Established in 1879 and located just 18 miles north of Colorado Springs, the bedroom community of Monument, Colorado gets its name from Monument Creek that rises north of the town adjacent to Palmer Lake and reportedly from its nearby rock formations that look like monuments. Located at an elevation of over 7,000 feet on the Rampart Range in Northwest El Paso County, the town of Monument is bordered by National Forest on the west, the United States Air Force Academy to the south and foothills with rock outcroppings to the north and east. It has none of the geographical protections that give Colorado Springs relatively mild weather and so it often experiences much different weather overall.

Situated on the Interstate 25 corridor, Monument residents enjoy relatively short commutes to either Colorado Springs to the south or Denver to the north and 91% of workers who live in Monument commute one direction or the other each day. Just north of Monument at County Line Road, I-25 rises in elevation and crests at Monument Hill, sometimes referred to as the Palmer Divide. At an elevation of over 7,300 feet, this area is prone to severe weather during many months. As a result, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) installed continuous lighting along this stretch of the interstate even though it runs through a very rural area. The lighting is intended to help drivers anticipate dangerous driving conditions and have the light they and rescuers need in case their vehicles are disabled. With the unpredictability of monument weather and road conditions in the Rocky Mountains, Monument commuters typically keep a very close eye on the local weather conditions.

Average Temperature Ranges in Monument

The average temperature ranges in Monument in January are between 12° Fahrenheit, -11° Celsius and 42° Fahrenheit, 6° Celsius. The average temperature ranges in July are between 55° Fahrenheit, 13° Celsius and 85° Fahrenheit, 30° Celsius.

Record Temperatures for Monument

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Monument was 101° Fahrenheit, 38.3° Celsius and the coldest temperature ever recorded was -32° Fahrenheit, -35.5° Celsius.

Quick Weather Facts for Monument

While average precipitation in Monument is over 22 inches annually, Monument residents enjoy (or endure, depending on how you look at it) over 100 inches of snowfall per year on average. The average snowfall in Monument is significantly higher than that of the nearest large town to the south, Colorado Springs. (See this link for Colorado Springs weather info.) Snowfall typically begins in mid-October and occurs as late as early May with March and April being the heaviest months of snowfall. Dramatic changes are normal for Monument weather.  Turn to Monument Weather.com for up to the minute reporting and weather forecasting.