February Weather Review across Southern Colorado

February of 2022 started out cold and snowy across south central and southeast Colorado, as an unseasonal cold weather system ushered in some of the coldest air of the winter season. Temperatures and precipitation across the region ebbed and flowed as several more weather systems moved across the Rockies through the middle of February, bringing bouts of snowy and cold weather to much of south central and southeast Colorado, before upper level ridging brought in much warmer and drier weather to the state for the last few days of the month. For the month of February as a whole, below to well below normal temperatures were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado. As for precipitation, near normal to slightly below normal precipitation was experienced across the area, save for above normal precipitation for areas over and near the eastern mountains.          

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of February was 20.5 degrees. This is 3.8 degrees below normal and makes February  of 2022 the 25th coldest February on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the coldest February of 1939, when the average February temperature was 8.3 degrees. Alamosa recorded 0.36 inches of precipitation through the month of February. This is 0.08 inches above normal and makes February of 2022 the 19th wettest February on record. Alamosa recorded 6.4 inches of snow through the month of February, which makes February of 2022 the 16th snowiest February on record.  

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of February was 28.8 degrees. This is 4.6 degrees below normal and makes February of 2022, tied with February of 1897, as the 29th coldest February on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the coldest February of 1899 when the average February temperature was 16.8 degrees. Colorado Springs recorded 0.56 inches of precipitation through the month of February. This is 0.24 inches above normal and makes February of 2022 the 29th wettest February on record. This is well behind the wettest February of 1987, when 2.45 inches of precipitation was recorded in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs recorded 10.5 inches of snow through the month of February. This is 5.9 inches above normal and makes February of 2022, tied with February of 2013, as the 17th snowiest February on record. This remains well behind the snowiest February of 1987, when 23.2 inches of snow fell in Colorado Springs.   

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of February was 30.2 degrees. This is 4.9 degrees below normal and makes February of 2022, tied with February of 1900, as the 26th coldest February on record in Pueblo. This remains well behind the coldest February of 1899, when the average February temperature was 18.6F. Pueblo recorded 0.58 inches of precipitation and 8.0 inches of snow through the month of February. This is 0.26 inches above normal and 3.3 inches above normal, respectively, making February of 2022 tied as the 35th wettest and 34th snowiest February on record in Pueblo.   

Looking ahead into March in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 47 degrees and 13 degrees on March 1^{st, warm} to 57 degrees and 21 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of March in Alamosa is 35.2 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.51 inches of precipitation through the month of March.      

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperature of 50 degrees and 23 degrees on March 1^{st, warm to 58} degrees and 31 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of March in Colorado Springs is 41.1 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 0.79 inches of precipitation and 5.7 inches of snow through the month of March. On average, March is the snowiest month of the year in Colorado Springs.         

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperature of 55 degrees and 23 degrees on March 1^{st, warm to 65} degrees 31 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of March in Pueblo is 43.9 degrees.  Pueblo averages 0.82 inches of precipitation and 4.5 inches of snow through the month of March.                       

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of March (issued February 17th), which gives better chances of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.