Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Ouray (USC00056203), Colorado, United States, with 114 years of record.
Key Facts for Ouray
Ouray (USC00056203) is a weather station in Colorado, United States at 38.02 latitude and -107.67 longitude, 2,390 m (7,840 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1893 to 2006, 114 years of record.
1,464 records set at Ouray still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Ouray set a daily record low minimum temperature of -1.7 C (28.9 F) on 29 May 2006.
About the Station
Location: Colorado, United States, 38.02 latitude, -107.67 longitude.
Elevation: 2,390 m (7,840 ft).
Period of record: 1893 to 2006, 114 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd.
Daily Record Envelope and 2026
0 days at or beyond a record
Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Ouray. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
Daily record high and record low at Ouray, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
15.6 C (60.1 F)
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
16.1 C (61.0 F)
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
20.0 C (68.0 F)
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
23.9 C (75.0 F)
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
n/a
n/a
May
28.9 C (84.0 F)
-7.8 C (18.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
35.6 C (96.1 F)
-2.8 C (27.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
32.8 C (91.0 F)
0.6 C (33.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1.1 C (34.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
30.6 C (87.1 F)
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
28.9 C (84.0 F)
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
23.9 C (75.0 F)
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
15.6 C (60.1 F)
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Ouray still stand. 1896 holds the most, with 37.
Standing records at Ouray by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1893
2
1894
2
1895
34
1896
37
1915
2
1943
2
1945
2
1947
29
1948
34
1949
27
1950
37
1951
23
1952
21
1953
21
1954
26
1955
29
1956
31
1957
17
1958
27
1959
24
1960
34
1961
21
1962
27
1963
30
1964
16
1965
13
1966
21
1967
30
1968
17
1969
21
1970
18
1971
33
1972
22
1973
9
1974
8
1975
21
1976
2
1977
16
1978
23
1979
35
1980
37
1981
20
1982
17
1983
18
1984
30
1985
21
1986
29
1987
16
1988
27
1989
37
1990
24
1991
25
1992
24
1993
13
1994
12
1995
21
1996
23
1997
24
1998
29
1999
25
2000
31
2001
16
2002
17
2003
27
2004
31
2005
17
2006
9
All-Time Record Progression
3 new records
3 all-time records were set at Ouray between 19 March 1984 and 14 July 2002. Each dot is a new record.
When Ouray set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1984-03-19
Record snow depth
Record snow depth 119.4 cm (47.0 in)
1984-03-27
Record snow depth
Record snow depth 124.5 cm (49.0 in)
2002-07-14
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 19.4 C (66.9 F)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Jan: 61.0 mm (2.4 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Ouray. The most was 61.0 mm (2.4 in) on 16 January 1895.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Ouray
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
16 January 1895
Feb
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
22 February 1968
Mar
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
14 March 1944
Apr
41.1 mm (1.6 in)
19 April 1990
May
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
14 May 1982
Jun
34.5 mm (1.4 in)
24 June 1969
Jul
39.6 mm (1.6 in)
19 July 1893
Aug
31.2 mm (1.2 in)
24 August 1982
Sep
56.1 mm (2.2 in)
10 September 2003
Oct
51.6 mm (2.0 in)
3 October 1996
Nov
33.8 mm (1.3 in)
12 November 1978
Dec
30.5 mm (1.2 in)
7 December 1966
Period of Record Coverage
1893 to 2006
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
68 years of record at Ouray, 1893 to 2006. 11 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1893, 1894, 1896, 1915, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1950 and others.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 57 complete years at Ouray, 1895 to 2005. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 6.8 C (44.3 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1947, at 5.5 C (42.0 F), and the warmest was 1954, at 8.6 C (47.4 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.8 C (3.2 F).
