Fall Weather Summary from NWS for Southern Colorado

October of 2019 was the polar opposite of September, with several unseasonably strong and cold systems moving across Colorado bringing early season record cold temperatures as well as the season’s first snowfall for many locales. For the month of October as a whole, well below normal temperatures were experienced across all of Colorado. Precipitation was quite varied through the month of October, with at to well above normal precipitation recorded over and near the central, northern and eastern mountains, with below to well below normal precipitation experienced across western Colorado, as well as portions of the south central Colorado and the southeast plains.

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of October was 38.6 degrees. This is 4.5 degrees below normal and makes October of 2019 the 2rd coldest October on record in Alamosa, coming in just behind the average October temperature of 38.5 degrees recorded in 1969. Alamosa recorded 0.07 inches of precipitation through out the month of October. This is 0.61 inches below normal and makes October of 2019, tied with October of 2007, as the 11th driest October on record in Alamosa. Alamosa recorded a trace of snow through the month of October, which is 2.1 inches below normal.

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of October was 43.1 degrees. This is 6.3 degrees below normal and makes October of 2019 the 5th coldest October on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the coldest October on record, 1969, when the average temperature was only 41.5 degrees. Colorado Springs recorded 0.82 inches of precipitation through the month of October, which is normal. Colorado Springs recorded 12.6 inches of snow through October. This is 9.7 inches above normal and makes October of 2019 the 5th snowiest October on record. This remains well behind the snowiest October of 1984, when 25.9 inches of snow was recorded in Colorado Springs. Of note, Colorado Springs set 3 record low temperatures and 3 record low maximum temperatures through the month of October.

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of October was 46.2 degrees. This is 5.6 degrees below normal and makes October of 2019 the 2nd coldest October on record in Pueblo, just shy of the coldest October, 2009, when the average temperature was 46.1 degrees. Pueblo recorded 1.15 inches of precipitation through October, which is 0.43 inches above normal. Pueblo recorded 12.0 inches of snow through the month of October. This is 10.7 inches above normal and makes October of 2019 the 3rd snowiest October on record, just behind the 16.3 inches and 12.6 inches of snow recorded in October of 1991 and 1972, respectively. Of note, Pueblo set 3 record low temperatures for the month of October, including the coldest temperature ever recorded in October of -6F set on October 30th. This beats the previous October record low temperature of -4F set on October 29th of 1917! Pueblo also set 2 daily record low maximum temperatures in October.

The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of November, which gives equal chances of seeing above, below and near normal temperatures and precipitation across Colorado, save for a slight nod to above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation across western and into portions of south central Colorado.