April Climate Review Across Southern Colorado

April of 2019 was roller coaster month for temperatures,  especially across the southeast Plains, as  weather systems moving across the Rockies brought periods of unseasonably warm weather followed by periods of unseasonably cool weather to the region. These systems also brought bouts of rain and snow, especially for areas over and near the higher terrain. However, for the month of April as a whole, at to well above normal temperatures were experienced across the area, save for pockets of below normal temperatures across southeast Plains.  As for precipitation,  at to below normal precipitation was experienced across most of south central and southeast Colorado through out the month of April, save for pockets of above normal precipitation across the Southeast Mountains and along the Continental Divide.   

The following graphics depict monthly temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the state for the past month of April.

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of April was 44.1 degrees. This is 2.3 degrees above normal and make April of 2019 the 17th warmest April on record in Alamosa.  Alamosa recorded 0.80 inches of precipitation through the month of April, which is 0.21 inches above normal. Alamosa recorded 1.2 inches of snow through out the month of April, which is 2.4 inches below normal.  The 1.2 inches of snow recorded in April brings the 2018-19  seasonal snowfall tally in Alamosa to 48.6 inches, which is 21.9 inches above normal to date. This makes the 2018-2019 season the 9th snowiest on record in Alamosa, thus far, however it still remains well behind the snowiest season on record, 1972-1973, when 97.5 inches of snow fell in Alamosa. 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of April was 49.5 degrees. This is 3.0 degrees above normal and makes April of 2019 the 14th warmest April on record in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs recorded 1.04 inches of precipitation and 5.4 inches of snow through out the month of April, which is 0.38 inches below normal and 0.5 inches above normal, respectively. The 5.4 inches of snow recorded in April brings the 2018-19  seasonal snowfall tally in Colorado Springs to 31.1 inches, which is 5.9 inches below normal to date. 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of April was 53.9 degrees. This is 3.3 degrees above normal and makes April of 2019, tied with April of 1934, as the 16th warmest  April on record in Pueblo. Pueblo recorded 0.07 inches of precipitation through out the month of April. This is 1.33 inches below normal and makes April of 2019, tied with April of 1927, as the 6th driest April on record in Pueblo  Pueblo recorded a trace of snow through out the month of April. This is 3.8 inches below normal and makes April of 2019 tied as the 12th least snowiest April on record in Pueblo. The trace amount of snow recorded in April keeps the 2018-19  seasonal snowfall tally in Pueblo at 17.0 inches, which is 14.3 inches below normal to date.  This also makes the 2018-2019 season the 12th least snowiest on record in Pueblo, thus far. This, however, remains well above the least snowiest snowfall season of 1934-35, when only 7.6 inches of snow was recorded in Pueblo.

Looking ahead into May, in Alamosa, the average high temperature and low temperature of 64 degrees and 29 degrees on May 1st,  warm to 74 degrees and 37 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of May in Alamosa is 51.2 degrees. Alamosa averages 0.58 inches of precipitation and 0.9 inches of snow through out the month of May.  

In Colorado Springs, the average high temperature and low temperature of 65 degrees and 38 degrees on May 1st,  warm to 74 degrees and 47 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of May in Colorado Springs is 55.9 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 2.03 inches of precipitation and 0.7 inches of snow through out the month of May.   

In Pueblo,  the average high temperature and low temperature of 72 degrees and 39 degrees on May 1st, warm to 81 degrees and 49 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of May in Pueblo is 60.4 degrees. Pueblo averages 1.51 inches of precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow through out the month of May.        

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of May, which gives a better chances for below normal temperatures and a slight nod for above normal precipitation across South Central and Southeast Colorado.