If you made it to the end of the thread and still want to read more about conditions in February and the last several months, here's the link to the monthly summary. /end #cowx
Quadrant chart showing temperature on the vertical axis and precipitation on the horizontal axis, with each October through February period shown for Colorado. 2026 is shown with a star, far above all the other symbols, indicating it was much warmer than any previous October through February period.
And it's also the warmest start to a water year on record; more than 2°F warmer than the previous warmest October through February (1999-2000). In this quadrant chart showing temperature and precipitation from Oct thru Feb, the water year 2026 temperature stands far above all previous years. 3/4
Graph showing the number of days with high temperature >= 60F at Akron, Colorado. The previous high was 20; this year had 37.
The warm February closed out the warmest climatological winter in 131 years of records for Colorado; 1.6°F warmer than the previous warmest winter (1980-81). Many locations set records for the most days with high temperatures at or above 60°F in a winter, including Akron shown here. 2/4
February 2026 Colorado Monthly Climate Summary statewide departure from 1901-2000 avg: +9.2°F statewide departure from 1991-2020 avg: +7.6°F statewide rank: 1st warmest/132nd coldest Warmest February on record statewide Snowpack remains lowest in over 40 years Several locations, including Denver, Fort Collins, Akron, and Colorado Springs shatter records for most 60°F+ days Multiple grass fires, including ones near Boulder, Thornton, Matheson, and Wiggins Maximum daily precipitation (1.8" at Spud Mountain) Minimum daily temperature (-27°F in Taylor Park) Maximum daily temperature (85°F in Pueblo and Campo) Maximum daily snowfall 12.5" near Bayfield) February 2026 Temperature Rank (from NCEI nclimgrid) Statewide Temperature and Precipitation Ranks for February 2026 (based on 1895-2026 data) 1st warmest (record warmest) 37th driest (below average)
Unfortunately, not much good news to share in our February state climate summary. According to NOAA data, it was the warmest February in 132 years of records. Mountain snowpack remains at the lowest level in over 40 years. Several locations set new monthly high temperature records for February. 1/4
Snow-covered mountain peaks reflect the Sun's rays back toward space instead of absorbing them, which helps maintain those freezing temperatures even on bright, sunny days, explains a climatologist.
buff.ly/a20MtF3
Drought continues to expand in Colorado, with this week's US Drought Monitor showing a new area of extreme drought (D3) around the Denver metro area and expansion of severe drought (D2) in northeast Colorado, in addition to the ongoing extreme to exceptional drought in the mountains. #cowx
Coverage of last week's state Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meeting, and the potential for the state drought task force to be activated, in Vail Daily. #cowx #drought
Here are some additional locations that saw record-setting warmth on Tuesday 🌡️ #cowx
New February monthly record high temperature at Pueblo: 83 °F. Numerous locations in southeast Colorado had highs in the 80s today.
#cowx
The snow this week has been very welcome, but we’re still way behind for the winter. Coverage of the implications of low mountain snowpack in The Atlantic:
All of the reasons Colorado’s horrible snowpack is so problematic
January brought more warm conditions across Colorado, and the mountain snowpack is at its lowest levels in decades. Water Year 2026 is off to the warmest start of any water year on record for Colorado, by a large margin.
To read more cheery climate details, here's the link to our January summary!
Colorado has its lowest snowpack on record, but official records date back only to 1987.
It's likely that snowpack was actually worse in both the 1976-77 and 1980-81 winters, per analysis from @climate.colostate.edu's @rschumacher.cloud.
Great insight here:
climate.colostate.edu/blog/index.p...
The mountain snowpack so far this winter is in bad shape. Long-time Coloradans might remember two other terrible winters for snow: 1976-77 and 1980-81. Our latest blog post takes a look at how this year compares to those snow droughts of the past. #cowx
last week, engagement climatologist Allie Mazurek fielded questions about temperature and snow from 3rd graders in Golden - including one real stumper! Read more in this summary from @cprnews.bsky.social #cowx
“We’re far enough into the winter that it starts to become difficult to dig out of these deficits,” (Assistant State Climatologist Peter) Goble said. “It’d take a big year to get us back to normal”
from @coloradosun.com #cowx
The first half of meteorological winter was record warm for an extraordinary swath of the West, from Las Vegas to Denver, Salt Lake City to Seattle and Phoenix to Portland. The anomalously temperatures are fueling a snow drought, concerning scientists.
www.sfchronicle.com/weather/arti...
