November Weather Review

After a very warm October across Colorado, November brought much colder temperatures and well above normal precipitation to all of south central and southeast Colorado. The precipitation was bolstered by a slow moving storm system which produced a widespread 1 to 3 inches, locally up to 5 inches, of rain and snow water equivalent, as well as snowfall of 2 to 6 feet across portions of southern Colorado from November 4th through 9th. For November as a whole, below to well below normal precipitation and above to well above normal precipitation was experienced across south central and southeast Colorado,.   

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

The preliminary average temperature in Alamosa for the past month of November was 29.4 degrees. This is 0.9 degrees below normal and makes November of 2024 the 34th coldest November on record. This is well above the coldest November of 1972, when the average monthly temperature was 18.6 degrees.  The average November maximum temperature in Alamosa was 44.9 degrees, which is 3.6 degrees below normal. The average November minimum temperature in Alamosa was 13.8 degrees, which is 1.7 degrees above normal.  Alamosa recorded 0.71 inches of precipitation through the month of November. This is 0.34 inches above normal and makes November of 2024 the 14th wettest November on record, well behind the 1.63 inches of precipitation recorded in 2013.  Alamosa recorded 9.1 inches of snow in November. This is 5.7.inches above normal and makes November of 2024 the 9th snowiest November on record, though remains well behind the snowiest November of 1940, when 20.0 inches of snow was recorded. The 0.71 inches of precipitation recorded in November brings the year to date total in Alamosa up to 11.23 inches. This is 3.82 inches above the average annual precipitation in Alamosa and makes 2024 the 2nd wettest year on record thus far, just shy of the 11.55 inches of precipitation recorded in 1969.  (ALS POR: 1932-2024)    

The preliminary average temperature in Colorado Springs for the past month of November was 37.6 degrees. This is 1.9 degrees below normal and makes November of 2024 the 47th coldest November on record in Colorado Springs. This is well above the coldest November of 1972, when the average monthly temperature was 29.8 degrees. The average November maximum temperature in Colorado Springs was 49.0 degrees, which is 3.9 degrees below normal. The average November minimum temperature in Colorado Springs was 26.1 degrees, which is 0.1 degrees above normal.  Colorado Springs recorded 1.78 inches of precipitation through the month of November. This is 1.41 inches above normal, and makes November of 2024 the 5th wettest November on record, remaining well behind the wettest November of 1909, when 2.30 inches of precipitation was recorded. Colorado Springs recorded 21.6 inches of snow in November. This is 17.2 inches above normal and makes November of 2024 the 3rd snowiest November on record, behind the 26.3 inches of snow in 1991 and the 21.8 inches of snow in 1909.*  The 21.6 inches of snow in the month of November is 66 percent of the snowfall Colorado Springs normally sees all year (32.5 inches)! Colorado Springs set 3 daily record precipitation and snowfall days in November, as well as 1 daily record low maximum temperature.    (COS POR: 1894-2024)

*Snowfall records indicate at least 28 inches of snow fell over a 4 day period from Nov 2-5, 1946 in a documented blizzard across eastern Colorado. However, snowfall data for Colorado Springs during this period are incomplete and are therefore not included in the records.     

The preliminary average temperature in Pueblo for the past month of November was 38.4 degrees. This is 2.1 degrees below normal and makes November of 2024 the 44th coldest November on record. This is well above the coldest November of 1985, when the average monthly temperature was 31.1 degrees. The average November maximum temperature in Pueblo was 52.6 degrees, which is 4.1 degrees below normal. The average November minimum temperature in Pueblo was 24.2 degrees, which is normal. Pueblo recorded 2.51 inches of precipitation through the month of November. This is 2.04 inches above normal and makes November of 2024 the wettest on record in Pueblo, surpassing the 2.48 inches recorded in 1991. Pueblo recorded 13.1 inches of snow in November. This is 9.0 inches above normal and makes November of 2024 the 8th snowiest on record, well behind the 29.3 inches recorded in November of 1946. The 13.1 inches of snow in the month of November is 46 percent of the snowfall Pueblo normally sees all year (28.3 inches)!  Pueblo set 1 daily record precipitation and snowfall in November.  (PUB POR: 1888-2024)  

Looking ahead into December in Alamosa, the average high and low temperatures of 40 degrees and 5 degrees on December 1st, cool to 33 degrees and -2 degrees by the end of the month.  The average temperature for the month of December in Alamosa is 18.1 degrees.  Alamosa averages 0.35 inches of precipitation and 4.6 inches of snow through the month of December. On average, December is the snowiest month of the year in Alamosa.          

In Colorado Springs, the average high and low temperatures of 47 degrees and 21 degrees on December 1st, cool to 44 degrees and 18 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of December in Colorado Springs is 31.7 degrees.  Colorado Springs averages 0.23 inches of precipitation and 4.1 inches of snow through the month of December.  On average, December is the driest month and tied with January as the coldest month of the year in Colorado Springs.      

In Pueblo, the average high and low temperatures of 50 degrees and 19 degrees on December 1st, cool to 47 degrees and 15 degrees by the end of the month. The average temperature for the month of December in Pueblo is 31.7 degrees. Pueblo averages 0.29 inches of precipitation and 4.6 inches of snow through the month of December.   On average, December is the coldest month of the year in Pueblo. 

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