The start of 2026 failed to provide any relief from the mild, dry conditions of recent months on the Colorado Front Range. Temperatures were largely above average and precipitation continued to be infrequent and minimal.
The first week of the month was considerably warmer than normal and brought our warmest reading of the month, 72.4 degrees on the 4th. Only one nighttime temperature during that period dropped below freezing.
Some change came on the 8th and 9th when temperatures dropped and we recorded 2.3 inches of snowfall over the two days. Two days later, highs climbed right back to the 50s and 60s for the following week.
The latter half of the month did see three days with minor snow events. We also recorded our coldest temperature of the month, 0 degrees, on the 25th.
Overall, Thornton saw an average temperature of 35.5 degrees for the month of January 2026. This was well above our 20-year running average for the month of 30.6 degrees. It was our second warmest January recorded over that period.
Officially, as recorded at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City was a bit cooler with a monthly average temperature of 34.4 degrees. This was warmer than Denver’s long-term average for the month of 31.7 degrees.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton saw 0.26 inches of liquid precipitation, all in the form of snowmelt. That was below the running average for the month of 0.41 inches.
Denver fared better than us with 0.32 inches in their bucket at DIA. This was just shy of the Mile High City’s long-term average of 0.38 inches.
Snow continued to be minimal with Thornton recording 4.6 inches during the month. That was almost two inches below our 20-year average for the month of 6.5 inches.
Out at the airport, Denver recorded 6.6 inches of snowfall for the month. That was just a hair above their long-term average for January of 6.4 inches.
Click here to view Thornton’s complete January 2026 climate summary report.
