January Weather Review

The first week of the new year was relatively cool and unsettled across south central and southeast Colorado, before upper level ridging brought warm and dry  conditions to region for the second week of January. The last half of January saw occasional disturbances bringing surges of cold and unsettled weather to the area, with another bout of Arctic air across the southeast Plains at the end of the month.  For the month of January as a whole, below normal temperatures were experienced across south central Colorado, save for above normal temperatures across the San Luis Valley and portions of the far southeast Plains. Generally at and above normal precipitation was experienced across the area through the month of January, save for pockets of below normal precipitation across the south central and southeast Colorado.  

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of January was 21.2 degrees. This is 4.4 degrees above normal and makes January of 2023 tied as the 18th warmest January on record in Alamosa. This remains well below the warmest January of 2003, when the average January temperature was 26.4 degrees.  The average January maximum temperature in Alamosa was 38.2 degrees, which is 3.4 degrees above normal. The average January minimum temperature in Alamosa was 4.2 degrees, which is 5.3 degrees above normal.  Alamosa recorded 0.39 inches of precipitation through the month of January, which is 0.07 inches above normal. Alamosa recorded 3.1 inches snow through the month of January.  Alamosa set a new record high minimum temperature of 28 degrees on New Year's Day. 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of January was 31.1 degrees, which is 0.6 degrees below normal. The average January maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 42.0 degrees, which is 3.0 degrees below normal. The average January minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 20.2 degrees, which is 1.7 degrees above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.40 inches of precipitation through the month of January, which is 0.11 inches above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 5.3 inches of snow through the month of January, which is 0.4 inches above normal.  Colorado Springs set a new record maximum temperature of 67 degrees on January 14th.

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of January was 30.2 degrees, which is 1.7 degrees below normal.  The average January maximum temperature in Pueblo was 45.9 degrees, which is 2.5 degrees below normal. The average January minimum temperature in Pueblo was 14.5 degrees, which is 0.9 degrees below normal. Pueblo recorded 0.17 inches of precipitation through the month of January, which is 0.12 inches below normal. Pueblo recorded 2.3 inches of snow through the month of January, which is 2.6 inches below normal.  Pueblo tied a record high temperature of 67F on January 14th and set a new record low maximum temperature of 9 degrees on January 30th. 

Looking ahead into February in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 37 degrees and 2 degrees on February 1st, warm to 47 degrees and 13 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Alamosa is 24.3 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.28 inches of precipitation through the month of February, which on average, is the driest month of the year in Alamosa.     

In Colorado Springs, the average high temperature and low temperature of 45 degrees and 19 degrees on February 1st, warm to 50 degrees and 23 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Colorado Springs is 33.4 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 0.32 inches of precipitation and 4.6 inches of snow through the month of February.           

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 49 degrees and 17 degrees on February 1st, warm to 55 degrees and 22 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of February in Pueblo is 35.1 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.32 inches of precipitation and 4.7 inches of snow through the month of February.          

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