January Weather Review Across Southern Colorado

January of 2020 was a generally warm and dry month across the region, save for a few passing weather systems within a mainly west to northwest flow pattern, bringing spotty precipitation to the higher terrain along the Continental Divide. For the month of January as a whole, above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of below normal temperatures across south central Colorado.

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of January was 15.2 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees below normal. Alamosa recorded 0.14 inches of precipitation through the month of January, which is 0.12 inches below normal. Alamosa recorded 2.3 inches of snow through the month of January, which is 1.7 inches below normal.

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of January was 34.1 degrees, which is 3.6 degrees above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.09 inches of precipitation through the month of January, which is 0.23 inches below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.8 inches of snow through January, which is 4.8 inches below normal. Of note, with January being a normally dry time of the year, the 0.8 inches of snow and 0.09 inches of precipitation recorded in Colorado Springs make January of 2020 only the 24th least snowiest and 30th driest January on record.

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of January was 34.9 degrees, which is 4.4 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 0.11 inches of precipitation through January, which is 0.24 inches below normal. Pueblo recorded 0.2 inches of snow through the month of January. This is 6.3 inches below normal and makes January of 2020, tied with January of 2003 and 1950, as the 5th least snowiest January on record in Pueblo. This is just behind January of 1933 and 1928, when no snow was recorded in Pueblo, and behind January of 1934 and 1923, when only a trace of snow was recorded. Of note, with January being a normally dry time of the year, the 0.11 inches of precipitation recorded in Pueblo make January of 2020 only the 27th driest January on record.

Looking ahead into February, in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 36 degrees and 1 degree on February 1st, warm to 45 degrees and 12 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Alamosa is 22.8 degrees. Alamosa averages 0.26 inches of precipitation and 3.8 inches of snow through the month of February. On average, February is tied with January as driest month of the year in Alamosa.

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low of 43 degrees and 18 degrees on February 1st, warm to 48 degrees and 22 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Colorado Springs is 32.1 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 0.34 inches of precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow through the month of February.

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperature of 48 degrees and 15 degrees on February 1st, warm to 55 degrees and 21 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Pueblo is 33.9 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.30 inches of precipitation and 3.8 inches of snow through the month of February. On average, February is the driest month of the year in Pueblo.

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of February, which gives equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures and precipitation across most of Colorado, save for a slight nod to above normal precipitation across extreme northern Colorado.