As Halloween approaches, Denver’s weather can be as unpredictable as the costumes on its streets. From sunny skies to snow-covered pumpkins, the Mile High City has experienced a variety of spooky weather patterns on October 31st over the years. Let’s take a look at the climatological history of Halloween in Denver, based on data from 1872 to the present.
Temperatures: From Toasty to Bone-Chilling
Denver has seen both warm and frigid Halloweens. The warmest on record occurred in 2016 and 1950, with temperatures soaring to a balmy 79°F—perfect for trick-or-treaters in lightweight costumes. On the flip side, the coldest Halloween came in 2019, with a chilling 7°F, a true test for anyone braving the cold in thin costumes.
On average, Denver’s Halloween high temperature hovers around 57.1°F, with lows averaging 31.4°F, meaning a jacket is usually a must by nightfall.
Top 3 Warmest Halloweens:
- 79°F – 2016, 1950
- 77°F – 1999
- 76°F – 2008, 1980, 1933
Top 3 Coldest Halloweens:
- 7°F – 2019
- 10°F – 1991
- 12°F – 1905
Below are some statistics of the most extreme Halloweens in Denver recorded history, courtesy of the NWS Denver/Boulder.
| 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” | |||||
Precipitation: Wet or White?
Halloween in Denver has about a 19% chance of rain and a 12% chance of snow, giving the holiday a trick-or-treat mix when it comes to precipitation. The wettest Halloween came way back in 1889 with 0.66 inches of rain. Snow, however, tends to make an appearance less frequently. The snowiest Halloween on record was in 1972, when a whopping 8 inches blanketed the city, creating a winter wonderland for costumed kids.
Top 3 Snowiest Halloweens:
- 8 inches – 1972
- 5 inches – 1889
- 3.5 inches – 1920
The last time it snowed on Halloween was in 2018, but it was just a trace—enough to remind us that the holiday can easily shift into wintry territory.
The Extremes: Costumes vs. Cold
Denver’s Halloween weather extremes have led to some memorable events. In 2002, the cold held strong with a high of only 19°F, the lowest maximum temperature ever recorded on Halloween in the city. Those temperatures along with 1.2 inches of snow, and it was a memorable night for those daring enough to trick-or-treat.
A Look at Recent Years
Looking back at the last few Halloweens:
- 2023 saw a chilly high of 51°F with a low of 17°F but no precipitation.
- 2022 brought more pleasant weather with a high of 69°F and a low of 36°F.
- 2019, on the other hand, was one of the coldest in recent history, with a high of just 42°F and a biting low of 7°F.
What to Expect This Year?
Denver’s Halloween weather can be highly variable, so it’s best to check the forecast in advance. Whether it’s warm enough for a superhero costume or cold enough to necessitate a layered mummy look, Denverites have learned to expect the unexpected.
Whether you’re hoping for a warm and dry night or a touch of spooky snowfall, Denver’s Halloween climatology ensures one thing: it’s never boring!