March Weather Review

March of 2024 continued the previous months progressive weather pattern across the region, with periods of mild and dry weather along with occasional colder and unsettled weather with passing weather systems.  One passing system through the middle of the month brought widespread rain and snow to much of south central and southeast Colorado, with both Colorado Springs and Pueblo setting daily precipitation records. In fact, the 1.53 inches of precipitation recorded in Pueblo on March 14th also set a new maximum daily precipitation for the month of March, surpassing the 1.26 inches recorded on March 18th of 1998.  Despite the good precipitation, a  few passing systems through out March also brought windy conditions and critical fire weather conditions to portions of south central and southeast Colorado. For the month of March as a whole, at or above normal temperatures and at and above normal precipitation were experienced over and near the higher terrain, with above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation being realized across the far southeast Plains.           

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of March was 35.8 degrees. This is 0.6 degrees above normal and makes March of 2024 the 21st warmest March on record in Alamosa. This remains well behind the warmest March of 2017, when the average monthly temperature was  40.9 degrees. The average March maximum temperature in Alamosa was 50.4 degrees, which is 2.3 degrees below normal. The average March minimum temperature in Alamosa was 21.3 degrees, which is 3.7 degrees above normal.  Alamosa recorded 1.22 inches of precipitation through the month of March. This is 0.68 inches above normal and makes March of 2024 the 14th wettest March on record, just behind the 1.62 inches of precipitation recorded in March of 1992, and the 1.42 inches recorded in March of 1973 and 2019.  Alamosa recorded 14.5 inches of snow through the month of a March. This is 10.2 inches above normal and makes March of 2024 the 5th snowiest March on record. This remains well behind the snowiest March of 1992, when 29.2 inches of snow was recorded in Alamosa.  Alamosa set two new daily maximum precipitation and snowfall records in March of 2024.      

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of March was 40.2 degrees. This is 0.9 degrees above normal and makes March of 2024 the 25h warmest on record in Colorado Springs. This remains well behind the warmest March of 2012 when the average monthly temperature was 48.0 degrees. The average March maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 54.9 degrees, which is normal. The average March minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 29.0 degrees, which is 1.7 degrees above normal.  Colorado Springs recorded 1.50 inches of precipitation through the month of February. This is 0.71 inches above normal and makes March of 2024 tied with March of 1909 as the 15th wettest March on record, through well behind the 3.03 inches of precipitation recorded in March of 1906. Colorado Springs tallied 13.3 inches of snowfall through the month of March. This is 7.6 inches above normal and makes March of 2024 tied with 1912 as the 22nd snowiest March on record, well behind the 30.2 inches of snow recorded in March of 1909.  Colorado Springs set a daily maximum precipitation and snowfall record on March 14th, when 10.5 inches precipitation and 10.2 inches of snow fell at the Colorado Springs Airport.   

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of March was 44.4 degrees, which is 0.5 degrees above normal. The average March maximum temperature in Pueblo was 60.3 degrees, which is 0.3 degrees below normal. The average March minimum temperature in Pueblo was 28.5 degrees, which is 1.4 degrees above normal. Pueblo recorded 1.89 inches of precipitation through the month of March. This is 1.07 inches above normal and makes march of 2024 the 6th wettest March on record, well behind the wettest March of 1905 when 3.06 inches of precipitation was recorded in Pueblo. Pueblo tallied 3.2 inches of snow through the month of March, which is 1.3 inches below normal. Pueblo set a daily maximum precipitation record on March 14th, when 1.53 inches of precipitation was recorded. This not only crushed the previous record precipitation for March 14th, of 0.48 inches in 1938, but also set a new maximum daily precipitation for the month of March, surpassing the the 1.26 inches recorded on March 18th of 1998.    

Looking ahead into April in Alamosa, the average high and low temperature of 57 degrees and 21 degrees on April 1st, warm to 64 degrees and 29 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Alamosa is 42.6 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.57 inches of precipitation and 3.5 inches of snow through the month of April.       

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperature of 59 degrees and 31 degrees on April 1st, warm to 65 degrees and 38 degrees by the end  of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Colorado Springs is 47.5 degrees. Colorado Springs averages 1.45 inches of precipitation and 5.5 inches of snow through the month of April.   

In Pueblo, the average high temperature and low temperature of 65 degrees and 31 degrees on April 1st, warm to 71 degrees and 40 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of April in Pueblo is 51.3 degrees. Pueblo averages 1.57 inches of precipitation and 3.4 inches of snow through the month of April.           

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for April of 2024, which gives equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures and precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado.