922 55 29 42 0 0 0
10/31/1921 62 36 49 0 0 0
10/31/1920 31 20 25.5 0.26 3.5 M
10/31/1919 47 27 37 0 0 M
10/31/1918 70 29 49.5 0 0 M
10/31/1917 45 30 37.5 0 0 M
10/31/1916 72 37 54.5 0 0 M
10/31/1915 72 44 58 0 0 M
10/31/1914 70 40 55 0 0 M
10/31/1913 44 24 34 0 0 M
10/31/1912 34 25 29.5 0.09 2.9 M
10/31/1911 50 26 38 T 0 M
10/31/1910 68 38 53 0 0 M
10/31/1909 55 32 43.5 0.05 T M
10/31/1908 60 36 48 0 0 M
10/31/1907 63 44 53.5 T 0 M
10/31/1906 68 36 52 0 0 M
10/31/1905 47 12 29.5 0 T M
10/31/1904 65 32 48.5 0 0 M
10/31/1903 45 21 33 0 0 M
10/31/1902 68 37 52.5 0 0 M
10/31/1901 59 32 45.5 0 0 M
10/31/1900 52 19 35.5 0 0 M
1899-10-31 49 38 43.5 T T M
1898-10-31 76 44 60 0 0 M
1897-10-31 49 25 37 0 0 M
1896-10-31 64 33 48.5 0 0 M
1895-10-31 60 25 42.5 0 0 M
1894-10-31 56 43 49.5 0 0 M
1893-10-31 69 41 55 0 0 M
1892-10-31 58 29 43.5 0.06 0.2 M
1891-10-31 50 26 38 0 0 M
1890-10-31 71 33 52 0 0 M
1889-10-31 32 26 29 0.66 5 M
1888-10-31 69 41 55 0 0 M
1887-10-31 73 34 53.5 0 0 M
1886-10-31 71 40 55.5 0 0 M
1885-10-31 53 37 45 0 0 M
1884-10-31 73 38 55.5 0 0 M
1883-10-31 50 33 41.5 0 0 M
1882-10-31 52 32 42 0 0 M
1881-10-31 54 34 44 0.05 M M
1880-10-31 55 26 40.5 0 M M
1879-10-31 38 20 29 0.02 M M
1878-10-31 70 28 49 0 M M
1877-10-31 37 22 29.5 0.1 M M
1876-10-31 57 27 42 0 M M
1875-10-31 76 36 56 0 M M
1874-10-31 28 13 20.5 0 M M
1873-10-31 52 22 37 0 M M
1872-10-31 51 31 41 0 M M