September Weather Review across southern Colorado

September of 2021 was mainly warm and dry across south central and southeast Colorado, save for a few passing weather systems which brought passing showers and thunderstorms, along with brief cool downs to the region. For the month of September as a whole, above to well above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets for pockets of above normal precipitation across the 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 58.4 degrees. This is 2.5 degrees above normal and makes September of 2021 tied with September of 1935 and 2015, as the 4th warmest September on record in Alamosa. This remains behind the warmest September, 1933, when the average September temperature was 59.0 degrees. Alamosa recorded 0.32 inches of precipitation through the month of September. This is 0.66 inches below normal and makes September of 2021 the 21st driest September on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the trace of precipitation recorded in September of 1953 and 1956.  

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of September was 68.0 degrees. This is 5.0 degrees above normal and makes September of 2021 the second warmest September on record in Colorado Springs, just behind the average September temperature of 68.7 degrees in 2019. Colorado Springs recorded temperatures at or above 90 degrees for 5 days through the month of September, including the 98 degrees on September 11th, which not only set a new daily record high, but also set new September record high temperature, surpassing the previous record of 97 degrees set on September 6th, 2020.  The 5 days of at or above 90 degree temperatures in Colorado Springs brings the 2021 total to 41 days. This makes 2021 the 4th most number of 90 degrees days on record in Colorado Springs, behind the 52 days in 2020, the 49 days in 2012 and the 44 days in 2011. Colorado Springs recorded 0.95 inches of precipitation and no snow through the month of September, which is 0.40 inches and 0.2 inches below normal, respectively.   

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of September was 70.2 degrees. This is 3.6 degrees above normal and makes September of 2021 the 4th warmest September on record in Pueblo. This remains well behind the warmest September, 2019, when the average September temperature was 72.8 degrees. Pueblo recorded 0.94 inches of precipitation and no snow through the month of September, which is 0.29 inches above normal and 0.2 inches below normal, respectively. This brings Pueblo's 2021 year to date precipitation total to 15.08 inches which is 4.58 inches above normal to date, and  3.06 inches above the normal yearly total of 12.02 inches. 

Looking ahead into October in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 69 degrees and 31 degrees on October1^{st, cool} to 57 degrees and 19 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of October in Alamosa is 43.8 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.65 inches of precipitation through the month of October.    

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperature of 71 degrees and 43 degrees on October 1^{st, cool to 59} degrees and 31 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of October in Colorado Springs is 50.7 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 0.77 inches of precipitation and 2.5 inches of snow through the month of October.  Of note, the mean date for the first freeze of the fall in Colorado Springs is October 1st.             

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperature of 77 degrees and 43 degrees on October 1^{st, cool to 63} degrees 30 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of October in Pueblo is 52.8 degrees.  Pueblo averages 0.76 inches of precipitation and 1.9 inches of snow through the month of October.  Of note, the mean date for the first freeze of the fall in Pueblo is 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 south central and southeast Colorado.