January 2023 was our third consecutive anomalously cold and wet month in the Front Range with drought significantly improving during this time as a result. The month closed out with a bitter cold Arctic outbreak solidifying this January as the coldest since 2007 — something that will be felt in everyone’s wallet when the heating bill arrives. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during January and how it relates to climatology.
January 2023 Recap Graphics:
How does January 2023 fit into the last 73 years?
How does January 2023 fit into the last 12 months?
2022-23 Seasonal Snowfall Timeline
Our top posts of January 2023
January 2023 retold via our Twitter timeline
Well, that was a fun Monday…. NOT! Our high temperature was 29° and that occurred at 12:01AM. Freezing fog, freezing drizzle, and/or snow for 24+ straight hours… #COwx #Boulder pic.twitter.com/iuaZbrcGv8
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 3, 2023
❄️ SNOW TOTALS☃️ Slightly underwhelming snow considering the potential this system had in the lead up, especially in the Mountains. Officially 1.6" of snow in Boulder and 1.3" in Denver. Not a bad way to start 2023! #COwx #Boulder #Denver #COsnow #Colorado pic.twitter.com/yNNXANlEHO
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 3, 2023
🏆🎉 Congratulations to Katie E, the randomly selected winner of those that completed our crossword puzzle! Her submission pictured.
Based on overall feedback, "dendrite", "ncarmesa" and "denvercyclone" were the cruel clues.
Do the puzzle here: https://t.co/UXN0qC3me1 #COwx pic.twitter.com/OsU8T3KyoZ
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 3, 2023
The colder spots are also the most polluted, with PM2.5 bordering on Unhealthy (for ALL groups) in eastern #Boulder County! #COwx https://t.co/NGkzrfKUAQ pic.twitter.com/YSSZ1mjy9h
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 4, 2023
Everywhere below 6000 feet in northeast Colorado has just been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning for 6-11" of snow.
With that said, still believe areas in/near the Foothills stand a fair chance to see less than 6" #COwx pic.twitter.com/SCnKX02k5r
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 16, 2023
BIG snowstorms in January are rare due to the annual minimum in moisture availability. In fact, there has only been three 12"+ January snowstorms in the last 75 years in #Boulder! #COwx #boulderwx pic.twitter.com/q11OXcW2zk
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 17, 2023
For #Boulder, 12"+ snow events in January are uncommon (only happen once every 20-25 years). They are even more rare during La Niña like we have now. In fact, it's never happened… #COwx pic.twitter.com/UGoK2ZL64C
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 17, 2023
❄️SNOW POLL TIME! ☃️ As is tradition, how much snow do you think will Boulder receive from this winter storm? #COwx #Boulder #Colorado #COwx #COsnow #Denver
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 17, 2023
A lot of complaining this week about a snow forecast which turned out pretty okay 😉
Officially, 5.8" of snow in Boulder, 9.2" in Denver. Generally 5.5-9" across the Metro area. No one got near the elusive FOOT though. The only true losers were in the Foothills #COWx #colorado pic.twitter.com/9VppLd6BPP
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 19, 2023
Including this week's storm, Denver (@DenAirport) has outperformed Boulder on 3 out of 10 snow events — an unusual occurrence. Thus, the 2022-23 snow race is closer than normal, but Boulder still has more than a foot lead… #COwx #Denver #Boulder #Colorado #Snow pic.twitter.com/pYnlz9UFt2
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 20, 2023
After lowering clouds and a few flurries this afternoon, our regularly scheduled views of the Flatirons are back! #COwx #Boulder pic.twitter.com/V7boxTnu9T
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 22, 2023
Relentless snow for the last 6+ weeks has improved drought conditions drastically across Colorado! At 37%, the state is now the 17th most drought-stricken state in terms of percent area 🎉💦 #COwx #NVwx #NEwx #UTwx #CAwx #TXwx #OKwx #KSwx #IDwx #NDwx #ORwx #SDwx #MTwx #HIwx #NMwx pic.twitter.com/OjdlFHP0fM
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 23, 2023
At approximately the temporal midpoint in the snow season, #Boulder has accumulated four feet of snow (48 inches), about 14 inches above normal. Not bad considering our three snowiest months are lining up next! ☃️❄️ #COwx #Boulderwx pic.twitter.com/OOmsZKEHVC
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 23, 2023
Today is for sure to see an (early period) midnight high of 9°F. We've been locked at 3° for the last five hours with no hopes of warming up much further today as low clouds and very light snow both stick around #COwx #Boulderwx pic.twitter.com/462927ycEZ
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 29, 2023
Winter Weather Advisory in the Foothills to the west and a Wind Chill Advisory for the gusty Plains to the east. Boulder in between with no highlights tonight — just cold (but not THAT cold) and snowy (but not THAT snowy) #COwx pic.twitter.com/IWP0tUu9PC
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 30, 2023
Welcome to the negatives… haven't been here since Christmas Eve morning! #COWx pic.twitter.com/asnhDYNv79
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 30, 2023
❄️Here's the regional snowfall totals through Monday morning. Anywhere from a trace to 6" of snow has fallen in the Front Range. Most places got a dusting to 2".
Additional light accumulations are expected Monday into Monday night as another wave of light snow develops. #COWX pic.twitter.com/gI74FiaicR
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 30, 2023
Boulder broke both daily cold records for January 30th on Monday by a single degree:
🍨New Record Low: -7°F (was -6° set in 1951)
🧊 New Record Low Max: 9°F (was 10°F set in 1899)The month of January will end up as our coldest since at least 1996! 🥶 #COwx #Boulder #Boulderwx pic.twitter.com/yfuClWiwe9
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) January 31, 2023
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