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Have you ever wondered how much snow falls on the Colorado National Monument each year? It's hard to tell since reports vary. Here's the answer once and for all.

I became confused when I saw contrasting information regarding the annual amount of precipitation and snow on the Colorado National Monument. With that, I contacted them for clarification.

A Facebook post from mid-December 2020 reported the Colorado National Monument received 11.03 inches of snow annually. To my mind, that seemed a bit low. With that, a call was made to seek clarification.

According to a spokesperson for the Colorado National Monument, the location receives 11.03 inches of precipitation each year. The annual snowfall averages 31 inches. With that in mind, the Visit Grand Junction webpage states the monument is "more magical in the winter."

Colorado National Monument offers a reprieve from the hardships of winter adventures, and just might have you reconsidering what your favorite Colorado season actually is. - visitgrandjunction.com

From there, they took a look at information for 2019 from the National Weather Service. It appeared 2019 was below par in some respects. According to the monument's weather station, in 2019 it recorded:

  • 11.17 inches precipitation
  • 8.6 inches of snow

Perhaps it's time for a winter visit to the Colorado National Monument. According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for the week of January 4, 2021, includes partly cloudy skies with lows in the upper teens and lower the 20s.

Since the Monument rarely gets significant snowfall, Rim Rock Drive is almost always open, barring the occasional exception. Throughout the winter season, you can enjoy a scenic drive along all 23 miles of the stunning road, offering easy access to look-outs perfect for photos and quick hikes. - visitgrandjunction.com

I have to admit, my winter outings rarely involve a trip up the monument. Perhaps it is time for that to change. Have you paid a visit to the monument lately?  For a list of alerts and closures, you can plan your visit at nps.gov.

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