October 2016 Climate & Drought Review and November Preview

Dry and warm weather was experienced across south central and southeast Colorado throughout the month of October, as upper level high pressure again dominated the weather patterns across the region. A few minor disturbances moved across northern portions of the region, bringing a few periods of rain and snow showers to the higher terrain, mainly along and west of the Continental Divide, along with periods of windy weather to south central and southeast Colorado. These windy periods, along with well below normal precipitation over the past few months, helped to fan and spread two large wildfires (Beulah Valley started on October 3rd and Junkins started on October 17th and spreading to 15,000 acres in one day) across the area over the past month of October.

For the month as a whole, well above normal temperatures and well below normal precipitation was experienced across south central and southeast Colorado in October of 2016. The following graphics depict monthly temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the state for the past month of October.

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of October was 58.0 degrees. This is 8.6 degrees above normal and makes October of 2016 the 2nd warmest October on record in Colorado Springs, just behind the average temperature of 58.2 degrees recorded throughout October of 1963. Colorado Springs recorded only a trace of precipitation through the month of October. This is 0.82 inches below normal and makes October of 2016 tied with October of 1934, as the driest October on record.  Colorado Springs recorded no snow throughout the month of October, which is 2.9 inches below normal.   (Of note, Colorado Springs tied or broke 7 daily records for maximum temperature and tied or broke 2 daily records for highest minimum temperature in October)

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo throughout the month of October was 59.2 degrees. This is 7.4 degrees above normal and makes October of 2016 tied with October of 1934, as the 4th warmest October on record in Pueblo. This, however, remains well behind the average temperature of 61.0 degrees recorded throughout October of 1963. Pueblo recorded only a trace of precipitation through the month of October. This is 0.72 inches below normal and makes October of 2016 tied with October of 1995, 1988, 1980, 1977 and 1952, as the 2nd driest October on record.  Pueblo recorded no snow throughout the month of October, which is 1.3 inches below normal.  (Of note, Pueblo tied or broke 5 daily records for maximum temperature and tied or broke 1 daily record for highest minimum temperature in October).

In fact, it has been the driest combined September and October on record in both Pueblo and Colorado Springs, with the combined months being the 2nd warmest on record in Colorado Springs and the 3rd warmest on record in Pueblo.

The latest US Drought Monitor issued November 3, 2016 indicates rapid degradation in drought conditions over past two months, with all of south central and southeast Colorado now indicating abnormally dry conditions (D0), along with portions of the southeast Colorado plains being classified in the moderate drought category (D1).