Climate Variations in Hotchkiss & Crawford: In general, Hotchkiss is several degrees warmer, and slightly drier than Paonia’s averages; however, the differences are not very noticeable. Crawford, at an elevation of 6,549ft., has a climate that does sometimes differ noticeably from its “lowland” neighbors. Crawford is normally about 3-5°F degrees cooler than Paonia or Hotchkiss, with a somewhat greater winter snowfall. The general rule on climate in the North Fork Valley is this… The higher in elevation and the closer to the mountains you are, the greater the precipitation and the lower the average temperatures.
Climate Summary: 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.
The Valley does not tend towards a climate of extremes, and is not prone to natural disasters. Thunderstorms and blizzards in the Valley do not have the punch of their counterparts in many other parts of the country, and tornadoes are mostly unheard of here. Flooding is rarely a concern unless you are in close proximity to a river. The mountains to the east are volcanic in nature, but have been extinct for many millions of years. Several mild earthquakes have been reported over the past hundred years. The most noticeable, in 1922, toppled the spire of Needlerock east of Crawford, but did little other damage. The National Geographical Risk Index which rates the risk of natural disasters in different areas of the country assesses risks in the Valley as follows (with 100 being a national average): Earthquake 138, Hail 3, Tornado 0, Weather 1, Wind 2 (Paonia 37). (Source: www.livingchoices.com)