December Weather Review

The first half of December was relatively warm and dry across south central and southeast Colorado. The second half of the month saw occasional disturbances bringing surges of cold and unsettled weather to the area, especially eastern Colorado, which saw a true "Arctic Intrusion" leading up to the Christmas Holiday Weekend. For the month of December as a whole, above to well above normal temperatures were experienced across south central Colorado, with below to well below normal temperatures across southeast Colorado. Generally below normal precipitation was experienced across the area through the month of December, save for pockets of above normal precipitation across the southwest and central mountains, and along the Palmer Divide.

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of December was 23.5 degrees. This is 5.4 degrees above normal and makes December of 2022 the 15th warmest December on record in Alamosa. This remains well below the warmest December of 1980, when the average temperature in Alamosa was 28.1 degrees. Alamosa recorded 0.02 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 0.33 inches below normal and makes December of 2022, tied with December's of 1946 and 1958, as the 8th driest December on record in Alamosa. Alamosa recorded 0.3 inches snow through the month of December, which makes December of 2022, tied with December's of 1957, 1998, 1999, as the 6th least snowiest December on record.

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of December was 30.7 degrees, which is 1.0 degrees below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.50 inches of precipitation through the month of December, which is 0.27 inches above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 3.9 inches of snow through the month of December, which is 0.2 inches below normal.

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of December was 29.5 degrees, which is 2.2 degrees below normal. Pueblo recorded 0.13 inches of precipitation through the month of December, which is 0.16 inches below normal. Pueblo recorded 1.3 inches of snow through the month of December, which is 3.3 inches below normal.

Looking ahead into January in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 33 degrees and -2 degrees on January 1st, warm to 37 degrees and 2 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of January in Alamosa is 16.8 degrees. Alamosa averages 0.32 inches of precipitation through the month of January. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Alamosa.

In Colorado Springs, the average high temperature and low temperature of 44 degrees and 18 degrees on January 1st, warm to 45 degrees and 19 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of January in Colorado Springs is 31.7 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 0.29 inches of precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow through the month of January. On average, January is tied with December as the coldest months of the year in Colorado Springs.

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 47 degrees and 15 degrees on January 1st, warm to 49 degrees and 17 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of January in Pueblo is 31.9 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.29 inches of precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow through the month of January. On average, January is tied with December as the driest months of the year in Pueblo.

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