December's Weather Review

Upper level ridging, in place across the Rockies through a majority of the month of December, would give way for a few Pacific weather systems to move the region throughout the month. These passing systems brought beneficial moisture in the form of snow and rain to the region, along with only brief cool downs in temperatures.  For the month of December as a whole, above to well above normal temperatures were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, along with near normal to well above normal precipitation, especially across the southeast Plains.         

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of December was 21.6 degrees. This is 3.5 degrees above normal and makes December of 2023 the 28th warmest December on record in Alamosa. This is well behind the warmest December of 1980, when the average monthly temperature was 28.1 degrees. The average December maximum temperature in Alamosa was 38.8 degrees, which is 3.4 degrees above normal.  The average December minimum temperature in Alamosa was 4.4 degrees, which is 3.6 degrees above normal.  Alamosa recorded 0.40 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 0.06 inches above normal and makes December of 2023 the 30th wettest December on record.   Alamosa recorded 5.8 inches of snow through the month of December. This is 1.2 inches above normal and makes December of 2023 the 33rd snowiest December in Alamosa.    

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of December was 37.4 degrees. This is 5.7 degrees above normal and makes December of 2023 the 7th warmest December on record in Colorado Springs. This is well behind the warmest December of 1933 when the average monthly temperature was 41.0 degrees. The average December maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 50.2 degrees, which is 5.6 degrees above normal. The average December minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 24.6 degrees, which is 5.9 degrees above normal.  Colorado Springs recorded 0.57 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 0.34 inches above normal and makes December of 2023 the 21st wettest December on record. Colorado Springs tallied 8.4 inches of snowfall through the month of December. This is 4.3 inches above normal and makes December of 2023 tied as the 23rd snowiest December on record. Colorado Springs set two daily record high temperature through the month of December. 

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of December was 35.9 degrees. This is 4.2 degrees above normal and makes December of 2023 tied as the 20th warmest December on record in Pueblo. This is well behind the warmest December of 1889, when the average monthly temperature was 42.2 degrees.  The average December maximum temperature in Pueblo was 51.1 degrees, which is 3.6 degrees above normal. The average December minimum temperature in Pueblo was 20.6 degrees,  which is 4.7 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 1.31 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 1.02 inches above normal and makes December of 2023 the 2nd wettest December on record, just behind the 1.35 inches recorded in December of 1913. Pueblo tallied 9.5 inches of snow through the month of December. This is 4.9 inches above normal and makes December of 2023 the 23rd snowiest December on record. This is well behind the snowiest December of 2011, when 18.6 inches of snow was tallied in Pueblo. Pueblo set one daily record high temperature in the month of December, along with one daily record precipitation when 0.57 inches of rain (no snow) was recorded on December 23rd.   

Looking ahead into January in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 33 degrees and -2 degrees on January 1st, warm to 37 degrees and 2 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of January in Alamosa is 16.8 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.32 inches of precipitation and 4.5 inches of snow through the month of January.   On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Alamosa.     

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperature of 44 degrees and 18 degrees on January 1st, warm to 45 degrees and 19 degrees by the end  of the month. The average temperature for the month of January in Colorado Springs is 31.7 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 0.29 inches of precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow through the month of January.  On average, January is tied with December as the coldest months of the year in Colorado Springs.      

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 47 degrees and 15 degrees on January 1st, warm to 49 degrees and 17 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of January in Pueblo is 31.9 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.29 inches of precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow through the month of January.   On average, January is the snowiest month of the year in Pueblo.          

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for January of 2024, which leans towards below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.