October Weather Review across Southern Colorado

October of 2020 was another month of extremes across south central and southeast Colorado. The first half of the month saw extremely warm and mainly dry conditions statewide, with Colorado Springs (87F) and Pueblo (94F) both tying their respective record high monthly temperatures. This was followed by record cold temperatures and record snowfall, as another unseasonably cold and strong storm system moved across the state October 25th through October 27th. This unseasonably cold system allowed Pueblo to also set its coldest October day on record, when the low temperature dropped to -8 degrees on October 26th. For the month of October as a whole, at or above normal temperatures with generally below normal precipitation was experienced across across the region, save for pockets of below  normal temperatures across the lower Arkansas River Valley and pocket of above normal precipitation across portions of the San Luis Valley and the southeast mountains.   

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of October was 45.1 degrees, which is 2.0 degrees above normal.  Alamosa recorded 1.03 inches of precipitation through the month of October, which is 0.35 inches above normal.  Alamosa recorded 9.3 inches of snow in October. This is 7.2 inches above normal and makes October of 2020 the 8th snowiest October on record in Alamosa. This, however, remains well behind the 20.3 inches of snow recorded in October of 1969.  Alamosa set one daily record high temperature through the month of October, as well as two daily record low temperatures, and 2 new daily record low maximum temperatures, including the high temperature of 23 degrees on October 26th which tied the October record for the lowest maximum temperature of 23 degrees last set on October 31st, 1991. Alamosa set a new daily precipitation record and 2 new daily snowfall records when an unseasonably strong and cold storm system moved across the state October 25th through October 27th. 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of October was 51.0 degrees, which is 1.6 degrees above normal.  Colorado Springs recorded 0.25 inches of precipitation through the month of October, which is 0.57 inches below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 3.2 inches of snow through the month of October, which is 0.3 inches above normal. Colorado Springs set two daily record high temperatures through the month of October, as well as tying the October monthly record high temperature of 87 degrees (October 3, 1935 and October 11th, 2015) on October 8th and 14th. Colorado Springs also set three daily record low temperatures, and a new daily record low maximum temperature on October 26th, when the high temperature was only 11 degrees. The high temperature of 11 degrees on October 26th also set a new record coldest October maximum  temperature, besting the high temperature of 19 degrees on October 30th of 2019. The high temperature of 11 degrees in Colorado Springs on October 26th was also colder than the previous record low temperature for the day of 16 degrees set in 1913.  

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of October was 51.5 degrees, which is 0.3 degrees below normal. Pueblo recorded 0.67 inches of precipitation through the month of October, which is 0.05 inches below normal. Pueblo recorded 11.1 inches of snow through the month of October. This is 9.8 inches above normal. and makes October of 2020 the 4th snowiest October on record in Pueblo. This remains behind the snowiest October, 1991, when 16.3 inches of snow was recorded in Pueblo.  Pueblo set two daily record high temperatures in October, as well as tying the October monthly record high (October 3rd, 2018, October 11th, 2015 and October 16th, 1991) when the temperature touched 94 degrees on October 14th.  Pueblo set three daily record low temperatures in October, including setting a new October record low temperature of -8 degrees on the 26th, when  an unseasonably strong and cold storm system moved across the state October 25th through October 27th. Pueblo also set a daily record low maximum temperature of 17 degrees on October 26th, which also set a new October record for the coldest maximum temperature by besting the previous lowest October max temp of 22 degrees on October 30th, 2019. Pueblo also set 2 new daily snowfall records in October.    

Looking ahead into November in Alamosa, the average high temperature and low temperature of 55 degrees and 19 degrees on November 1st, cool to 39 degrees and 5 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of November in Alamosa is 29.5 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.42 inches of precipitation and 3.7 inches of snow through the month of November.  

In Colorado Springs,  the average high temperature and low temperature of 58 degrees and 31 degrees on November 1st,  cool to 44 degrees and 20 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of November in Colorado Springs is 38.1 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 0.40 inches of precipitation and 4.7 inches of snow through the month of November.        

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 63 degrees and 28 degrees on November 1st, cool to 49 degrees and 17 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of November in Pueblo is 39.3 degrees.  Pueblo averages 0.47 inches of precipitation and 4.4 inches of snow through the month of November.      

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