Fall of 2023 Weather Review

September of 2023 started and ended warm and dry across south central and southeast Colorado, with a passing, unseasonably strong weather system, bringing cool temperatures, good moisture and some accumulating snow to the higher mountain peaks through the middle of the month.

A few weather systems moved across the region through the month of October. The first system moved across the state through the first week of October, bringing showers and thunderstorms and good rainfall for southern portions of the region, as well as some snowfall to the higher mountain peaks. The second system moved across through the middle of the month, bringing some mountain snowfall as well as brief cool down across the region. In between these systems, very warm temperatures were experienced across the region, until a much colder weather system moved across the state October 28th and 29th. This system brought abundant snowfall to areas over and near the higher terrain, along with well below seasonal temperatures to the region.

A few weather systems moved across the region through the second and third week of November, bringing some precipitation to mainly areas over and near the higher terrain, as well as cooler temperatures areawide. In between these systems, warm and dry conditions were experienced across the region.

The following graphics depict seasonal temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the state for the Fall of 2023.

The preliminary average temperature for the Fall of 2023 in Alamosa was 44.7 degrees. This is 1.4 degrees above normal and makes the Fall of 2023 the 17th warmest on record in Alamosa. This is well below the warmest Fall of 1933, when the average temperature was 46.9F. Alamosa recorded 1.34 inches of precipitation through the Fall of 2023. This is 0.66 inches below normal and makes the Fall of 2023 the 30th driest fall on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the driest Fall of 1955 when 0.23 inches of precipitation was recorded. Alamosa recorded 0.1 inches of snow throughout the Fall. This is 6.0 inches below normal and makes the Fall of 2023 the 10th least snowiest Fall's on record, just behind 9 years when only a trace of snow was recorded in Alamosa, the last being in the Fall of 2012.

(click here for a more detailed Fall of 2023 Climate Summary in Alamosa)

The preliminary average temperature for the Fall of 2023 in Colorado Springs was 53.6F. This is 2.5 degrees above normal and makes the Fall of 2023 the 6th warmest fall on record in Colorado Springs. This is well below the warmest Fall of 2016, when the average temperature was 56.0 degrees. Colorado Springs recorded 2.45 inches of precipitation through the Fall of 2023. This is 0.04 inches below normal and makes the Fall of 2023 the 49th wettest Fall on record, well behind the 7.50 inches of precipitation record throughout the Fall of 1909. Colorado Springs recorded 9.4 inches of snow throughout the Fall of 2023, with 8.3 inches falling from one storm in October. This is 2.9 inches above normal and makes the Fall of 2023 the 29th snowiest Fall on record in Colorado Springs, well behind the 37.7 inches of snow that fell throughout the Fall of 1959.

(click here for a more detailed Fall of 2023 Climate Summary in Colorado Springs)

The preliminary average temperature for the Fall of 2023 in Pueblo was 55.4F. This is 2.1 degrees above normal and makes the Fall of 2023 tied as the 12th warmest Fall on record in Pueblo. This is well below the warmest Fall of 2016, when the average temperature was 58.3 degrees. Pueblo recorded 1.75 inches of precipitation throughout the Fall of 2023. This is 0.13 inches below normal and makes the Fall of 2023 the 67th wettest Fall on record, well behind the 7.74 inches recorded through the Fall of 1957. Pueblo recorded 1.4 inches of snow throughout the Fall of 2023. This is 4.8 inches below normal and makes the Fall of 2023 the 38th least snowiest Fall on record in Pueblo.

(click here for a more detailed Fall of 2023 Climate Summary in Pueblo)

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the Winter of 2023-24 (December, January and February) which leans towards near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.