Annual mean temperature at Ouray as warming stripes, 1895 to 2005
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1895
6.3 C
-0.49 C
1947
5.5 C
-1.30 C
1948
7.0 C
+0.16 C
1949
7.1 C
+0.24 C
1951
7.0 C
+0.21 C
1952
6.8 C
+0.00 C
1953
7.4 C
+0.53 C
1954
8.6 C
+1.72 C
1955
6.6 C
-0.27 C
1956
7.4 C
+0.54 C
1957
7.0 C
+0.21 C
1958
8.2 C
+1.35 C
1959
7.7 C
+0.87 C
1960
7.5 C
+0.70 C
1961
6.9 C
+0.09 C
1962
7.7 C
+0.83 C
1963
8.0 C
+1.16 C
1964
6.0 C
-0.79 C
1965
6.6 C
-0.27 C
1966
7.2 C
+0.34 C
1967
7.2 C
+0.34 C
1968
6.4 C
-0.48 C
1969
7.0 C
+0.20 C
1970
6.6 C
-0.24 C
1971
6.7 C
-0.16 C
1972
7.3 C
+0.51 C
1973
6.4 C
-0.40 C
1974
6.7 C
-0.10 C
1975
5.9 C
-0.97 C
1978
6.9 C
+0.04 C
1979
6.0 C
-0.86 C
1980
7.2 C
+0.40 C
1981
7.4 C
+0.55 C
1982
5.7 C
-1.17 C
1983
6.3 C
-0.57 C
1984
5.8 C
-1.06 C
1985
6.5 C
-0.38 C
1986
7.1 C
+0.26 C
1987
6.6 C
-0.23 C
1988
6.7 C
-0.17 C
1989
7.4 C
+0.60 C
1990
7.1 C
+0.25 C
1991
6.0 C
-0.86 C
1992
6.4 C
-0.47 C
1993
6.1 C
-0.73 C
1994
6.9 C
+0.06 C
1995
6.5 C
-0.32 C
1996
6.9 C
+0.08 C
1997
5.9 C
-0.95 C
1998
6.6 C
-0.23 C
1999
6.8 C
-0.03 C
2000
7.4 C
+0.57 C
2001
7.1 C
+0.23 C
2002
6.8 C
-0.01 C
2003
7.3 C
+0.51 C
2004
6.3 C
-0.51 C
2005
7.1 C
+0.29 C
The fitted trend in annual mean temperature here over 1895 to 2005 is -0.05 C (-0.13 to 0.03) per decade. The interval includes zero, so the trend is not clearly different from zero. In Fahrenheit: -0.1 F (-0.2 to 0.1) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 57 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Ouray
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
-0.05 C (-0.13 to 0.03) per decade
-0.1 F (-0.2 to 0.1) per decade
1895 to 2005
57
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily maximum
-0.2 C (-0.3 to -0.1) per decade
-0.3 F (-0.5 to -0.1) per decade
1895 to 2005
57
Fall
Mean daily minimum
0.08 C (-0.01 to 0.16) per decade
0.14 F (-0.01 to 0.28) per decade
1895 to 2005
57
Not clearly different from zero
A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.
Extremes by Year
1893 to 2006
Yearly extremes at Ouray: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1896
30.0 C (86.0 F)
68
Coldest night (TNn)
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1963
-20.8 C (-5.5 F)
68
Wettest day (Rx1day)
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1895
28.2 mm (1.1 in)
69
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
105.4 mm (4.1 in)
1895
51.7 mm (2.0 in)
69
Longest dry spell (CDD)
40 days
2002
24 days
69
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Ouray, 1893 to 2006. The record is 35.6 C (96.1 F) in 1896, marked on the chart; the median year is 30.0 C (86.0 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Ouray by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1893
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1894
15.6 C (60.1 F)
1895
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1896
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1915
10.0 C (50.0 F)
1943
23.3 C (73.9 F)
1944
8.9 C (48.0 F)
1945
21.1 C (70.0 F)
1946
n/a
1947
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1948
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1949
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1950
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1951
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1952
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1953
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1954
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1955
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1956
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1957
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1958
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1959
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1960
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1961
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1962
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1963
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1964
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1965
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1966
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1967
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1968
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1969
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1970
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1971
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1972
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1973
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1974
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1975
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1976
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1977
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1978
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1979
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1980
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1981
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1982
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1983
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1984
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1985
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1986
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1987
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1988
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1989
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1990
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1991
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1992
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1993
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1994
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1995
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1996
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1997
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1998
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1999
29.4 C (84.9 F)
2000
30.0 C (86.0 F)
2001
30.0 C (86.0 F)
2002
32.2 C (90.0 F)
2003
