September Weather Review across Southern Colorado

September of 2020 was a month of extremes across south central and southeast Colorado. The first week of the month was extremely warm, with Alamosa, Colorado Springs and Pueblo all setting new monthly record high temperatures, with a possible new Colorado September record high temperature of 108 degrees set in La Junta on September 6th. This was followed by record cold temperatures and record snowfall, as an unseasonably cold and strong storm system moved across the state September 8th through September 10th.  Generally warm and dry conditions were experienced across the state through the rest of September, with a few minor fronts bringing a few days of slightly cooler temperatures to the region.  For the month of September as a whole, at or above normal temperatures with generally below normal precipitation was experienced across across the region, save for pockets of above normal precipitation across the San Luis Valley and below normal temperatures across portions of the far southeast plains.  

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of September was 54.7 degrees, which is 0.3 degrees below normal.  Alamosa recorded 1.53 inches of precipitation through the month of September. This is 0.62 inches above normal and makes September of 2020, tied with September of 1970, as the 11th wettest September on record. This remains well below the wettest September, 2013, when 2.98 inches of precipitation was recorded in Alamosa. Alamosa recorded 15.3 inches of snow in September. This is 15.3 inches above normal and makes September of 2020, the snowiest September on record, surpassing the 10 inches of snow recorded in September of 1936. Alamosa tied or set 4 daily record high temperatures through the month of September, as well as a new September monthly record high when the temperature touched 89 degrees on September 5th and 6th.  Alamosa also set a new daily record low temperature, 3 new daily record low maximum temperatures, 1 new daily precipitation record and 3 new daily snowfall records when an unseasonably strong and cold storm system moved across the state September 8th through September 10th. 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of September was 63.7 degrees. This is 2.8 degrees below normal and makes September of 2020 the 22nd warmest September on record. This is well behind the warmest September, 2019, when the average September temperature was 68.7 degrees.  Colorado Springs recorded 0.35 inches of precipitation through the month of September. This is 0.84 inches below normal and makes September of 2020, the 26th driest September on record. This remains well above the driest September, 1919 and 1953, when only a trace of precipitation was recorded in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs recorded 2.6 inches of snow in September. This is 2.4 inches above normal and makes September of 2020, the 8th snowiest September on record. This is well behind the snowiest September, 1959, when 27.9 inches of snow was recorded in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs tied or set 3 daily record high temperatures through the month of September, as well as a new September monthly record high when the temperature touched 97 degrees on September 6th.  Colorado Springs also set a two new daily record low temperatures, a new daily record low maximum temperature and a daily record snowfall when an unseasonably strong and cold storm system moved across the state September 8th through September 10th. Colorado Springs saw the temperature top out at or above 90 degrees five times in the month of September which pushed the 2020 total number of days at or above the 90 degree threshold to 52. This sets a new annual record for the number of days at or above 90 degrees  in Colorado Springs, besting the 49 days at or above 90F in 2012. 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of September was 65.8 degree, which is 1.1 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 0.71 inches of precipitation through the month of September, which is 0.06 inches below normal. Pueblo recorded 0.8 inches of snow through the month of September, which is 0.5 inches above normal. The trace of snow recorded on September 8th and the 0.8 inches of snow recorded on September 9th set new records as the earliest snowfall and earliest measurable snowfall in Pueblo's history, surpassing the 7.3 inches of snow recorded on September 17th, 1971. Pueblo recorded three daily record high temperatures in September, as well as a new September monthly record high when the temperature touched 103 degrees on September 6th.  Pueblo also set two daily record low temperatures, a new daily record low maximum temperature and 3 daily record snowfalls when an unseasonably strong and cold storm system moved across the state September 8th through September 10th. Pueblo also tied its earliest first freeze of the season when the temperature fell to 32F on September 9th.  Pueblo saw the temperature top out at or above 100 degrees two times in the month of September which pushed the 2020 total number of days at or above 100 degrees to 23. This makes 2020 the 4th most 100 degree days on record in Pueblo, just behind the 28 days recorded in 2003 and 2012, and the 24 days recorded in 2002.  

Looking ahead into October in Alamosa, the average high temperature and low temperature of 68 degrees and 30 degrees on October 1st, cool to 55 degrees and 19 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of October in Alamosa is 43.1 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.68 inches of precipitation and 2.1 inches of snow through the month of October.  

In Colorado Springs,  the average high temperature and low temperature of 68 degrees and 41 degrees on October 1st,  cool to 58 degrees and 31 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of October in Colorado Springs is 49.4 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 0.82 inches of precipitation and 2.9 inches of snow through the month of October.  On average, Colorado Springs sees its first freeze of the season on October 1st.      

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 75 degrees and 40 degrees on October 1st, cool to 64 degrees and 29 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of October in Pueblo is 51.8 degrees.  Pueblo averages 0.72 inches of precipitation and 1.3 inches of snow through the month of October. On average,  Pueblo sees its first freeze of the season on October 8th.     

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