Moving from Seattle to Denver
A climate comparison of two homes: Washington to Colorado. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your growing season runs 93 days shorter, 247 days becomes 154 days.
Seattle, WA to Denver, CO
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frost-free season | 247 days | 154 days | 93 days shorter |
| Last spring frost | March 13 | May 5 | 53 days later |
| Months below freezing | 0 months | 2 months | 2 more |
| Coldest month | 42F in December | 31F in December | 11F colder |
| Warmest month | 68F in August | 73F in July | 5F hotter |
Moving from Seattle to Denver reshapes the home year. Winters get 11F colder. Summers get 5F hotter. Your growing season is 93 days shorter. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
What changes about the house
- Heating: expect a longer or deeper heating season. Service the furnace or boiler before the first cold snap, and budget for higher heating bills.
- Cooling: hotter peaks make air conditioning or shading more important. Check attic insulation and window sealing so the house does not trap heat.
- Garden: a shorter season favors transplants, short-season varieties, and cold frames. Wait for soil to warm before direct sowing.
- Snow and ice: more months below freezing mean roof load, ice dams, and driveway care become regular work. Keep a roof rake and ice melt on hand.
Season by season
Spring starts later
Your last spring frost moves from March 13 to May 5, 53 days later. Delay tender planting and spring openings.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 68F in August to 73F in July. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winters turn milder
Winter coldest month goes from 42F in December to 31F in December; freezing months go from 0 months to 2 months. Budget for more heating, snow removal, and ice-dam prevention.
Tools for both places
Moving from Seattle to Denver, answered
What is the biggest climate change from Seattle to Denver?
Your growing season runs 93 days shorter, 247 days becomes 154 days. That is the largest shift in the 30-year climate record.
How are these numbers computed?
From official 30-year climate normals at the nearest station to each place: Seattle Boeing Fld near Seattle and Denver Centennial Ap near Denver. They are planning averages, not forecasts; local microclimates can run a week or two off the station record.
Does the comparison work in reverse?
Yes. Open the comparison tool and swap the two places; the deltas reverse direction but the match score stays the same.
Method and sources
Temperatures and frost dates are from the 30-year climate normals at Seattle Boeing Fld (near Seattle, WA) and Denver Centennial Ap (near Denver, CO). Canadian data is from Environment and Climate Change Canada; United States data is from NOAA NCEI. These are planning averages, not forecasts. See the methodology page for the full calculation.