December Weather Review

After a cold and snowy November across Colorado, December's weather was generally very warm and dry, with upper level ridging in place for much of the month.  For December as a whole, above to well above normal temperatures and below to well below normal precipitation was experienced across south central and southeast Colorado.

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of December was 25.4 degrees. This is 7.3 degrees below normal and makes December of 2024 the 7th warmest December on record. This remains below the warmest December of 1980, when the average monthly temperature was 28.1 degrees.  The average December maximum temperature in Alamosa was 45.4 degrees, which is 10.0 degrees above normal. The average December minimum temperature in Alamosa was 5.5 degrees, which is 4.7 degrees above normal.  Alamosa recorded 0.13 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 0.21 inches below normal and makes December of 2024 the 30th driest December on record, well ahead of the driest Decembers of 1996, 1980, 1956, 1949 and 1935, when a trace of precipitation was recorded.  Alamosa recorded 3.9 inches of snow in December, which is 0.7.inches below normal.  (ALS POR: 1932-2024)    

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of December was 37.8 degrees. This is 6.1 degrees above normal and makes December of 2024 the 4th warmest December on record in Colorado Springs. This remains below the warmest December of 1933, when the average monthly temperature was 41.0 degrees. The average December maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 51.6 degrees, which is 7.0 degrees above normal. The average December minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 24.0 degrees, which is 5.3 degrees above normal.  Colorado Springs recorded 0.17 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 0.06 inches below normal, and makes December of 2024 the 53rd driest December on record, remaining behind the driest Decembers of 1995, 1970, 1931, 1917 and 1905, when a trace of precipitation was recorded. Colorado Springs recorded 3.0 inches of snow in December. This is 1.1 inches below normal and makes December of 2024 the 57th least snowiest November on record, behind the trace of snow in 1995 and 5 previous years.  (COS POR: 1894-2024)      

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of December was 37.3 degrees. This is 5.6 degrees below normal and makes December of 2024 the 9th warmest December on record. This remains behind the warmest December of 1889, when the average monthly temperature was 42.2 degrees. The average December maximum temperature in Pueblo was 54.4 degrees, which is 6.9 degrees above normal. The average December minimum temperature in Pueblo was 20.2 degrees, which is 4.3 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 0.16 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 0.13 inches below normal and makes December of 2024 the 43th driest December on record in Pueblo. This remains above the driest Decembers of 1995, 1993, 1970, 1959, 1949, 1922, 1906 and 1890 when a trace of precipitation was recorded in Pueblo. Pueblo recorded 2.2 inches of snow in December. This is 2.4 inches below normal and makes December of 2024 the 45th least snowiest on record. This remains above the least snowiest Decembers of 2003 and 6 other years, when only a trace of snow was recorded in Pueblo.  (PUB POR: 1888-2024)  

Looking ahead into January in Alamosa, the average high and low temperatures of 33 degrees and -2 degrees on January 1st, warm to 37 degrees and 2 degrees by the end of the month.  The average temperature for the month of January in Alamosa is 16.8 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.32 inches of precipitation and 4.5 inches of snow through the month of January. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Alamosa.          

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperatures of 44 degrees and 18 degrees on January 1st, warm to 45 degrees and 19 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of January in Colorado Springs is 31.7 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 0.29 inches of precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow through the month of January.  On average, January is tied with December as the coldest month of the year in Colorado Springs.      

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperatures of 47 degrees and 15 degrees on January 1st, warm to 49 degrees and 17 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of January in Pueblo is 31.9 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.29 inches of precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow through the month of January.  On average, January is the snowiest month of the year in Pueblo. 

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for January of 2025, which leans to above normal temperatures and equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.