After a scorching September, more warmth could potentially be in the offing for October.
The warmth, however, may also come with the potential for some needed moisture for parts of Colorado in October as well.
The highlights eastern Colorado as having slightly higher odds of having above average temperatures and precipitation during the month of October. Temperatures are forecast to be above normal for most of southern and eastern Colorado, with the rest of the state looking at about equal chances of an above or below average October.
“Odds for above-normal temperatures are modestly elevated for the southwest corner of the (continental United States) due to strong positive temperature trends during this time of year, consistent model guidance and to a lesser extent generally drier than normal conditions in some areas,” CPC forecaster Jon Gottschalck .
A wetter October in Colorado would be welcome after a drier summer and start to fall. Growing drought conditions across Colorado are expected to relatively stagnant through the month, though some surges of tropical moisture may make their way into southern and eastern parts of the state. That could bring some needed moisture to southern and eastern parts of Colorado.
“Above-normal precipitation remains most likely for areas of the Southwest associated with potential influence from eastern Pacific tropical disturbances or cyclones that may increase moisture at times during the month,” Gottschalck wrote.
As always, take these extended outlooks with a grain of salt. Forecasting a day or two out is challenging enough in Colorado, and long-term outlooks like these ones are especially fickle. They’re also intended to summarize the month; so for example, in a warmer-than-average October, that could well include colder days that include snowfall.
Denver’s average high in October, by the way, is 65 degrees, with an average low of about 37. That said, the average high drops from 72 degrees on October 1 to just 59 degrees by Halloween. Denver also averages about an inch of moisture each October, .
