In short, what to expect from the Four Corners weather is the unexpected! This large area covers high plains, desert, and mountains where the weather can change at the drop of a hat. There’s no one answer to what the weather will be like in the Four Corners. It all depends on where and when you’re going.
Not unexpectedly, you can expect hot, dry summers, and cold and usually sunny winters. But let’s dig deeper to help make your visit a success.
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Night and Day in Four Corners Weather
At higher altitudes, you’ll likely notice a greater difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Daytime and nighttime temperatures can be 20 to 30 degrees different. That’s the reason wearing layers of clothing is essential so you can layer up and down throughout the day.
Protecting Yourself From the Sun
Whether you’re in the desert or the mountains, you’ll be at an elevation higher than sea level in the Four Corners, which is perched on the Colorado Plateau. Your skin will be drier and burn more easily, so drink plenty of water, use and reapply sunscreen, wear sun-protective clothing and a hat, and use lip balm with SPF. That applies equally to summer and winter! Be sure to increase your fluid intake to help prevent altitude-related illness, too.
Summer Monsoons
Summer, of course, is the hottest time of the year. Fortunately, as we love to say, it’s a dry heat with low humidity. Because the Four Corners region is so varied, you’ll have to check the weather specifically for the place you’re visiting.
For example, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park experiences summer temperatures in the lower 90s in July and August while in Durango, Colorado, the average temperature in the hottest month, July, is about 85 degrees. However, the hottest day recorded in Durango was a toasty 102!
In this part of the country, summer monsoons may come on suddenly in the afternoon. You can go from a perfectly cloudless blue sky in the morning to dramatic thunderstorms later in the day. The plus side is that they serve to cool down a hot summer day very quickly!
This sudden influx of great quantities of water means that you need to be extra careful, especially when crossing low points in the road or arroyos. Arroyos are seasonal paths that water follows. They’ll be dry most of the time and then quickly attain flood stage after a thunderstorm upstream. Don’t cross a riverbed or arroyo when water is running.
Water is a gift in the dry parts of the Southwest, so we’re happy to get it. We just have to practice common sense if it’s really coming down.
Sensational Spring Four Corners Weather
Spring has changeable weather, warmer than you’d expect one day and colder the next. Those layers we suggested will really come in handy in spring and fall. But it’s a beautiful time of year with plants greening back up after winter and won’t be as busy with tourists.
Beautiful Fall
Many Four Corners residents claim that fall is their favorite season, when temperatures are milder, trees change color, and outdoor adventures await. Temperatures are similar to spring, but winds are usually not nearly as strong and prevalent.
You do have to be aware in both spring and fall that it can snow, especially in the mountains. Weather forecasts are so variable from day to day that we often say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes!” You can have snow one day and be wearing shorts a couple of days later. Bottom line: Keep your eye on the weather forecasts.
Winter Wonderland
Depending on where you are in the Four Corners, winter weather can include snow and rain along with beautiful bluebird skies. If you’re a fan of cooler temperatures and snowsports, you’ll love the Four Corners in winter! In some areas, snow will measure in the feet while at lower elevations, it may melt by afternoon.
How cold does it get in the Four Corners? Again, it depends on when and where you are. The city of Durango has sunny winter days with temperatures ranging between lows down to 10 and highs up to 50 degrees. The city says they get about 71 inches of snow a winter, but that snow removal is manageable.
Nearby Cortez, at an elevation a bit over 6,000 feet above sea level, has similar winter temperatures with highs averaging in the 40s and lows in the teens.
Further south and at a lower elevation, like Farmington, New Mexico, winter lows are generally in the mid-20s at night and low 40s to 50s during the day. Of course, there are always cold snaps that throw off the averages! The coldest temperature recorded in Farmington was -22 degrees!
Back to Monument Valley, winter daytime temperatures are often in the 40s and 50s while dropping below freezing overnight. If you want to see this iconic location covered in snow, December and January are the best times although it is possible for the park to receive snow anytime from November to March, usually melting by the end of the day.
Four Corners Weather Summary
So, all in all, Four Corners weather varies widely, but overall you’ll find many beautiful days to enjoy the region’s fascinating culture, history, and geography. Whether you’re heading to the mountains of Colorado or the desert of Utah, just be prepared for the unexpected!
