March Weather Review

March of 2023 saw a predominately strong westerly flow pattern across the Rockies, which brought ample moisture and snowfall to areas along and west of the Continental Divide, as well as generally cool, dry and windy weather to most of eastern Colorado.  For the month of March as a whole, below to well below normal temperatures were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado, with above normal precipitation across western Colorado and below normal precipitation across eastern Colorado.    

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of March was 32.8 degrees. This is 2.4 degrees below normal and makes March of 2023 tied as 41st coldest March on record in Alamosa.  The average March maximum temperature in Alamosa was 47.9 degrees, which is 4.8 degrees below normal and comes in tied as the 23rd coldest average March maximum temperature on record. The average March minimum temperature in Alamosa was 17.7 degrees, which is 0.1 degrees above normal and comes in at the 23rd warmest average March minimum temperature on record.  Alamosa recorded 0.37 inches of precipitation through the month of March, which is 0.17 inches below normal and makes March of 2023 tied as the 41st wettest (50th driest) March on record.  Alamosa recorded 4.8 inches of snow through the month of March, which makes March of 2023 tied as the 34th snowiest March on record in Alamosa.  This brings the 2022-2023 seasonal snowfall total to 20.0 inches in Alamosa. 

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of March was 37.8 degrees, which is 3.3 degrees below normal and makes March of 2023 as the 64th coldest March on record in Colorado Springs. This is also the the coldest March since 2019, when the average March temperature was 36.9 degrees. The average March maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 51.5 degrees, which is 3.4 degrees below normal and comes in at the 59th warmest (70th coldest) average March maximum temperature on record. The average March minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 24.0 degrees, which is 3.3 degrees below normal and comes in at the 53rd coldest (75th warmest) average March minimum temperature on record. Colorado Springs recorded 0.08 inches of precipitation through the month of March, which is 0.71 inches below normal. This makes March of 2023 the 8th driest March on record just behind a trace of precipitation recorded in March of 1946, 1935 and 1922, 0.01 inches in March of 1966, 0.04 inches in March of 1920 and 0.06 inches in March of 2012. Colorado Springs recorded 0.3 inches of snow through the month of March, which is 5.4 inches below normal and make March of 2023 the 8th least snowiest March on record.  This brings the Colorado Springs 2022-2023 seasonal snowfall total to 29.3 inches, which is 2.9 inches above normal to date.  

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of March was 39.9 degrees, which is 4.0 degrees below normal and makes March of 2023 tied as the 46th coldest March on record. This also is the coldest March since March of 2002, when the average March temperature was 37.5 degrees.  The average March maximum temperature in Pueblo was 57.1 degrees, which is 3.5 degrees below normal and comes in at 67th warmest (69th coldest) average March maximum temperature . The average March minimum temperature in Pueblo was 22.7 degrees, which is 4.4 degrees below normal and comes in as tied as the 19th coldest average March minimum temperature on record. Pueblo recorded 0.10 inches of precipitation through the month of March, which is 0.72 inches below normal. This makes March of 2023 tied with March of 1977, as the 7th driest March on record, just behind 0.01 inches in March of 1893, 0.04 inches in March of 2002, 0.05 inches in March of 1966 and 1910, 0.06 inches in March of 2018 and 0.07 inches in March of 1953.  Pueblo recorded 1.4 inches of snow through the month of March, which is 3.1 inches below normal and makes March of 2023 tied as the 28th least snowiest March on record. This brings the Pueblo 2022-2023 seasonal snowfall total to 17.4 inches, which is 7.5 inches below normal to date. 

Looking ahead into April in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 57 degrees and 21 degrees on April 1st, warm to 64 degrees and 29 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Alamosa is 42.6 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.57 inches of precipitation through the month of April.      

In Colorado Springs, the average high temperature and low temperature of 59 degrees and 31 degrees on April 1st, warm to 65 degrees and 38 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Colorado Springs is 47.5 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 1.45 inches of precipitation and 5.5 inches of snow through the month of April.           

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 65 degrees and 31 degrees on April 1st, warm to 71 degrees and 40 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Pueblo is 51.3 degrees. Pueblo averages 1.57 inches of precipitation and 3.4 inches of snow through the month of April.  On average, Pueblo sees its last freeze of the season on April 30th.       

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