January Weather Review across Southern Colorado

January of 2022 started out cold and snowy across south central and southeast Colorado, as a passing storm system brought the first snow of the year across south central and southeast Colorado on New Years Day. Upper level ridging building in behind the New Years storm system brought warmer and drier conditions for the next few days of January. An up and down weather pattern was then experienced across the region, as several weather systems moved across the state through the rest of January. For the month of January as a whole, near to below normal temperatures with near to above slightly above normal precipitation was experienced across most of south central and southeast Colorado, save for above normal temperatures and below normal temperatures across southwestern Colorado.         

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of January was 19.0 degrees. This is 2.2 degrees above normal and makes January of 2022 the 32nd warmest January on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the warmest January of 2003, when the average January temperature was 26.4 degrees. Alamosa recorded 0.34 inches of precipitation through the month of January, which is 0.02 inches above normal. Alamosa recorded 4.9 inches of snow through the month of January. Of note, Alamosa set/tied one record daily high temperature in January of 2022.  

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of January was 34.0 degrees. This is 2.3 degrees above normal and makes January of 2022, tied with January of 2009, as the 19th warmest January on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the warmest January of 1986, when the average January temperature was 38.2 degrees. Colorado Springs recorded 0.22 inches of precipitation and 4.3 inches of snow through the month of January, which is 0.07 inches below normal and 0.6 inches below normal, respectively.  Of note, Colorado Springs set/tied one record daily high temperature in January of 2022.  

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of January was 32.0 degrees, which is 0.1 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 0.50 inches of precipitation through the month of January. This is 0.21 inches above normal and makes January of 2022 tied as the 31st wettest January on record in Pueblo. This is well behind the wettest January of 1948, when 1.45 inches of precipitation was recorded in Pueblo.  Pueblo tallied 4.6 inches of snow through the month of January, which is 0.3 inches below normal.  

Looking ahead into February in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 37 degrees and 2 degrees on February 1^{st, warm} to 47 degrees and 13 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Alamosa is  24.3 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.28 inches of precipitation through the month of February.  On average,  February is the driest month of the year in Alamosa.    

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperature of 45 degrees and 19 degrees on February 1^{st, warm to 50} degrees and 23 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Colorado Springs is 33.4 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 0.32 inches of precipitation and 4.6 inches of snow through the month of February.         

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperature of 49 degrees and 17 degrees on February 1^{st, warm to 55} degrees 22 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Pueblo is 35.1 degrees.  Pueblo averages 0.32 inches of precipitation and 4.7 inches of snow through the month of February.                        

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of February, which gives better chances of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation to much of the state, save for equal chances of above, below or near normal precipitation across the northern tier of Colorado.