ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Big Sur vs Telluride: weather in January
Essentially a tie in January: Big Sur is 3% clear historically, Telluride is 0% clear (8-year ERA5 average) — within the noise. Avg high 60°F vs 31°F. Pick based on flight time or price, not weather — the weather won't decide this one for you.
Big Sur
CA
- Clear days, January
- 3%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 60°F
- Early January (1st–15th)
- 1%
- Late January (16th–end)
- 4%
- Rain frequency
- 29% of days
Telluride
CO
- Clear days, January
- 0%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 31°F
- Early January (1st–15th)
- 0%
- Late January (16th–end)
- 0%
- Rain frequency
- 37% of days
Frequently asked
Is Big Sur or Telluride warmer in January?
Big Sur runs warmer by day in January. Big Sur averages highs of 60°F (highs n=248 days); Telluride averages highs of 31°F (highs n=248 days) (ERA5 2018–2025). Historical averages, not a forecast.
Does it rain more in Big Sur or Telluride in January?
Days with measurable rain: Big Sur 29%, Telluride 37% (n=248 and n=248 days). ERA5 2018–2025; historical, not a forecast.
Which is sunnier in January, Big Sur or Telluride?
Essentially a tie in January: Big Sur is 3% clear historically, Telluride is 0% clear (8-year ERA5 average) — within the noise. Avg high 60°F vs 31°F. Pick based on flight time or price, not weather — the weather won't decide this one for you.
Compare Big Sur vs Telluride in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live forecast for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.