December 2015 Climate Review and January Preview

The first half of December 2015 was very warm and mainly dry across the area, with two weather systems moving across the state from the 10th through the 15th, bringing cooler temperatures and widespread precipitation to most of south central and southeast Colorado. A strong pacific jet stream moved across the state through the middle of the month, bringing abundant snowfall to the higher terrain along the Continental Divide, along with windy and generally dry and warm weather to eastern portions of the area for the week before Christmas. The passing jet stream then brought in much cooler temperatures and generally dry weather to the area for the last week of the month. For the month as a whole, at to well above normal temperatures were experienced across the area, with near to well above normal precipitation, especially for areas along the Continental Divide. The following graphics depict monthly temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the state for December of 2015.

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the of month December was 34.1 F, which is 4.0 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 0.40 inches of precipitation through out the month of December, which is 0.02 inches above normal. Pueblo recorded 5.5 inches of snow through out the month of December, which is right on the monthly average.

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the month of December was 32.4 F, which is 2.6 degrees above normal. Colorado Springs recorded 0.25 inches of precipitation through out the month of December, which is 0.09 inches below normal. Colorado Springs recorded 4.3 inches of snow through out the month of December, which is 1.4 inches below normal.

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the month of December was 21.7 degrees, which is 3.8 degrees above normal. Alamosa recorded 0.25 inches of precipitation through out the month of December, which is 0.10 inches below normal. Alamosa recorded 3.4 inches of snow through out the month of December, which is 1.1 inches below normal.

Looking ahead into January, in Pueblo, the average high and low temperature of 46 degrees and 14 degrees on January 1st, warm to 48 degrees and 15 degrees by the end of the month, with an average montthly temperature of 30.5 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.35 inches of precipitation and 6.5 inches of snow through out the month of January.

In Colorado Springs, the average high temperature for the month is 43 degrees. The average low temperature of 17 degrees on January 1st warms to 18 degrees by the end of the month. The average monthly temperature for the month of January in Colorado Springs is 30..5 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 0.32 inches of precipitation and 5.6 inches of snow through out the month of January. On average, January is the driest month of year in Colorado Springs.

In Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 34 degrees and -2 degrees on January 1st, warm to 36 degrees and 0 degrees by the end of the month, yielding an average monthly temperature of 16.3 degrees. Alamosa averages 0.26 inches of precipitation and 4.0 inches of snow through out the month of January. On average, January is tied with February, as the driest months of the year in Alamosa.

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the month of January, which gives equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures and precipitation for the month across south central and southeast Colorado, save a slight nod to below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for extreme southern portions of the area.