Southern Rockies Flying Weather
CO · 2006–2025 · 14 eligible airports
This is the highest-elevation region in the system, so density altitude is the defining warm-season hazard, with many airports above 5,000–7,000 ft MSL and sharply reduced afternoon performance margins. Summer follows a reliable monsoon-influenced diurnal cycle of clear mornings, building cumulus, and terrain-anchored afternoon thunderstorms. Winter brings heavy orographic snow, mountain obscuration, and severe lee-wave turbulence and icing near the passes serving Aspen, Eagle, and Telluride. Early summer mornings and stable fall days are the best windows; winter storm cycles and windy spring transitions are the most hazardous.
- Daylight VFR
- 93.9%
- VFR days/yr
- 322
- Mean wind
- 5.0 kt
- Most VFR month
- July
- Fewest VFR month
- December
- VFR Score
- 81
Regional standouts
VFR conditions by month
Regional average across eligible airports
| Month | VFR % |
|---|---|
| Jan | 85.1% |
| Feb | 87.2% |
| Mar | 90.7% |
| Apr | 92.6% |
| May | 95.5% |
| Jun | 98.9% |
| Jul | 99.0% |
| Aug | 98.4% |
| Sep | 97.7% |
| Oct | 94.6% |
| Nov | 92.0% |
| Dec | 84.9% |
Average wind by month
Regional average sustained wind
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 3.6 kt |
| Feb | 4.6 kt |
| Mar | 5.5 kt |
| Apr | 6.5 kt |
| May | 6.3 kt |
| Jun | 6.0 kt |
| Jul | 5.1 kt |
| Aug | 4.8 kt |
| Sep | 4.8 kt |
| Oct | 4.7 kt |
| Nov | 4.2 kt |
| Dec | 3.7 kt |
Every airport in Southern Rockies, ranked
Sort by any column. Best VFR Score first.
| KLXVLake County Airport | Leadville | 87.3 | 6.8 | 294 | 6 kt | 66 |
| KASEAspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field) | Aspen | 90.5 | 4.0 | 317 | 5 kt | 73 |
| KPSOStevens Field | Pagosa Springs | 90.7 | 4.4 | 317 | 0 kt | 76 |
| KSBSSteamboat Springs Bob Adams Field | Steamboat Springs | 87.5 | 6.2 | 301 | 0 kt | 77 |
| KCAGCraig Moffat Airport | Craig | 91.7 | 4.2 | 310 | 4 kt | 77 |
| KEEOMeeker Airport | Meeker | 92.7 | 3.3 | 317 | 4 kt | 80 |
| KDRODurango La Plata County Airport | Durango | 94.3 | 2.7 | 328 | 4 kt | 83 |
| KGUCGunnison Crested Butte Regional Airport | Gunnison | 93.7 | 2.6 | 324 | 3 kt | 85 |
| KMTJMontrose Regional Airport | Montrose | 96.1 | 1.7 | 336 | 6 kt | 85 |
| KEGEEagle County Regional Airport | Eagle | 94.4 | 2.3 | 313 | 3 kt | 85 |
| KCEZCortez Municipal Airport | Cortez | 96.2 | 1.4 | 338 | 5 kt | 86 |
| KALSSan Luis Valley Regional Airport/Bergman Field | Alamosa | 95.7 | 2.7 | 336 | 5 kt | 86 |
| KGJTGrand Junction Regional Airport | Grand Junction | 96.4 | 1.4 | 340 | 6 kt | 86 |
| KRILGarfield County Regional Airport | Rifle | 95.5 | 2.0 | 331 | 4 kt | 87 |
The pattern in Southern Rockies
Across 2006–2025, the 14 eligible airports in Southern Rockies reported VFR conditions during about 93.9% of valid daytime observations, with an estimated 322 VFR flying days per year and a mean surface wind of 5.0 kt. KGJT (Grand Junction Regional Airport) had the most VFR weather at 96.7%. KLXV saw the most instrument conditions, at 6.8% IFR/LIFR. The lowest-ranked eligible field by VFR Score was KLXV (Lake County Airport).
Neighboring regions
How Southern Rockies is defined
CO only — exactly these 35 western-slope and central-mountain counties: Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Grand, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Pitkin, Lake, Park, Chaffee, Fremont, Teller, Mesa, Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Hinsdale, San Juan, Dolores, Montezuma, La Plata, Archuleta, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache, Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Custer. All other Colorado counties (I-25 corridor and eastern plains) belong to front-range.
Educational use only. Historical weather rankings from ATIS Alerts are educational summaries of past observations — not a forecast, flight-planning tool, or safety rating. They do not replace current METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs, ATIS, or a weather briefing, and favorable history does not make any airport safe. Always check current conditions and use your own judgment before flight.