February Weather Review Across Southern Colorado

February of 2020 started out where January left off, warm and dry across south central and southeast Colorado, as Colorado Springs (73F) and Pueblo (79F) both setting record high temperatures on the 2nd day of the month. This warmth was short lived however, especially across southeastern Colorado, as multiple weather systems moved across the region bringing much colder temperatures and abundant precipitation (snow) to the area through most of the rest of the month. For the month of February as a whole, below to well below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of well above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation across extreme south central Colorado.

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of February was 29.6 degrees. This is 6.8 degrees above normal and makes February of 2020 the 8th warmest February on record in Alamosa. This however, is well behind the warmest February of 1995, when the average temperature in Alamosa was 33.2F. Alamosa recorded 0.12 inches of precipitation through the month of February, which is 0.14 inches below normal. Alamosa recorded 1.1 inches of snow through the month of February, which is 2.7 inches below normal.

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of February was 30.0 degrees, which is 2.1 degrees below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.62 inches of precipitation through the month of February, which is 0.28 inches above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 13.0 inches of snow through the month of February. This is 8.1 inches above normal and makes February of 2020 the 8th snowiest on record in Colorado Springs. This, however, is well behind the snowiest February, 1987, when 23.2 inches of snow was recorded in Colorado Springs.

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of February was 31.8 degrees, which is 2.1 degrees below normal. Pueblo recorded 0.68 inches of precipitation through the month of February, which is 0.38 inches above normal. Pueblo recorded 11.5 inches of snow through the month of February. This is 7.7 inches above normal and makes February of 2020 the 12th snowiest February on record in Pueblo. This, however, is well behind the snowiest February, 2015, when 23.5 inches of snow was recorded in Pueblo.

Looking ahead into March, in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 45 degrees and 12 degrees on March 1st, warm to 55 degrees and 21 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of March in Alamosa is 33.5 degrees. Alamosa averages 0.53 inches of precipitation and 5.0 inches of snow through the month of March. On average, March is the snowiest month of the year in Alamosa.

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low of 48 degrees and 22 degrees on March 1st, warm to 56 degrees and 29 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of March in Colorado Springs is 39.1 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 1.00 inches of precipitation and 8.1 inches of snow through the month of March. On average, March is the snowiest month of the year in Colorado Springs.

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperature of 55 degrees and 21 degrees on March 1st, warm to 63 degrees and 30 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of March in Pueblo is 42.3 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.93 inches of precipitation and 5.7 inches of snow through the month of March. On average, March is the second snowiest month of the year in Pueblo.

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