May Weather Review across southern Colorado

May of 2021 brought abundant precipitation to much of south central and southeast Colorado, with some areas across southeastern Colorado recording over 6 inches of precipitation through out the month of May. This abundant precipitation has helped to ease drought conditions across eastern Colorado, with much of the southeast plains deemed drought free on the May 25th, 2021 issuance of the US Drought Monitor.  This abundant precipitation, however, generally missed areas along and west of the Continental Divide, where above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation was the rule through the month of May.  For the month of May as a whole, at to below normal temperatures and above to well above normal precipitation were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for areas along and west of the Continental Divide.    

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of May was 52.1 degrees, which is 0.4 degrees above normal. Alamosa recorded 1.79 inches of precipitation through the month of May. This is 1.19 inches above normal and makes May of 2021 the 3rd wettest May on record in Alamosa. This remains behind the wettest May, 1935, when 2.97 inches of precipitation fell in Alamosa. Alamosa also recorded 1.0 inch of snow through the month of May. This brings the 2020-21 seasonal snowfall total in Alamosa up to 48.5 inches, and makes the 2020-21 snowfall season the 11th snowiest on record in Alamosa. This is well behind the snowiest season (1972-73) when 97.5 inches of snow fell in Alamosa. 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of May was 55.9 degrees, which is 1.2 degrees below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 3.98 inches of precipitation through the month of May. This is 1.99 inches above normal and makes May of 2021 the 16th wettest May on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the wettest May, 2015, when 8.13 inches of precipitation fell in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs recorded 1.7 inches of snow in the month of May. This is 1.1 inches above normal and makes May of 2021 the 19th snowiest on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the snowiest May, 1978, when 19.4 inches of snow fell in Colorado Springs. The 1.7 inches of snow in May brings the 2020-21 seasonal snowfall total in Colorado Springs up to 54.3 inches.  This is 21.8 inches above normal and makes the 2020-21 snowfall season the 17th snowiest on record in Colorado Springs. This is well behind the snowiest season, 1956-57, when 89.4 inches of snow fell in Colorado Springs. 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of May was 60.2 degrees, which is 1.2 degrees below normal. Pueblo recorded 4.95 inches of precipitation through the month of May. This is 3.38 inches above normal and make May of 2021 the 3rd wettest May on record in Pueblo. This is just behind the 5.55 inches and 5.43 inches of precipitation recorded in May of 2015 and 1957, respectively. Pueblo recorded a trace of snow on the 11th of May, which keeps the 2020-21 seasonal snowfall tally at 37.4 inches. This is 9.1 inches above normal, and makes the 2020-21 snowfall season the 30th snowiest on record in Pueblo. This is well behind the snowiest season, 1989-1990, when 69.6 inches of snow fell in Pueblo.  

Looking ahead into June in Alamosa, the average high temperature and low temperature of 76 degrees and 37 degrees on June 1st, warm to 83 degrees and 45 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of June in Alamosa is 60.6 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.43 inches of precipitation through the month of June.  

In Colorado Springs, the average high temperature and low temperature of 77 degrees and 49 degrees on June 1st, warm to 86 degrees and 56 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of June in Colorado Springs is 67.2 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 2.27 inches of precipitation through the month of June.            

In Pueblo, the average high temperature  and low temperature of 84 degrees and 51 degrees on June 1st, warm to 93 degrees 59 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of June in Pueblo is 71.8 degrees.  Pueblo averages 1.28 inches of precipitation through the month of June.       

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