The US Army Signal Corps operated a weather station on the summit of Pikes Peak during two periods in the late 1800's, starting in 1874. The logs from the 1875-1878 period were reviewed to provide some averages and extremes in weather conditions.

 Mean summit temperature is 19 degrees, highest recorded temp was 64 in July and the coldest was -39 in December. The maximum daily temperature range is in July and the minimum is in September (14 degrees). Daily temp range is about 1/2 that o

Minimum precipitation is Feb and June (June appears odd, but that was a summary published by Signal Corps). Maximum precipitation is July and April. Snow was recorded in every month except one very warm August (1875-1878).

Highest average wind is in January at 26 with the lowest in July (12.5) and August (12.3). Highest wind velocity is proportional to the lowest mean temperature. The period of 0200-0400 is the windiest with 23 mph average. 1100-1200 is the weakest with

Mean cloudiness percentum is 40%. November is the lowest with 33%; July is the highest with 74%. Generally, late spring and late summer are the cloudiest. September to January are the least cloudy.

And the most electrical activity, including static, seems to be in periods of light, soft snow. Very interesting narratives about St. Elmos fire during these periods!

For the period of 1875-1878:

(Temperature extreme averages take the max and min for the particular month over four years and average the four years.

Monthly high: 8.1 F

Monthly low: -3.7 F

Precip: 8-10 days per month with snow

0600 average: 27.0 MPH

1500 average: 28.0 MPH

2100 average: 28.0 MPH

Monthly high: 10.6 F

Monthly low: -2.9 F

Precip: 9-10 days per month with snow

0600 average: 26.3 MPH

1500 average: 22.5 MPH

2100 average: 24.8 MPH

Monthly high: 14.0 F

Monthly low: -0.8 F

Precip: 9-11 days per month with snow, some hail, fog

0600 average: 28.8 MPH

1500 average: 24.5 MPH

2100 average: 26.8 MPH

Monthly high: 19.7 F

Monthly low: 4.6 F

Precip: 12-13 days per month with snow, some hail

0600 average: 25.0 MPH

1500 average: 19.8 MPH

2100 average: 23.8 MPH

Monthly high: 28.4 F

Monthly low: 14.3 F

Precip: 17 days of snow, some hail and rain

0600 average: 25.3 MPH

1500 average: 22.0 MPH

2100 average: 24.0 MPH

Monthly high: 38.5 F

Monthly low: 24.6 F

Precip: 9 days of snow, 9 days with hail

0600 average: 23.3 MPH

1500 average: 17.3 MPH

2100 average: 18.8 MPH

Monthly high: 47.6 F

Monthly low: 33.7 F

Precip: 7 days snow, 15 days of rain/hail

0600 average: 15.0 MPH

1500 average: 11.8 MPH

2100 average: 12.3 MPH

Monthly high: 48.1 F

Monthly low: 32.9 F

Precip: Snow, rain or hail 90% of the days, mainly rain

0600 average: 15.0 MPH

1500 average: 11.5 MPH

2100 average: 13.0 MPH

Monthly high: 39.2F

Monthly low: 24.3F

Precip: Averaged snow 10 days in month. Rain and hail about five days. Some days had both, so days with precipitation was a little less than 50% of the month.

0600 average: 17.5 MPH

1500 average: 15.0 MPH

2100 average: 18.8 MPH

Monthly high: 28.4 F

Monthly low: 14.2 F

Precip: 8-9 days with snow

0600 average: 22.8 MPH

1500 average: 17.3 MPH

2100 average: 22.3 MPH

Monthly high: 16.0 F

Monthly low: 3.9 F

Precip: 9-10 days with snow

0600 average: 23.5 MPH

1500 average: 22.3 MPH

2100 average: 22.3 MPH

Monthly high: 10.7 F

Monthly low: 2.7 F

Precip: 9-12 days with snow

0600 average: 22.8 MPH

1500 average: 20.8 MPH

2100 average: 22.0 MPH

Questions or comments:

Larry Dunn

ldunn@divide.net