May Weather Review across southern Colorado

May of 2022 was a bi-polar month, especially across southeast Colorado, where very warm and windy weather through the 1st half of the month brought very critical fire weather conditions across the region, along with several new wildfires. Warm and windy conditions prevailed across southeast Colorado through May 20th, when an unseasonably strong weather system brought 10 to 30 inches of late season snowfall to Pikes Peak region and areas along and west of the I-25 Corridor. For the month of May as a whole, above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation were experienced across much of the area, with above normal precipitation being experienced across the Pikes Peak region into the middle Arkansas River valley.     

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 53.3 degrees. This is 1.6 degrees above normal and makes May of 2022, tied with May of 1956 and 1989, as the 14th warmest May on record. This remains well behind the warmest May, 2020, when the average monthly temperature was 56.0 degrees.  Alamosa recorded 0.39 inches of precipitation through the month of May, which is 0.21 inches below normal.  Alamosa recorded 0.2 inches of snow through the month of May. This brings the 2021-22 seasonal snowfall total in Alamosa up to 19.5 inches.  

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of May was 59.1 degrees. This is 2.0 degrees above normal and makes May of 2022 the 11th warmest May on record. This remains well behind the warmest May, 2018, when the average monthly temperature was 62.2 degrees.  Colorado Springs recorded 2.02 inches of precipitation through the month of May, which is 0.03 inches above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 10.3 inches of snow in the month of May. This is 9.7 inches above normal and makes May of 2022 the 5th snowiest on record in Colorado Springs, just behind the 19.4 inches in 1978, 14.9 inches in 1957, and 14.3 inches in 1898 and the 13.5 inches in 1912.  The 10.3 inches of snow in May brings the 2021-22 seasonal snowfall total in Colorado Springs up to 33.4 inches.  Colorado Springs set 3 daily record high temperatures of 91F on the 7th, 91F on the 11th and 90F on the 17th. These 3 days in which the temperature topped out at 90 degrees or greater also ties with May of 2000 as the most 90 degree May days on record in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs also set a daily record low maximum temperature of 37F on May 21.  Colorado Springs also set daily record snowfalls of May 20th (5.7") and May 21st (4.6").   

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of May was 61.2 degrees, which is 0.2 degrees below normal. Pueblo recorded 2.41 inches of precipitation through the month of May. This is 0.84 inches above normal and makes May of 2022 the 27th wettest May on record in Pueblo. This remains well behind the 5.55 inches recorded in May of 2015. Pueblo recorded 3.2 inches of snow in May. This is 3.2 inches above normal and makes May of 2022 the 7th snowiest May on record behind the 10.6 inches in 1990, 10.2 inches in 1917, 4.8 inches in 1946, 4.6 inches in 1953, 4.5 inches in 1954 and the 3.5 inches in 1978. The 2.8 inches  of snow recorded on May 21st also ties with May 21st of 2001 as the latest date of measurable snow being recorded in Pueblo. The 3.2 inches of snow in May also brings the 2021-22 seasonal snowfall tally to 25.8 inches.   Pueblo set 1 daily record maximum temperature, 1 daily record low maximum temperature, 2 daily record low temperatures and 2 daily record snowfalls through the month of May.  

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 better chances of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation across all of south central and southeast Colorado.