Meteorological Winter of 2018-2019 Climate Review

The start of "Meteorological Winter of 2018-2019" (December-January-February) was relatively warm and dry across South Central and Southeast Colorado, save for two stronger storm systems moving across the Rockies through out the last week of December, bringing some beneficial moisture and cold temperatures to the area. For the month of December as a whole, near to slightly above normal temperatures and generally below normal precipitation were experienced across South Central Colorado and Southeast Colorado, save for at or above normal precipitation across portions of the Southeast Plains. 

January of 2019 started out cold and unsettled, as a passing weather system ushered in some of the coldest air of the season across the area on New Years Day. The rest of January can be characterized by periodic weather disturbances moving through persistent moderate west to northwest flow aloft across the Rockies. This pattern brought beneficial snowfall to areas over and near the higher terrain, with periods of warm temperatures and strong winds, as well as brief periods of moisture and cold temperatures, to the Southeast Plains. For the month of January as a whole, near normal to below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation was experienced for areas over and near the higher terrain, with generally above normal temperatures and near normal to above normal precipitation experienced across the Southeast Colorado Plains. 

February of 2019 continued the weather pattern of the previous month, with periodic weather disturbances moving through persistent moderate west to northwest flow aloft across the Rockies. This pattern brought abundant and beneficial snowfall to areas over and near the higher terrain, especially the Southwest Mountains, with Wolf Creek Ski resort reporting over 5 feet of snow in one 7 day period.  This pattern also brought periods of warm temperatures and strong winds, as well as brief periods of moisture and cold arctic intrusions to the Southeast Plains. For the month of February as a whole, below normal temperatures were experienced across the area, save for pockets of near normal temperatures across the Southern I-25 Corridor. As for precipitation, at or above normal precipitation was experienced across most of South Central and Southeast Colorado, save for pockets of below normal precipitation experienced across the Southeast Colorado Plains. 

For the Winter of 2018-2019 as a whole, at to below normal temperature were experienced across South Central and Southeast Colorado, save for pockets of above normal temperatures across the I-25 Corridor. As for precipitation, generally above normal precipitation was experienced across the area, save for pockets of at and below normal precipitation  across the Southeast Plains. 

The following graphics indicate seasonal temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the state through out the Winter of 2018-19.

The preliminary average temperature for the Winter of 2018-2019 in Alamosa was 16.4 degrees, which is 2.6 degrees below normal. Alamosa recorded 1.86 inches of precipitation throughout the Winter. This is 0.99 inches above normal and makes the Winter of 2018-19 the 5th wettest Winter on record. This remains well behind the wettest Winter on record,  2016-17,  when 2.73 inches of precipitation fell in Alamosa.  Alamosa recorded 28.8 inches of snow through out the Winter. This is 16.5 inches above normal and makes the Winter of 2018-19 the 4th snowiest Winter on record. This remains well behind the snowiest Winter on record, 1964-65, when 38.1 inches of snow fell in Alamosa.  

(click here for a more detailed Winter of 2018-2019 Climate Summary for Alamosa)

The preliminary average temperature for the Winter of 2018-2019 in Colorado Springs was 31.9 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.65 inches of precipitation through out the Winter, which is 0.35 inches below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 10.2 inches of snow through out the Winter,  which is 6.0 inches below normal.   

(click here for a more detailed Winter of 2018-2019 Climate Summary in Colorado Springs)

The preliminary average temperature for the Winter of 2018-2019 in Pueblo was 33.2 degrees, which is 1.7 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 0.83 inches of precipitation throughout the Winter, which is 0.20 inches below normal.  Pueblo recorded 10.2 inches of snow through out the Winter, which is 5.6 inches below normal. 

(click here for a more detailed Winter of 2018-2019 Climate Summary in Pueblo)

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the Spring of 2019 (March, April and May), which indicates equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures and better chances for above normal precipitation across all of South Central and Southeast Colorado.