Exceptional. Record-smashing. Disturbingly warm. December 2025 was one for the record books in Colorado.
🌡️ Warmest December
🌡️ >1000 daily high temperature records
🌡️ Warmest October thru December by far
🌡️ 4th-warmest year
Read more in our monthly summary: climate.colostate.edu/monthly_summ...
the Marshall Fire, four years ago today
“The winter of 1976-77 is generally thought to be the worst snow year in our mountains but the SNOTEL network wasn’t built out yet at that point, so it’s hard to make direct comparisons...But the fact that we’re even in the same conversation with that winter is not good news.” (Summit Daily)
For further holiday reading, here is the journal article published earlier this year with even more details about this case:
doi.org/10.1175/MWR-...
It hasn't been cold this December, but 3 years ago it got cold in a hurry. Do you remember the cold front on December 21, 2022? It was extreme in all kinds of ways, which you can read about in this blog post.
Among the highlights: the temperature dropped almost 25°F in ten seconds in Akron! #cowx
Aaaand it's officially Denver's hottest December day in 86 years. 76° so far in Denver.
That's our average high on...May 27th.
#COwx
New blog post: Where is the snow? A look at the warm, dry weather and what to expect for the start of 2026. #cowx
Wildfires can spread quickly — by the time one is nearby, you may not have much time. Have an evacuation plan, and prepare an emergency supply kit ahead of time. Listen to local officials for emergency information and any evacuation orders.
Very strong winds and extremely dry conditions are expected across the Front Range tomorrow (Dec. 19). Critical fire weather conditions will be in place, with the greatest risk over parts of Boulder and Jefferson counties.
Key messages below from NWS Boulder. Stay safe and weather aware! #cowx
One of the fires in Yuma County grew to approximately 40,000 acres in a short period of time, per reports from local emergency management.
www.denver7.com/one-wildfire...
Map of maximum wind gusts from the ASOS, CoAgMET, and Northern Water networks on 17-18 December 2025.
Extreme winds were observed across eastern Colorado yesterday, with numerous wildfires growing quickly in Yuma County last night. The strongest winds were in the foothills, with several reports of gusts over 100mph. But the >80mph gusts on the eastern plains are perhaps even more unusual. #cowx
High Impact Wind Event Increasing confidence in eastward spread of downslope winds Key Messages ● High confidence in wind gusts 80-90 mph for the mountains and foothills above 9,000’ (85% chance). ● Medium confidence in wind gusts over 75 mph for portions of the lower foothills and favored lower elevations west of I-25 (60% chance). ● Medium-low confidence in wind gusts up to 60 mph across the northern plains Wednesday evening (50% chance). ● Critical fire weather conditions expected Wednesday afternoon for the urban corridor ○ Winds can easily overcome marginal RH values ● Lull in the stronger winds on Thursday, still gusty 35-50 MPH across much of the region and cooler ● Medium confidence for another significant downslope wind event (50-60% chance) Friday with drier atmospheric conditions ● Heavier snows expected Wednesday North Park
Key messages from NWS Boulder's briefing on the upcoming high winds along the Front Range. Available at: www.weather.gov/media/bou/Ds... #cowx
Cover page of the November 2025 Colorado Monthly Climate Summary. It shows the extremes around the state, and that it was the 3rd-warmest and 42nd-driest November out of 131 years of records.
November was the 3rd-warmest on record for Colorado: 7.5°F above the 20th century average for the month. And much of the state was dry, with little snow in either the mountains or at lower elevations.
Read more in our November monthly climate summary: climate.colostate.edu/monthly_summ... #cowx
