November Weather Review

An up and down weather pattern was experienced across the region through the first half of November, as a few passing weather systems brought periods of of cool and unsettled weather along with periods of warm and dry conditions. A pattern shift developed through the second half of the month, where as, a broad upper trough carved out across the central CONUS, bringing surges of Arctic air into the Rockies. For the month of November as a whole, below to well below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado.   

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of November was 27.2 degrees. This is 3.1 degrees below normal and makes November of 2022, tied with November of 1947, as the 17th Coldest November on record in Alamosa. This, however, is well above the coldest November of 1972, when the average temperature in Alamosa was 18.6 degrees.  Alamosa recorded 0.34 inches of precipitation through the month of November, which is 0.03 inches below normal. Alamosa recorded its first snowfall of the season on November 13th and ended with a total of 4.6 inches of snow for the month of November as a whole. 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of November was 36.6 degrees. This is 2.9 degrees below normal and makes November of 2022 the 41st coldest on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well above the coldest November of 1972, when the average monthly temperature was 29.8 degrees. Colorado Springs recorded 0.24 inches of precipitation through the month of November, which is 0.13 inches below normal. Colorado Springs recorded its first snowfall of season on November 10th and ended the month of November with a total of 7.4 inches of snow. This is 3 inches above normal and makes November of 2022 the 19th snowiest November on record in Colorado Springs, well behind the snowiest November of 1991 when 26.3 inches of snow was recorded in Colorado Springs. 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of November was 36.8 degrees. This is 3.7 degrees below normal and makes November of 2022, tied with November of 1898, as the 20th coldest November on record in Pueblo. This remains well above the coldest November of 1985, when the average monthly temperature in Pueblo was 31.1 degrees.  Pueblo recorded 0.19 inches of precipitation through the month of November. This is 0.28 inches below normal and makes November of 2022, tied with as the 45th driest November in Pueblo. Pueblo saw its first measurable snow of the season on November 11th and ended the month with a total of 4.1 inches of snow, which is normal. 

Looking ahead into December in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 40 degrees and 5 degrees on December 1st, cool to 33 degrees and -2 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of December in Alamosa is 18.1 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.35 inches of precipitation through the month of December.    

In Colorado Springs,  the average high temperature and low temperature of 47 degrees and 21 degrees on December 1st, cool to 44 degrees and 18 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of December in Colorado Springs is 31.7 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 0.23 inches of precipitation and 4.1 inches of snow through the month of December. On average, December is the driest month of the year in Colorado Springs.          

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 50 degrees and 19 degrees on December 1st, cools to 47 degrees and 15 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of December in Pueblo is 31.7 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.29 inches of precipitation and 4.6 inches of snow through the month of December.  On average, December is tied with January 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 December, which gives better chances of above normal temperatures and equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado, save for slightly better chances of below normal precipitation across the far southeast plains.