National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Continues for the East and South-Central U.S.; Strong to Severe Storms Across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

The extremely dangerous heat wave continues across the East Coast and much of the South-Central U.S. today. Record high temperatures are expected for some areas especially across the Mid-Atlantic where extreme heat risk conditions reside. There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms today for the northern Mid-Atlantic into portions of southern New England. Read More >

April of 2023 saw a rollercoaster of temperatures as passing weather systems brought periods of warm and cold temperatures and generally dry conditions through the first half of the month. A stronger storm system moved across the region through the last week of April, bringing widespread beneficial precipitation to portions of the drought stricken southeast Colorado Plains. For the month of April as a whole, at to below normal temperatures and generally below normal precipitation were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, save for above normal precipitation across portions of the southeast Plains.    

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

 

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of April was 40.2 degrees. This is 1.4 degrees below normal and makes April of 2023 tied with April of 1982 as 27th coldest April on record in Alamosa.  The average April maximum temperature in Alamosa was 60.8 degrees, which is 0.6 degrees above normal. The average April minimum temperature in Alamosa was 19.9 degrees, which is 5.1 degrees below normal and comes in at the 2nd coldest average April minimum temperature on record.  Alamosa recorded 0.14 inches of precipitation through the month of April. This is 0.43 inches below normal and makes April of 2023 the 14th driest April on record.  Alamosa recorded 0.5 inches of snow through the month of April, which makes April of 2023 the 16th least snowiest April on record in Alamosa.  This brings the Alamosa 2022-2023 seasonal snowfall total to 20.5 inches, which is the 23rd least snowiest season on record in Alamosa. 

 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of April was 46.5 degrees, which is 1.0 degrees below normal and makes April of 2023 the 61st warmest April on record in Colorado Springs. The average April maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 61.6 degrees, which is 0.6 degrees above normal. The average April minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 31.3 degrees, which is 2.7 degrees below normal and comes in tied as the 31st coldest average April minimum temperature on record. Colorado Springs recorded 1.45 inches of precipitation through the month of April, which is normal.  Colorado Springs recorded 6.7 inches of snow through the month of April, which is 1.2 inches above normal and makes April of 2023 the 36th snowiest April on record.  This brings the Colorado Springs 2022-2023 seasonal snowfall total to 36.0 inches, which is 4.1 inches above normal to date and makes the 2022-2023 snow season the 38th snowiest on record. 

 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of April was 50.6 degrees, which is 0.7 degrees below normal and makes April of 2023 tied as the 57th coldest April on record. The average April maximum temperature in Pueblo was 69.2 degrees, which is 1.9 degrees above normal and comes in at 31st warmest average April maximum temperature . The average April minimum temperature in Pueblo was 32.1 degrees, which is 3.2 degrees below normal and comes in as the 12th coldest average April minimum temperature on record. Pueblo recorded 2.33 inches of precipitation through the month of Apirl, which is 0.76 inches above normal. This makes April of 2023 tied with April of 1919, as the 19th wettest April on record.  Pueblo recorded 1.7 inches of snow through the month of April, which is 1.7 inches below normal. This brings the Pueblo 2022-2023 seasonal snowfall total to 19.1 inches, which is 9.2 inches below normal to date and makes the 2022-2023 snow season the 17th lowest on record in Pueblo.  

 

Looking ahead into May in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 64 degrees and 30 degrees on May 1st, warm to 64 degrees and 37 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of May in Alamosa is 51.7 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.60 inches of precipitation through the month of May.      

In Colorado Springs, the average high temperature and low temperature of 65 degrees and 38 degrees on May 1st, warm to 77 degrees and 48 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of May in Colorado Springs is 57.1 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 1.99 inches of precipitation and 0.6 inches of snow through the month of May.  On average, Colorado Springs sees its last freeze of the season on May 8th.            

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 71 degrees and 40 degrees on May 1st, warm to 83 degrees and 51 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of May in Pueblo is 61.4 degrees. Pueblo averages 1.57 inches of precipitation through the month of May.  

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of May, which gives equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures and precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.