August Weather Review

August of 2023 was generally warm and dry month across the region, with upper level ridging parked across the southern High Plains through the Desert Southwest and Great Basin through the first half of the month, keeping monsoonal moisture south and west of the Rockies. This anomalous weather pattern kept eastern Colorado in northwest flow and continued bouts of severe weather, including August 5th, when several funnel clouds where reported across El Paso county. The upper ridge broke down through the end of the month, bringing a few bouts of monsoonal moisture and locally heavy rainfall to portions of south central and southeast Colorado.    

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of August was 65.7 degrees. This is 2.5 degrees above normal and makes August of 2023 the 3rd warmest August on record in Alamosa, just behind the average August temperatures of 66.0F in 2011 and 65.9F in 1969. The average August maximum temperature in Alamosa was 84.7 degrees. This is 4.2 degrees above normal and becomes the 3rd warmest August average maximum temperature on record in Alamosa, just behind the 86.5 degree and 85.2 degree August average maximum temperatures in 2020 and 2011, respectively. The average August minimum temperature in Alamosa was 46.6 degrees, which is 0.8 degrees above normal.  Alamosa recorded 0.39 inches of precipitation through the month of August. This is 0.90 inches below normal and makes August of 2023 the 10th driest August on record in Alamosa, well behind the 0.10 inches recorded in August of 2021.

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of August was 71.5 degrees. This is 1.4 degrees above normal and makes August of 2023 the 11th warmest August on record, well behind the warmest August of 2011 when the average monthly temperature was 74.1F. The average  August maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 85.3 degrees. This is 1.7 degrees above normal and comes in at the 15th warmest August average maximum temperature on record in Colorado Springs. The average August minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 57.7 degrees. This is 1.1 degrees above normal and comes in the 13th warmest August average minimum temperature on record.  Colorado Springs recorded 2.34 inches of precipitation through the month of August, which is 0.62 inches below normal. 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of August  was 76.9 degrees. This is 2.1 degrees above normal and makes August of 2023 the 11th warmest August on record, well behind the warmest August of 1970, when the average monthly temperature was 79.8 degrees.  The average August maximum temperature in Pueblo was 92.4 degrees. This is 2.2 degrees above normal and comes in at the 16th warmest August average maximum temperature on record. The average August minimum temperature in Pueblo was 61.4 degrees,  which is 2.0 degrees above normal and comes in as tied as the 14th warmest August average minimum temperature on record. Pueblo recorded 0.91 inches of precipitation through the month of August. This  is  1.20 inches below normal and comes in at the 34th driest August on record, well behind driest August of 1900, when a trace of precipitation was recorded in Pueblo.  

Looking ahead into September in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 78 degrees and 42 degrees on September 1st, cool to 70 degrees and 32 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of September in Alamosa is 55.9 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.98 inches of precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow through the month of September. On average, Alamosa sees the first freeze of the Fall on September 11th.     

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperature of 81 degrees and 54 degrees on September 1st, cool to 72 degrees and 43 degrees by the end  of the month. The average temperature for the month of September in Colorado Springs is 63.0 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 1.35 inches of precipitation and 0.2 inches of snow through the month of September.              

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 88 degrees and 56 degrees on September 1st, cool to 77 degrees and 43 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of September in Pueblo is 66.6 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.65 inches of precipitation and 0.2 inches of snow through the month of September.  

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