National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms in the East Sunday; Excessive Heat Lingers in the Southern U.S. and Returning to California

Scattered damaging winds from severe thunderstorms will be possible across parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States Sunday. Excessive heat will continue over the southern U.S. Sunday before another round of heat arrives Monday through the central and southern U.S. spreading into the East by Independence Day. California will see excessive heat starting Tuesday. Read More >

The weather was bipolar across the state of Colorado through June of 2021.  The first half of the month was extremely warm and generally dry across the region, with several high temperature records being set across the state, including June 16th when the temperature topped out at 100 degrees in Colorado Springs. This marks only the 10th time on record in which the temperature reached 100 degrees or greater in Colorado Springs.  The second half of the month was cooler and stormier, as several weather systems and cold fronts moved across the region.  For the month of June as a whole, at to above normal temperatures were experienced across south-central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of below normal temperatures across the southeast plains. As for precipitation, at or above normal conditions were recorded across the eastern mountains and back into south central Colorado, with generally below normal conditions reported across the southeast plains.     

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

 

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of June was 63.0 degrees. This is 2.4 degrees above normal and makes June of 2021 the 5th warmest June on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the warmest June; 2012, when the average June temperature was 64.5 degrees. Alamosa recorded 0.89 inches of precipitation through the month of June, which is 0.46 inches above normal. Alamosa tied or set new daily record high temperatures on 6 consecutive days in June, including 5 straight days (June 13th-June 17th) in which the temperature was at or above 90 degrees.  The 5 consecutive days in June in which the temperature reached 90 degrees or greater marks the 5th longest streak of consecutive 90-degree days on record in Alamosa. This is just behind a 13 day stretch of 90-degree days ending on July 19th, 2003, a 9-day streak ending on July 22nd, 2005, as well as two 8-day streaks ending on June 27th, 2012 and July 8th, 1989.  Alamosa reported thunderstorms on 11 days in June, with no hail being reported at the airport site. 

 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of June was 69.6 degrees. This is 2.4 degrees above normal and makes June of 2021 tied with June of 2006, 2010, and 2020 as the 9th warmest June on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the warmest June; 2012, when the average June temperature was 73.3 degrees.  Colorado Springs recorded 2.15 inches of precipitation through the month of June, which is 0.12 inches below normal. Colorado Springs tied or set two new daily record high temperatures in June, including June 16th in which the high temperature was 100 degrees. This not only set a new daily record for June 16th, but also marks only the 10th time on record in which the temperature has topped out at or above the century mark in Colorado Springs.  Colorado Springs reported thunderstorms on 13 days in June, with no hail being reported at the airport site. 

 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of June was 73.2 degrees. This is 1.4 degrees above normal and makes June of 2021, tied with June of 1972, as the 23rd warmest June on record in Pueblo. This is well behind the warmest June; 2012, when the average June temperature was 77.0 degrees. Pueblo recorded 0.38 inches of precipitation through the month of June. This is 0.90 inches below normal and makes June of 2021, tied with June of 1973 as the 24th driest June on record. This is well ahead of the driest June; 1990, when only a trace of precipitation was recorded in Pueblo. Pueblo set a new daily record high temperature of 103 degrees on June 17th.  Pueblo reported thunderstorms on 5 days in June, with no hail being reported at the airport site. 

 

Looking ahead into July in Alamosa, the average high temperature of 83 degrees on July 1st warms to 84 degrees by July 4th, before cooling back to 82 degrees by the end of the month. The average low temperature of 45 degrees on July 1st warms to 48 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of July in Alamosa is 65.3 degrees.  Alamosa averages 1.04 inches of precipitation through the month of July.  On average, July is the warmest month and second wettest month of the year in Alamosa. 

In Colorado Springs, the average high temperature of 86 degrees on July 1st warms to 87 degrees by July 7th, before cooling back to 86 degrees by the end of the month. The average low temperature of 56 degrees on July 1st warms to 59 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of July in Colorado Springs is 72.4 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 3.12 inches of precipitation through the month of July.  On average, July is the warmest and wettest month of the year in Colorado Springs.            

In Pueblo, the average high temperature of 93 degrees on July 1st warms to 94 degrees by July 6th, before cooling back to 93 degrees by the end of the month. The average low temperature of 59 degrees on July 1st warms to 62 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of July in Pueblo is 77.2 degrees.  Pueblo averages 1.89 inches of precipitation through the month of July.  On average, July is the warmest and second wettest month of the year in Pueblo.     

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of July, which gives equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures across southeast Colorado, with a slight nod to above normal temperatures across portions of south-central Colorado. As for precipitation, the outlook gives a slight nod to above normal precipitation across the southern half of Colorado, with equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation for the northern half of the state.