March Weather Review across Southern Colorado

March of 2020 started out like a "lion" as a passing weather system brought rain and snow to portions of south central and southeast Colorado through the first two days of the month. A few more weather systems moved across the Rockies through the rest of the month, bringing scattered precipitation which favored western and northern portions of the state. March, however, ended like a "lamb" with warm and dry conditions recorded across all of south central and southeast Colorado. For the month of March as a whole, above to well below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of near to slightly above normal precipitation. 

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of March was 39.6 degrees. This is 6.1 degrees above normal and makes March of 2020 the 2nd warmest March on record in Alamosa, just behind the warmest March, 2017,  when the average monthly temperature was 40.9F.  Alamosa recorded 0.22 inches of precipitation through the month of March, which is 0.31 inches below normal. Alamosa recorded 0.3 inches of snow through the month of March. This is 4.7 inches below normal and makes March of 2020, tied with March of 1954, as the 6th least snowiest March on record in Alamosa. This is just shy of the least snowiest March of 1933, 1934 and 2015, when only a trace of snow was recorded in Alamosa.    

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of March was 43.1 degrees. This is 4.0 degrees above normal and makes March of 2020 the 13th warmest March on record in Colorado Springs. This, however, remains well behind the warmest March, 2012, when the average monthly temperature was 48.0 degrees. Colorado Springs recorded 0.99 inches of precipitation through the month of March, which is 0.01 inches below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 7.7 inches of snow through the month of March, which is 0.4 inches below normal.  

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of March was 46.1 degrees. This is 3.8 degrees above normal and makes March of 2020 this 16th warmest March on record in Pueblo. This, however, is well below the warmest March, 1910, when the average monthly temperature was 51.3 degrees.  Pueblo recorded 0.19 inches of precipitation through the month of March. This is 0.74 inches below normal and makes March of 2020 the 18th driest March on record in Pueblo. This, however, is well behind the driest March, 1893, when only 0.01 inches of precipitation was recorded in Pueblo.  Pueblo recorded 1.1 inches of snow through the month of March. This is 4.6 inches below normal and makes March of 2020, tied with March of 1894 and 1977, as  the 22nd least snowiest March on record in Pueblo. This remains well behind March of 1910, when there no snow was recorded in Pueblo.    

Looking ahead into April, in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 55 degrees and 21 degrees on April 1st, warm to 64 degrees and 29 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Alamosa is 41.8 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.59 inches of precipitation and 3.6 inches of snow through the month of April.  

In Colorado Springs,  the average high and low of 56 degrees and 30 degrees on April 1st, warm to 64 degrees and 38 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Colorado Springs is 46.5 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 1.42 inches of precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow through the month of April.  

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperature of 63 degrees and 30 degrees on April 1st, warm to 72 degrees and 39 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Pueblo is 50.6 degrees.  Pueblo averages 1.40 inches of precipitation and 3.8 inches of snow through the month of April. 

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