31.7 C (89.1 F)
2004
29.4 C (84.9 F)
2005
31.7 C (89.1 F)
2006
25.0 C (77.0 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Ouray, 1893 to 2006. The record is -30.0 C (-22.0 F) in 1963, marked on the chart; the median year is -20.8 C (-5.5 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Ouray by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1893
7.8 C (46.0 F)
1894
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1895
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1896
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1915
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1943
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1944
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1945
-3.3 C (26.1 F)
1946
n/a
1947
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1948
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1949
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1950
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1951
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1952
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1953
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1954
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1955
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1956
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1957
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1958
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1959
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1960
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1961
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1962
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1963
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1964
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1965
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1966
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1967
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1968
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1969
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1970
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1971
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1972
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1973
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1974
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1975
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1976
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1977
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1978
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1979
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1980
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1981
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1982
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1983
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1984
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1985
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1986
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1987
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1988
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1989
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1990
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1991
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1992
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1993
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
1994
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1995
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1996
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1997
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1998
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1999
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
2000
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
2001
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
2002
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
2003
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
2004
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
2005
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
2006
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Ouray, 1893 to 2006. The record is 61.0 mm (2.4 in) in 1895, marked on the chart; the median year is 28.2 mm (1.1 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Ouray by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1893
39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1894
14.0 mm (0.6 in)
1895
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1896
22.9 mm (0.9 in)
1915
31.8 mm (1.3 in)
1943
25.1 mm (1.0 in)
1944
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1945
23.9 mm (0.9 in)
1946
22.4 mm (0.9 in)
1947
39.1 mm (1.5 in)
1948
25.7 mm (1.0 in)
1949
18.3 mm (0.7 in)
1950
22.6 mm (0.9 in)
1951
25.4 mm (1.0 in)
1952
16.8 mm (0.7 in)
1953
28.2 mm (1.1 in)
1954
20.1 mm (0.8 in)
1955
16.8 mm (0.7 in)
1956
14.2 mm (0.6 in)
1957
20.1 mm (0.8 in)
1958
18.8 mm (0.7 in)
1959
30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1960
19.6 mm (0.8 in)
1961
34.8 mm (1.4 in)
1962
30.2 mm (1.2 in)
1963
40.1 mm (1.6 in)
1964
28.4 mm (1.1 in)
1965
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1966
30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1967
33.8 mm (1.3 in)
1968
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
1969
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1970
32.8 mm (1.3 in)
1971
33.8 mm (1.3 in)
1972
31.5 mm (1.2 in)
1973
35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1974
19.3 mm (0.8 in)
1975
25.7 mm (1.0 in)
1976
18.8 mm (0.7 in)
1977
32.8 mm (1.3 in)
1978
33.8 mm (1.3 in)
1979
38.4 mm (1.5 in)
1980
17.3 mm (0.7 in)
1981
24.1 mm (0.9 in)
1982
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1983
30.2 mm (1.2 in)
1984
28.2 mm (1.1 in)
1985
32.3 mm (1.3 in)
1986
33.3 mm (1.3 in)
1987
23.1 mm (0.9 in)
1988
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1989
20.6 mm (0.8 in)
1990
41.1 mm (1.6 in)
1991
21.1 mm (0.8 in)
1992
28.2 mm (1.1 in)
1993
22.9 mm (0.9 in)
1994
21.6 mm (0.9 in)
1995
27.7 mm (1.1 in)
1996
