Moving from San Francisco to Denver
A climate comparison of two homes: California to Colorado. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your growing season runs 202 days shorter, 356 days becomes 154 days.
San Francisco, CA to Denver, CO
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frost-free season | 356 days | 154 days | 202 days shorter |
| Last spring frost | January 7 | May 5 | 118 days later |
| Coldest month | 10C in January | 0C in December | 10C colder |
| Months below freezing | 0 months | 2 months | 2 more |
| Warmest month | 18C in September | 23C in July | 5C hotter |
Moving from San Francisco to Denver reshapes the home year. Winters get 10C colder. Summers get 5C hotter. Your growing season is 202 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 January 7 to May 5, 118 days later. Delay tender planting and spring openings.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 18C in September to 23C in July. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winters turn milder
Winter coldest month goes from 10C in January to 0C 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 San Francisco to Denver, answered
What is the biggest climate change from San Francisco to Denver?
Your growing season runs 202 days shorter, 356 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: Oakland Intl Ap 72493 near San Francisco 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 Oakland Intl Ap 72493 (near San Francisco, CA) 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.