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Exterior Painting Weather in Colorado: Best Months by City

Exterior Painting season in Colorado, city by city: peak months, season boundaries, and annual workable-day counts from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Lakewood leads with 110 workable days a year; Longmont runs the shortest at 83.

Colorado is not one climate: Lakewood banks 110 workable exterior painting days a year while Longmont gets 83 — a spread the table below itemizes month by month. Season boundaries mark the first and last month averaging 8+ workable days against the label rules (50–90°F, nights 35°F+).

Statewide, September is the strongest month — it tops or ties the table in most listed cities. The live strips on each city page decide the week; this table decides the month. Scoring rules: methodology; the national playbook: the exterior painting guide.

Cities in Colorado

Peak months and season boundaries from NOAA 1991–2020 normals; season = months with at least 8 workable days.
CityPeak monthsSeasonWorkable days/yr
Denver Sep, Aug, Jun May–June 94
Colorado Springs Sep, Jun, Aug May–September 104
Aurora Sep, Aug, Jun May–June 94
Fort Collins Sep, Aug, Jul May–September 108
Lakewood Sep, Jul, Aug May–September 110
Thornton Sep, Jun, Aug May–June 92
Grand Junction May, Sep, Jun August–October 88
Greeley Sep, Jun, May May–June 86
Arvada Aug, Jul, Sep May–September 103
Pueblo Sep, May, Jun May–June 85
Boulder Sep, Aug, Jul May–September 103
Westminster Sep, Jun, Aug May–June 92
Centennial Sep, Jun, Aug May–September 108
Longmont Aug, Sep, Jun May–June 83
Highlands Ranch Sep, Jun, Aug May–September 108
Lafayette Sep, Jun, Aug May–June 92
Castle Rock Sep, Jul, Jun May–September 106

The rules behind these numbers

Typical label thresholds for exterior painting — the single ruleset used by every check on this page.
CheckThresholdWhy it matters
Air temperature 50–90°F (low-temp formulas from 35°F) Standard latex wants 50°F+. Some low-temperature formulas are rated down to 35°F.
Overnight low ≥35°F during the first 24 h (≥40°F preferred) Paint keeps curing overnight; a low under 40°F stalls standard latex.
Dry before ≤0.05" rain in the prior 12 h; watch back to 24 h The surface must be dry to the touch and out of a recent soak.
Dry after <0.05" rain for 24 h after Rain inside the first 24 hours can streak or wash fresh paint.
Evening dew-point spread ≥5°F from 6–11 pm Surface should stay at least 5°F above the dew point; dew flat-spots fresh paint.
Daytime humidity ≤80% High humidity extends recoat and cure times.
Wind ≤15 mph (brush only up to 20 mph) Wind dries the leading edge too fast and carries overspray.

Always follow your product label — formulas vary. The table above is the typical range across major manufacturers, not a promise about your can.

Other tasks in Colorado

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