May Weather Review

May of 2024 saw 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 (7.39 inches)!   For the month of May as a whole, generally below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation was experienced across south central Colorado, with near normal to slightly below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation experienced across southeast Colorado, save for pockets of above normal precipitation across the southeast Plains.  

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of May was 50.4 degrees. This is 1.3 degrees below normal and makes May of 2024 the 34th coldest May on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the coldest May of 1953,  when the average May temperature was 46.7 degrees. The average May maximum temperature in Alamosa was 68.3 degrees, which is 1.5 degrees below normal. The average May minimum temperature in Alamosa was 32.5 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees below normal.  Alamosa recorded 1.70 inches of precipitation through the month of May. This is 1.10 inches above normal and makes May of 2024 the 6th wettest May on record. This remains well behind the wettest May of 1935, when 2.97 inches of precipitation was recorded in Alamosa.  Alamosa recorded 2.9 inches of snow through the month of May. This is 2.1 inches above normal and makes May of 2024 the 15th snowiest May on record, though well behind the snowiest May of 1978, when 13.5 inches of snow was recorded in Alamosa. This brings the 2023-24 seasonal snowfall tally in Alamosa up to 30.9 inches, which is 3.0 inches above normal to date.       

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of May was 56.3 degrees. This is 0.8 degrees below normal and makes May of 2024 the 44th warmest on record in Colorado Springs, though well behind the warmest May of 2018 when the average May temperature was 62.2 degrees. The average May maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 70.0 degrees, which is 0.7 degrees below normal. The average May minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 42.5 degrees, which is 1.0 degrees below normal.  Colorado Springs recorded 1.03 inches of precipitation through the month of May, which is 0.96 inches below normal.  Colorado Springs tallied a trace of snow, which was from hail from passing thunderstorms on May 2nd and May 20th. This keeps the 2023-24 seasonal snowfall tally in Colorado Springs at 50.6 inches, which is 18.1 inches above normal to date.       

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of May was 60.3 degrees. This is 1.1 degrees below normal and makes May of 2024 tied as the 72nd coldest May on record in Pueblo. This remains well behind the coldest May of 1917, when the average May temperature was 53.2 degrees. The average May maximum temperature in Pueblo was 77.1 degrees, which is 0.1 degrees below normal. The average May minimum temperature in Pueblo was 43.4 degrees, which is 2.2 degrees below normal. Pueblo recorded 0.80 inches of precipitation through the month of May. This is  0.77 inches below normal. and makes May of 2024 the 35th driest May on record in Pueblo. Pueblo tallied a trace of snow from a passing thunderstorm on May 18th. This keeps the 2023-24 seasonal snowfall tally in Pueblo at 22.2 inches, which is 6.1 inches below normal to date.    

Looking ahead into June in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 76 degrees and 37 degrees on June 1st, warm to 83 degrees and 45 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of June Alamosa is 60.6 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.43 inches of precipitation through the month of June.       

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperature of 77 degrees and 49 degrees on June 1st, warm to 86 degrees and 56 degrees by the end  of the month. The average temperature for the month of June in Colorado Springs is 67.2 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 2.27 inches of precipitation through the month of June.         

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 84 degrees and 51 degrees on June 1st, warm to 93 degrees and 59 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of June in Pueblo is 71.8 degrees. Pueblo averages 1.28 inches of precipitation through the month of June.           

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for June of 2024, which leans to above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado, save for a slight nod to above normal precipitation across the far southeast Plains.