Summer of 2022 Review

The start of meteorological summer 2022 (June, July and August) saw a rollercoaster of temperatures and precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado, as several passing weather systems brought bouts of cold and stormy conditions, along with bouts of warm and dry conditions. The later half of June also saw an early start to the monsoon season, especially across southwestern and into south central Colorado, where above normal precipitation was experienced for the month as a whole. July was a warm and relatively wet month across south central and southeast Colorado, as the southwest summer monsoon brought in periods of abundant moisture and bouts of heavy rainfall across the region.  The southwest monsoon remained active through out the month of August, especially for areas over and near the higher terrain, with periods of abundant moisture and bouts of heavy rainfall across the region. For the Summer of 2022 as a whole, near normal to above normal temperatures were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of below normal temperatures across the southeast plains. At to well above normal precipitation was also experienced across most of south central and southeast Colorado, save for pockets of below normal precipitation across the southeast plains.  

The following graphics depict seasonal temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the state for the Summer of 2022.

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer of  2022 in Alamosa was 64.5 degrees. This is 1.5 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2022 the 4th warmest on record, just behind the Summers of 2011, 2021 and 2012, when the average summer temperature was 65.3F,  65.1F and 64.6F, respectively.  The average minimum temperature through the summer was 47.4 degrees. This is 2.7 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2022 the warmest mean minimum summer temperature on record, surpassing the previous maximum mean summer low temperature of 47.2 degrees in 1957.  The average maximum temperature through the summer was 81.7 degrees, which is 0.3 degrees above normal and is tied as the 17th warmest mean maximum summer temperature on record.  Alamosa recorded 6.69 inches of precipitation through the Summer of 2022. This is 3.93 inches above normal and makes the Summer of 2022 the wettest Summer on record in Alamosa, surpassing the 6.04 inches of precipitation recorded in the Summer of the 2001.  Of note, the 6.69 inches of precipitation recorded in the Summer of 2022 is 91 percent of the total average annual precipitation (7.39") for Alamosa!  Alamosa also saw the temperature top out at or above 90F nine times through the Summer of 2022. This brings the 2022 total to 9 days, making  2022 tied with 2005, as the 8th most 90+ degree days on record in Alamosa. This is well behind the 20 days of 90 degree temperatures in 2003.    

(click here for a more detailed Summer of 2022 Climate Summary in Alamosa)

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer of 2022 in Colorado Springs was 71.6 degrees. This is 1.7 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2022, tied with the Summers of 2002 and 1980, as the 5th warmest Summer on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the warmest Summer of 2012, when the average summer temperature was 73.3 degrees.  The average minimum temperature through the summer was 57.6 degrees. This is 1.7 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2022 the 4th warmest mean minimum summer temperature on record. This remains behind the warmest mean summer low temperature of 58.5 degrees in 2011 and 2012.  The average maximum temperature through the summer was 85.6 degrees. This is 1.7 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2022 tied with 2016 as the 8th warmest summer average maximum temperature on record, well behind the warmest summer average high temperature of 88.1 degrees in 2020.  Colorado Springs recorded 8.54 inches of precipitation through the Summer, which is 0.19 inches above normal. Of note, 63 percent of the summer precipitation was recorded in the wet month of July (5.35" (+2.23")). The high temperature in Colorado was 90 degrees or greater 31 days through the summer of 2022, topping out at 100 degrees on July 23rd, marking only the 11th time on record that the temperature was at or above the century mark in Colorado Springs. This brings the yearly total of 90+ degree days in Colorado Springs to 34, making 2022 tied with 2018 and 2010, as the 7th most 90+ degree days on record, well behind the 52 days in 2020.  

(click here for a more detailed Summer of 2022 Climate Summary in Colorado Springs)

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer of 2022 in Pueblo was 76.5 degrees. This is 1.9 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2022, tied with the Summer's of 2002 and 1018, as the 7th warmest Summer on record in Pueblo. This remains well behind the warmest Summer of 1970, when the average temperature for the Summer was 77.7 degrees. The average maximum temperature through the summer was 93.0 degrees. This is 2.3 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2022 the 8th warmest summer average maximum temperature on record, well behind the warmest summer average high temperature of 94.9 degrees in 2012.  The average minimum temperature through the summer was 60.0 degrees. This is 1.6 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2022 the 21st warmest mean minimum summer temperature on record. This remains behind the warmest mean summer low temperature of 62.4 degrees in 1969.  Pueblo recorded 3.07 inches of precipitation through the Summer. This is 2.21 inches below normal and makes the Summer of 2022 the 25th driest Summer on record in Pueblo. This remains well ahead of the driest Summer of 1939, when only 0.86 inches of precipitation was recorded in Pueblo.   Pueblo saw temperatures of 100 degrees or greater 21 times through the summer, topping out at a toasty 108 degrees on July 23rd, just 1 degree off the all time record high temperature of 109F.  The 21 days with temperatures at or above the century mark is tied with 1981 as the 5th most 100 degree days in Pueblo on record. This remains behind the record of 28 days of 100 degree temperatures in 2012 and 2003.     

(click here for a more detailed Summer of 2022 Climate Summary in Pueblo)

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the Fall of  2022 (September, October and November), which indicates better chances of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.