2024 Weather Year in Review Across Southern Colorado

A roller coaster weather pattern was experienced across south central and southeast Colorado for the first month of 2024, with several passing weather systems bringing periods of precipitation and warm and cold temperatures to the region, including blizzard conditions to southeast Colorado on January 8th, followed by a true "Arctic Airmass" invading eastern Colorado January 12th through January 16th. February saw periods of mild and dry weather along with occasional colder and unsettled weather with passing weather systems. One passing system early in the month was able to tap into eastern Pacific moisture, as well as some Gulf of Mexico moisture, to bring widespread rain and snow to eastern Colorado on February 3rd, with both Colorado Springs and Pueblo setting daily precipitation records, as well as Pueblo setting a new maximum daily precipitation for the month of February. A few passing systems through out February also brought windy conditions, along with the return of critical fire weather conditions to portions of south central and southeast Colorado.

March continued the previous months progressive weather pattern across the region, with periods of mild and dry weather along with occasional colder and unsettled weather with passing weather systems.  One passing system through the middle of the month brought widespread rain and snow to much of south central and southeast Colorado, with both Colorado Springs and Pueblo setting daily precipitation records, as well as Pueblo once again setting a new maximum daily precipitation for the month of March.  Despite the good precipitation, a  few passing systems through out March also brought windy conditions and critical fire weather conditions to portions of south central and southeast Colorado. April saw a mainly westerly flow pattern across Rockies, bringing periods of warm, dry and windy weather to south central and southeast Colorado. This pattern also brought increased fire danger days to much of the snow free areas across the region. Two weather systems moved across eastern Colorado towards the end of the month, bringing widespread rain and higher elevation snow to portions of the eastern mountains and plains. May brought an active weather pattern,  especially through the middle of the month and again at end of the month. In typical Colorado May fashion, Mother's Day weekend saw widespread precipitation and heavy mountain snowfall, while the end of the month featured strong to severe thunderstorms across the southeast Plains. In the 3 day period from May 9th through May 11th, Alamosa recorded 1.46 inches of precipitation (rain and melted snow), which is roughly 20 percent of Alamosa's annual precipitation (7.41 inches)! 

June saw a meandering ridge of high pressure across the Rockies, which brought periods of very warm temperatures, as well as periods of abundant available moisture and heavy rainfall to portions of south central and southeast Colorado. July and August also featured a meandering ridge of high pressure across the Rockies, which brought periods of very warm temperatures, as well as periods of abundant available moisture, heavy rainfall and cooler temperatures to south central and southeast Colorado.  

September followed the last few months of summer, in which a meandering ridge of high pressure across the Rockies brought periods of very warm temperatures, as well as allowing for a few passing weather systems and fronts to bring brief cool downs and rain and the first higher mountain snow across the region. Very warm temperatures were experienced across south central and southeast Colorado through the month of October, as upper level ridging dominated the weather through much of the month. However, one slow moving weather system through the middle of October brought abundant rain and higher elevation snow to the southern mountains and southern tier of Colorado.  November brought much colder temperatures and well above normal precipitation to all of south central and southeast Colorado. The precipitation was bolstered by a slow moving storm system which produced a widespread 1 to 3 inches, locally up to 5 inches, of rain and snow water equivalent, as well as snowfall of 2 to 6 feet across portions of southern Colorado from November 4th through 9th. After the cold and snowy November, December's weather was generally very warm and dry, with upper level ridging in place across Colorado for much of the month. 

The following graphics depict preliminary departures from normal for both temperature and precipitation for 2024 across Colorado.

The 2024 average temperature in Alamosa was 44.7 degrees. This is 2.4 degrees above normal and makes 2024 tied with 2017 as the warmest year on record in Alamosa. Alamosa recorded 11.36 inches of precipitation in 2024. This is 3.95 inches above and makes 2024 the 2nd wettest year on record in Alamosa, just behind the 11.55 inches recorded in 1969. Alamosa tallied 38.3 inches of snow in 2024. This is 10.4 inches above normal and makes 2024 the 21st snowiest year on record.  A more detailed 2024 climate summary for Alamosa can be found at:

2024 Alamosa Annual Climate Summary

The 2024 average temperature in Colorado Springs was 52.7 degrees. This is 2.3 degrees above normal and makes 2024 the 2nd warmest year on record in Colorado Springs, just behind the average yearly temperature of 52.9F in 2012. Colorado Springs recorded 16.13 inches of precipitation in 2024. This is 0.21 inches above normal and makes 2024 the 51st wettest year on record in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs tallied 58.6 inches of snow in 2024. This is 26.1 inches above normal and makes 2024 the 10th snowiest year on record.  A more detailed 2024 climate summary for Colorado Springs can be found at:

2024 Colorado Springs Annual Climate Summary

The 2024 average temperature in Pueblo was 55.2 degrees. This is 2.0 degrees above normal and makes 2024 the 5th warmest year on record. Pueblo recorded 14.54 inches of precipitation in 2024. This is 2.56 inches above normal and makes 2024 the 24th wettest year on record in Pueblo. Pueblo tallied 26.6 inches of snow in 2024. This is 1.7 inches below normal and makes 2024 the 62nd least snowiest year on record. A more detailed 2024 climate summary for Pueblo can be found at:

2024 Pueblo Annual Climate Summary

***Period of Record (POR)*** 

Alamosa: 1932-present

Colorado Springs: 1894-present

Pueblo: 1888-present