August Weather Review across southern Colorado

Upper level high pressure across western portions of area through much of the month of August kept more westerly flow in place and limited the amount of subtropical moisture moving into the region. This was especially true for eastern portions of Colorado, where very warm and dry weather, along with smoky and hazy conditions (from Northwestern US wildfires), was the rule for much of month. For the month of August as a whole, above to well above normal temperatures were experienced across south-central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of at to below normal temperatures across south central Colorado. As for precipitation, below to well below normal conditions were recorded across the area, save for pockets of near normal precipitation.      

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of August was 64.7 degrees. This is 1.5 degrees above normal and makes August of 2021 tied with August of 1995, as the 6th warmest August on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the warmest August, 2011,  when the average August temperature was 66.0 degrees. Alamosa recorded only 0.10 inches of precipitation through the month of August. This is 1.19 inches below normal and makes August of 2021 the driest August on record in Alamosa, beating out the 0.11 inches of precipitation recorded in August of 1944.  

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of August was 74.0 degrees. This is 3.9 degrees above normal and makes August of 2021, tied with August of 2020, as the second warmest August on record in Colorado Springs. This is just behind the warmest August, 2011, when the average August temperature was 74.1 degrees. Colorado Springs recorded temperatures at or above 90 degrees 20 days through the month of August. This makes August of 2021 the second most days in which temperatures where at or above 90 degrees on record in Colorado Springs, coming in just behind the 21 days of 90 degree temperatures set just last year (2020). Colorado Springs recorded only 0.20 inches of precipitation through the month of August. This is 2.76 inches below normal and makes August of 2021 the 4th driest August on record in Colorado Springs. This is just behind the 0.12 inches, 0.15 inches and 0.19 inches recorded in August of 2012, 1962 and 1940, respectively.  

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of August was 76.4 degrees. This is 1.6 degrees above normal and makes August of 2021 the 15th warmest August on record in Pueblo. This remains well behind the warmest August, 1970, when the average August temperature was 79.8 degrees. Pueblo recorded 1.23 inches of precipitation through the month of August, which is 0.88 inches below normal.  

Looking ahead into September in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 78 degrees and 42 degrees on September 1^{st, cool} to 70 degrees and 32 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of September in Alamosa is 55.9 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.98 inches of precipitation through the month of September.  Of note, the mean date in which Alamosa sees its first freeze of the season is September 11th.  

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperature of 81 degrees and 54 degrees on September 1^{st, cool to 7}2 degrees and 43 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of September in Colorado Springs is 63.0 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 1.35 inches of precipitation through the month of September.  On average, Colorado Springs can see 0.2 inches of snow in the month of September.             

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperature of 88 degrees and 56 degrees on September 1^{st, cool to 77} degrees 43 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of September in Pueblo is 66.6 degrees.  Pueblo averages 0.65 inches of precipitation through the month of September.  On average, Pueblo can see 0.2 inches of snow in the month of September.     

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