51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1997
24.9 mm (1.0 in)
1998
26.7 mm (1.1 in)
1999
34.8 mm (1.4 in)
2000
24.6 mm (1.0 in)
2001
32.8 mm (1.3 in)
2002
26.7 mm (1.1 in)
2003
56.1 mm (2.2 in)
2004
32.3 mm (1.3 in)
2005
35.8 mm (1.4 in)
2006
20.3 mm (0.8 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Ouray, 1893 to 2006. The record is 105.4 mm (4.1 in) in 1895, marked on the chart; the median year is 51.7 mm (2.0 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Ouray by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1893
39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1894
27.5 mm (1.1 in)
1895
105.4 mm (4.1 in)
1896
48.2 mm (1.9 in)
1915
52.1 mm (2.1 in)
1943
32.7 mm (1.3 in)
1944
59.3 mm (2.3 in)
1945
48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1946
35.9 mm (1.4 in)
1947
71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1948
47.3 mm (1.9 in)
1949
29.3 mm (1.2 in)
1950
37.4 mm (1.5 in)
1951
27.0 mm (1.1 in)
1952
32.6 mm (1.3 in)
1953
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1954
37.3 mm (1.5 in)
1955
35.8 mm (1.4 in)
1956
32.0 mm (1.3 in)
1957
54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1958
34.2 mm (1.3 in)
1959
69.2 mm (2.7 in)
1960
30.7 mm (1.2 in)
1961
52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1962
70.3 mm (2.8 in)
1963
50.3 mm (2.0 in)
1964
61.3 mm (2.4 in)
1965
74.2 mm (2.9 in)
1966
66.5 mm (2.6 in)
1967
42.1 mm (1.7 in)
1968
43.9 mm (1.7 in)
1969
80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1970
59.2 mm (2.3 in)
1971
43.4 mm (1.7 in)
1972
50.6 mm (2.0 in)
1973
54.7 mm (2.2 in)
1974
32.8 mm (1.3 in)
1975
51.7 mm (2.0 in)
1976
30.7 mm (1.2 in)
1977
35.8 mm (1.4 in)
1978
65.8 mm (2.6 in)
1979
50.1 mm (2.0 in)
1980
33.4 mm (1.3 in)
1981
53.4 mm (2.1 in)
1982
78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1983
50.5 mm (2.0 in)
1984
59.2 mm (2.3 in)
1985
62.5 mm (2.5 in)
1986
57.6 mm (2.3 in)
1987
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1988
73.0 mm (2.9 in)
1989
36.9 mm (1.5 in)
1990
62.9 mm (2.5 in)
1991
60.0 mm (2.4 in)
1992
58.9 mm (2.3 in)
1993
53.6 mm (2.1 in)
1994
37.1 mm (1.5 in)
1995
54.0 mm (2.1 in)
1996
75.5 mm (3.0 in)
1997
65.8 mm (2.6 in)
1998
49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1999
64.8 mm (2.6 in)
2000
37.1 mm (1.5 in)
2001
42.5 mm (1.7 in)
2002
52.8 mm (2.1 in)
2003
79.0 mm (3.1 in)
2004
54.4 mm (2.1 in)
2005
65.3 mm (2.6 in)
2006
27.0 mm (1.1 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Ouray, 1893 to 2006. The record is 40 days in 2002, marked on the chart; the median year is 24 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Ouray by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1893
24 days
1894
13 days
1895
29 days
1896
27 days
1915
11 days
1943
22 days
1944
20 days
1945
26 days
1946
20 days
1947
14 days
1948
22 days
1949
27 days
1950
31 days
1951
25 days
1952
37 days
1953
31 days
1954
24 days
1955
27 days
1956
31 days
1957
19 days
1958
25 days
1959
26 days
1960
23 days
1961
28 days
1962
24 days
1963
27 days
1964
15 days
1965
26 days
1966
24 days
1967
23 days
1968
30 days
1969
25 days
1970
18 days
1971
24 days
1972
21 days
1973
38 days
1974
36 days
1975
20 days
1976
24 days
1977
14 days
1978
31 days
1979
23 days
1980
39 days
1981
24 days
1982
34 days
1983
16 days
1984
15 days
1985
17 days
1986
21 days
1987
27 days
1988
19 days
1989
27 days
1990
15 days
1991
24 days
1992
26 days
1993
22 days
1994
26 days
1995
18 days
1996
25 days
1997
30 days
1998
17 days
1999
33 days
2000
30 days
2001
19 days
2002
40 days
2003
27 days
2004
22 days
2005
21 days
2006
19 days
Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
57 years with a frost
Across 57 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Ouray falls on 28 May and the median first autumn frost on 25 September, which leaves a median of 121 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by -0.7 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Ouray
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1974 to 2005)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
28 May
n/a
31 May
n/a
+0.1 days per decade
First autumn frost
25 September
n/a
25 September
n/a
-0.6 days per decade
Growing days
121 days
n/a
119 days
n/a
-0.7 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Rainfall Return Levels
59 years, 1944 to 2005
A day with at least 28.1 mm (1.1 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 57.9 mm (2.3 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Ouray: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
28.1 mm (1.1 in)
5 years
36.4 mm (1.4 in)
10 years
41.7 mm (1.6 in)
25 years
48.4 mm (1.9 in)
50 years
53.2 mm (2.1 in)
100 years
57.9 mm (2.3 in)
Longer than the 59 years of record
The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 59 years of values from 1944 to 2005.
A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.
The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 56.1 mm (2.2 in) in 2003; 53.3 mm (2.1 in) in 1982; 51.6 mm (2.0 in) in 1996.
Station Changes
2 suspected
2 changes were suspected in the annual mean temperature of Ouray, at 1987 and 1995. Each is measured against neighbouring stations.
Relative to 5 neighbouring stations, the station's annual mean temperature from 1987 ran 0.4 C (0.6 F) higher than in the years before (possible change).
Relative to 5 neighbouring stations, the station's annual mean temperature from 1995 ran 0.7 C (1.3 F) lower than in the years before (likely change).
Suspected changes in the annual mean temperature at Ouray, against neighbouring stations
Year
Shift (C)
Shift (F)
Strength
Neighbours
1987
+0.4
+0.6
possible
5
1995
-0.7
-1.3
likely
5
Possible change at the station (a move, a new instrument or a new site); the record is kept as measured. A "likely" change has a larger test statistic than a "possible" one. Neither says why the station differs from its neighbours. How changes are found, and the largest ones.
Download the Data
Data for Ouray standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Ouray threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-15 (15 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.