Fall of 2019 Weather Review

The start of "Meteorological Fall "  (September, October and November) was hot and dry, with record breaking heat recorded through the first week of  September. Warm and mainly dry conditions continued through most of the rest of September, as upper level high pressure persisted across the Desert Southwest and Four Corners region. October of 2019 was the polar opposite of September, with several unseasonably strong and cold systems moving across Colorado, bringing early season record cold temperatures as well as the seasons first snowfall for many locales. November of 2019 saw a few passing weather systems moving across the state through the fist half of the month, bringing periods of warm and cold temperatures along with some light precipitation across the area. For the last half of the month, several unseasonably strong and cold systems moved across Colorado, bringing abundant snowfall for many locales along with colder than normal temperatures through the end of the month. 

For the Fall of 2019 as a whole, generally near normal temperatures were experienced across the area, save for pockets of above normal temperatures across portions of south central Colorado and pockets of below normal temperatures across southeast Colorado. As for precipitation, at to below normal conditions were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of above normal precipitation across south central Colorado. 

The following graphics indicate seasonal temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the state for the Fall of 2019.

The preliminary average temperature for the Fall of 2019 in Alamosa was 42.4 degrees, which is 0.1 degrees below normal. Alamosa recorded 1.25 inches of precipitation through the Fall of 2019, which is 0.76 inches below normal.   Alamosa recorded 4.5 inches of snow through the Fall of 2019, which is 1.3 inches below normal.  Of note, the high temperature of 88 degrees in Alamosa on September 3rd, 2019 set a new record high temperature for the month of September and for the Fall Season, breaking the previous September and Fall high temperature record of 87 degrees, on September 3rd, 2017, September 4th, 2013 and September 13th, 1990. 

(click here for a more detailed Fall of 2019 Climate Summary for Alamosa)

The preliminary average temperature for the Fall of 2019 in Colorado Springs was 49.8 degrees, which is 0.3 degrees above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 2.04 inches of precipitation through the Fall of 2019, which is 0.37 inches below normal.  Colorado Springs recorded 20.9 inches of snow through the Fall of 2019. This is 13.1 inches above normal and makes the Fall of 2019 the 8th snowiest Fall on record. This remains well behind the snowiest Fall, 1959, when 37.7 inches of snow fell in Colorado Springs. Of note, the high temperature of 96 degrees in Colorado Springs on September 2nd, 2019 set a new record high temperature for the month of September and for the Fall Season, breaking the previous September and Fall high temperature record of 95 degrees, on September 3rd, 2017 and September 17th, 1936. 

(click here for a more detailed Fall of 2019 Climate Summary in Colorado Springs)

The preliminary average temperature for the Fall of 2019 in Pueblo was 52.5 degrees, which is 0.6 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 2.18 inches of precipitation through the Fall of 2019, which is 0.22 inches above normal. Pueblo recorded 17.0 inches of snow in the Fall of 2019. This is 11.0 inches above normal and makes the Fall of 2019 the 11th snowiest Fall on record in Pueblo. This remains well behind the snowiest Fall, 1991, when 41.9 inches of snow fell in Pueblo. Of note, the high temperature of 102 degrees in Pueblo on September 2nd and 5th, 2019 set a new record high temperature for the month of September and for the Fall Season, breaking the previous September and Fall high temperature record of 101 degrees, on September 5th, 1995.  In addition, the low temperature of -6 degrees in Pueblo on October 30th, set a new record low temperature for the month of October, surpassing the previous record October low temperature of -4 degrees  on October 29th, 1917.

(click here for a more detailed Fall of 2019 Climate Summary in Pueblo)

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the Winter of 2019-20 (December, January and February), which indicates better chances of above normal temperatures and equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.