April Weather Review across Southern Colorado

April of 2020 brought periods of warm and dry conditions, as well as periods of cold and wet conditions to northern and eastern portions of Colorado through the first half of the month, while warm and mainly dry conditions prevailed across southwestern portions of the state.  Warm and relatively dry conditions prevailed across the area through the rest of the month, with record breaking heat experienced over portions of south central and southeast Colorado through the last week of April.  For the month of April as a whole, near normal to below temperatures and below normal precipitation was experienced across southeastern Colorado, with above to well above normal temperatures and below to well below normal precipitation experienced across portions of southwest and south central Colorado. 

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 46.6 degrees. This is 4.8 degrees above normal and makes April of 2020, tied with April of 2002, as the 4th warmest April on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the warmest April, 1946,  when the average monthly temperature was 47.3F.  Alamosa recorded 0.09 inches of precipitation through the month of April. This is 0.50 inches below normal and makes April of 2020, tied with April of 1989, as the 7th driest April on record. Alamosa did not record any snowfall through the month of April. This is 3.6 inches below normal and makes April of 2020, tied with April of 2002, 1981, 1946 and 1934 as the least snowiest April on record in Alamosa. Alamosa set 5 consecutive daily record high temperatures in April (April 26th-April 30th) and also set a new record high temperature for the month of April, when the temperature topped out at 82 degrees on April 30th.  With no snow reported in April, the 2019-2020 seasonal snowfall total in Alamosa remains at 16.8 inches. This is 9.9 inches below normal to date, and currently makes the 2019-2020 season the 14th least snowiest on record in Alamosa.   

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of April was 47.2 degrees, which is 0.7 degrees above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.86 inches of precipitation through the month of April, which is 0.56 inches below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 9.4 inches of snow through the month of April, which is 4.5 inches above normal. Colorado Springs set a new daily record low temperature of 7 degrees on April 14th. The 9.4 inches of snow in April brings the 2019-2020 seasonal snowfall in Colorado Springs to  56.4 inches. This is 19.4 inches above normal to date, and currently makes the 2019-2020 snow season the 15th snowiest on record in Colorado Springs. 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of April was 50.9 degrees, which  is 0.3 degrees above normal.  Pueblo recorded 0.24 inches of precipitation through the month of April. This is 1.16 inches below normal and makes April of 2020, tied with April of 1966, 1902, and 1897, as the 15th driest April on record in Pueblo. This, however, is well behind the driest April, 1963, when only a trace of precipitation was recorded in Pueblo.  Pueblo recorded 2.8 inches of snow through the month of April, which is 1.0 inches below normal. Pueblo set a new daily record high temperature of 94 degrees on April 30th, which also sets a new record high temperature for the month of April by besting the previous April record high of 93F. The 2.8 inches of snow in April brings the 2019-2020 seasonal snowfall in Pueblo to 36.2 inches. This is 4.9 inches above normal to date, and currently makes the 2019-2020 snow season the 32nd snowiest on record in Pueblo.    

Looking ahead into May, in Alamosa, the average high 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 the month of May.  

In Colorado Springs,  the average high and low 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 the month of May.  

In Pueblo, the average high 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 the month of May. 

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of May, which gives better chances of above normal temperatures and equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.