Summer Weather Review

Meteorological Summer of 2026 (June, July, August) started out warm and dry across south central and southeast Colorado, with passing weather systems through the middle and end of June bringing some precipitation across the higher terrain, along with periods of severe thunderstorms across the southeast Plains. July also started out generally warm and dry across south central and southeast Colorado, with a few passing weather systems across the High Plains bringing scattered severe storms across southeast Colorado.  Smoke from area wildfires was also prevalent across much of the region throughout the beginning of July.  Upper level high pressure building into the Rockies through the middle of the month brought very warm and record breaking temperatures through the end of July, especially across the southeast plains, where temperatures soared above the century mark for a 9 consecutive day stretch, topping out on July 26th, when the Lamar Airport (KLAA) hit 111 degrees,  just one degree shy of its all time record high temperature of 112F. While the plains were baking, monsoonal moisture worked into western Colorado through the middle of the month, bringing periods of heavy rain from slowly moving showers and storms. The monsoon moisture did slowly work into eastern Colorado through the end of the month, bringing a few days of heavy rain across the plains, though it did also lead to extensive flash flooding across the Aspen Acres burn area of western Pueblo and Custer counties.  August started out where July left off, hot and dry across south central and southeast Colorado, with Alamosa's 10 consecutive days of 90F temperatures to start the month being the 2nd longest streak of 90+ temperatures on record. Pueblo (107F August 3rd) and Alamosa (93F August 2nd) also set a new monthly record high temperatures for August. Monsoonal moisture worked its way into the region through the middle and end of the month, bringing some cooler temperatures and spotty beneficial moisture across the southeast plains. 

The following graphics depict seasonal temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the state for the Summer of 2026.  

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer of 2026 in Alamosa was 66.1 degrees. This is 3.1 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2026 the warmest Summer on record in Alamosa, surpassing the previous warmest Summer of 2011, when the average summer temperature was 65.3F.  Alamosa saw 24 days in which the temperature was 90F or above this summer, which is the most 90F temperatures recorded throughout the summer on record, surpassing the 20 days of 90F temperatures in the Summer of 2003. Alamosa recorded 0.87 inches of precipitation throughout the Summer.  This is 1.98 inches below normal and makes the Summer of 2026 the 3rd driest on record in Alamosa, just behind the 0.56 inches recorded in 2023 and the 0.75 inches recorded in 1980.  

(click here for a more detailed Summer of 2026 Climate Summary in Alamosa)

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer of 2026 in Colorado Springs was 72.6F. This is 2.7 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2026 tied with 2020 as the 3rd warmest Summer on record in Colorado Springs, just behind the Summer of 2012 (73.3F) and the Summer of 2011 (73,2F).  Colorado Springs saw 33 days in which the temperature was 90F or above this summer, which is well below the 47 days of 90F temperatures recorded in the Summer of 2020. Colorado Springs recorded 3.24 inches of precipitation throughout the Summer. This is 5.11 inches below normal and makes the Summer of 2026 the 7th driest on record, through still well behind the driest Summer of 1939 when only 2.74 inches of precipitation was recorded.   

(click here for a more detailed Summer of 2026 Climate Summary in Colorado Springs)

The preliminary average temperature for the Summer 2026 in Pueblo was 77.5F. This is 2.9 degrees above normal and makes the Summer of 2026 the 2nd warmest Summer on record in Pueblo, just behind the warmest summer of 1970 when average temperature was 77.7F.  Pueblo saw 19 days in which the temperature was 100F or above this summer, which is well below the 28 days of 100F temperatures recorded in the Summer of 2012. However, the 10 days of 100F temperatures throughout August of 2026 becomes the most on record in Pueblo, surpassing August of 2020 and 1970 when 8 days in August saw 100F temperatures. Pueblo recorded 6.33 inches of precipitation throughout the Summer. This is 1.05 inches above normal and makes the Summer of 2026 the 35th wettest on record in Pueblo.  

(click here for a more detailed Summer of 2026 Climate Summary in Pueblo)

Below is the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlook for the Fall of 2026 (September, October, November)  which indicates better chances of above normal temperatures and precipitation across all of south central and southeast Colorado.