Annual Precipitation Figures Plus December 2016 Climate Review and January Preview

December of 2016 started out where November left off, cool and unsettled with a modified Arctic airmass moving across the region December 6 through the 8th. Another Arctic airmass moved across the region December 17th through the 19th, with several more weather systems moving across the state throughout the month, bringing abundant precipitation, especially to the higher terrain of the Continental Divide, as well of periods of strong winds area wide.

For the month as a whole, near normal temperatures and generally above to well above normal precipitation was experienced across south central and southeast Colorado for the month of December, save for below normal temperatures across portions of the southeast plains.

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa throughout the month of December was 18.2 degrees, which is 0.3 degrees above normal. Alamosa recorded 1.08 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 0.73 inches above normal and makes December of 2016 the 5th wettest December on record.

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of December was 29.3 degrees, which is 0.5 degrees below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.68 inches of precipitation throughout the month of December. This is 0.34 inches above normal and makes December of 2016 the 13th wettest on record in Colorado Springs.

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo throughout the month of December was 30.1 degrees, which is normal. Pueblo recorded 0.76 inches of precipitation through the month of December. This is 0.38 inches above normal and makes December of 2016 the 19th wettest December on record in Pueblo.

Annual Precipitation in inches for southeast Colorado communities: