Climate in the North Fork Valley

The North Fork Valley has a semi-arid, high desert climate. Because the dry air was a benefit to those with lung ailments, many early settlers moved here for health reasons. Winters are pronounced, but generally without “mountain-scale” snowfall. Normally 3”- 4” per snowfall is considered a significant event. Many snowfalls are in the 1” – 2” range. Snowfalls of up to 12-14” can occur in the Valley, but are rare. Temperatures can dip to below zero; however, the dry and normally still air makes even cold days tolerable. Spring and winter dance together from March through May. The weather can be cool and snowy one day and sunny and beautiful the next. The last average day of frost in the Valley is about May 15th. Summers are normally quite warm. Mid summer days often reach into the 90’s and sometimes into the low 100s. Evenings bring relief from the daytime heat, and are generally very pleasant, with as much as a 30-40°F differential between daytime and nighttime temperatures. At this high altitude, keep in mind that the atmosphere is thinner than at low altitudes, and as a consequence, sunlight is far more potent. The first signs of autumn begin in late August or early September. Fall can last for several weeks or a couple of months – each year tends to decide for itself. Great leaf viewing in the mountains varies from year to year as a consequence of the weather. The height of color usually falls between the third week of September and the first week of October.