Colorado Springs weather: Possible record temperatures, fire danger as La Niña event continues
By O’Dell Isaac
Dreams of a white Christmas are giving way to a La Niña reality as an unseasonably warm December continues, with temperatures threatening to eclipse a 70-year-old record in Colorado Springs on Monday.
According to the National Weather Service, the warmest Dec. 22 was in 1955, when Colorado Springs saw a high of 69 degrees. Monday’s forecast calls for a high of 71.
The Pikes Peak region is in the midst of a monthslong La Niña event, where ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean cool down, affecting weather patterns.
In Colorado, that means warmer and drier conditions in the lower elevations and in the southern part of the state, according to the weather agency.
Kyle Mozley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pueblo, told The Gazette in late October that the Pikes Peak region would likely see unusually warm conditions through the end of 2025.
“A lot of the mode guidance for La Niña has this event weakening by January, and we should be back into neutral conditions by the end of January,” he said.
Warm, dry conditions plus steady winds equals fire danger, according to the National Weather Service. The agency has issued red flag warnings for several portions of central and southeast Colorado, including Teller, Fremont, Huerfano, Pueblo and northern and western El Paso counties.
“Continued dry conditions, low humidity values, and gusty winds will lead to rapid fire spread should a fire start,” the agency warns.
Residents of affected counties are advised to refrain from outdoor activities that could start a fire.
Here is the rest of the week’s forecast from the National Weather Service:
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66 degrees. Northwest wind around 5 mph, becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Southwest wind 5-10 mph.
Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 66. Breezy, with west winds 10-20 mph and gusts as high as 35 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Southwest wind 10-15 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51 degrees. West winds around 10 mph.