Summer of 2019 Climate Review

The start of "Meteorological Summer" 2019 (June, July and August) continued to be a roller coaster month for weather across the state, with a few warm and dry spells followed by unseasonably cold and strong weather systems bringing rain, mountain snow and severe storms across the area. Accumulating snowfall was even recorded across the higher peaks on June 22nd, the first full day of Summer!. High pressure aloft built into the region bringing an extended period of "summer warmth" for the last week of the month.

July of 2019 saw temperatures rise to more "summer" like conditions across most of south central and southeast Colorado. In addition, bouts of "monsoonal moisture" brought some bursts of heavy rainfall, along with a few rounds of severe thunderstorms, across the area through out the month of July.

August of 2019 was generally hot and dry across south central and southeast Colorado, as upper level high pressure persisted across the Desert Southwest and Four Corners region, which limited the amount of monsoonal moisture moving into the region.

For the Summer of 2019 as a whole, generally above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation was experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of slightly below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation.

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

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer of 2019 in Alamosa was 62.9 degrees, which is 0.6 degrees above normal. Alamosa recorded 1.36 inches of precipitation through the Summer. This is 1.37 inches below normal and makes the Summer of 2019 the 7th driest Summer on record in Alamosa. This remains behind the driest Summer on record, 1980, when only 0.75 inches of precipitation fell in Alamosa.

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

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer of 2019 in Colorado Springs was 70.2 degrees. This is 1.9 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2019 the 13th warmest Summer on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the warmest Summer on record, 2012, when the average temperature through the Summer was 73.3 degrees. Colorado Springs recorded 4.06 inches of precipitation through the Summer of 2019. This is 4.60 inches below normal and makes the Summer of 2019 the 13th driest Summer on record in Colorado Springs. This, however, remains well above the driest Summer on record, 1939, when only 2.47 inches of precipitation fell in Colorado Springs.

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

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer of 2019 in Pueblo was 75.2 degrees. This is 2.1 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2019 the 20th warmest Summer on record in Pueblo. This remains well below the warmest Summer on record, 1970, when the average temperature through the Summer was 77.7 degrees. Pueblo recorded 6.32 inches of precipitation through the Summer of 2019, which is 0.58 inches above normal. .

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

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the Fall of 2019 (September, October and November), which indicates better chances of above normal temperatures and precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.