December 2023 was yet another warm month in Boulder, the same fate which has befallen four out of the last five months. Despite the lack of appreciable snow events, precipitation ended just a hair above normal for the month since December is typically one of our driest months of the year. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during December and how it relates to climatology.
December 2023 Recap Graphics:
December 2023 ended 4.3°F above normal, the most abnormally warm month we’ve had since December 2021, the month of the Marshall Fire.
Season-to-date snowfall timeline (updated January 1st)
How does December 2023 fit into the last 74 years?
How does December 2023 fit into the last 12 months?
Latest Drought Tracker (as of December 26th)
Our top posts of December 2023
December 2023 retold via our Twitter X timeline
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After an early season anomaly, #Boulder is back atop #Denver in seasonal snowfall 🥳🎉
FYI, Boulder's average seasonal snowfall is 90". Denver's is just 47" (DIA). #COwx pic.twitter.com/elxtacSPuB
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 1, 2023
The next three days…. moderating temperatures, a slight chance of snow Sunday morning, and we hope you like wind! #COwx #Boulder pic.twitter.com/xvYobtQzSg
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 2, 2023
I-70 looks like a real treat this morning with near-blizzard conditions. This is the view just a few miles east of the tunnel. Why do skiers do this to themselves? #COwx pic.twitter.com/6jWN4R0fPx
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 3, 2023
10 years ago today: We all woke up to 6" of fresh snow and bone chilling temperatures close to -15°F! #COwx pic.twitter.com/kxp6lsG0Fc
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 5, 2023
🏔️📈 Following the hefty mountain dumping over the weekend, Colorado's snowpack is looking a lot better compared to one week ago. Still not great, but improving. The incoming storm Friday will help these numbers further with another 5-12" on the way for many ranges #COwx pic.twitter.com/2sQNx3RgUu
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 6, 2023
⚠️HEADS UP! ~100 MPH wind gusts forecast by HRRR for Thursday morning in the Foothills as a mountain wave develops — mainly above 8000 feet elevation. This is dangerous stuff, folks! There is patchy snow cover up there, but fire danger will be elevated Thursday as well! #COWx pic.twitter.com/Y57wVzIe3R
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 6, 2023
Always happy to be back home! pic.twitter.com/CK9hicMmxw
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 6, 2023
Forecast Update: Intense downslope winds up to 90 MPH in/near the Foothills on Thursday, light snow & cold inbound for Friday! 🏔️💨❄️
Here's the latest –> https://t.co/Y63MiRAUiA #COwx #Boulder #Denver #Snow #Colorado
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 7, 2023
As windy as it's been all day right now in the #Boulder area. Sustained winds over 50 MPH and gusts over 70MPH at Mesa Lab. Not nearly as windy down in town (30 MPH, Gusing to 50)
The next hour or two will be the worst of things before winding down after sunset #COwx pic.twitter.com/vEvLKTKsYI
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 7, 2023
Geocolor view from GOES fortunately passed the smoke plume test, but it didn't pass the blowing dust plume one… #COwx pic.twitter.com/cZOszO5GaF
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 7, 2023
A burst of heavy snow falling now. Haven't seen that in a while.. #cowx pic.twitter.com/uKQ3li48b5
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 9, 2023
❄️📈Snow totals are in! Pockets of heavy snow for a few hours Friday evening led to BOOMING totals in and near the Foothills of 6-12". Lesser and expected totals of 0-3" for areas along and east of I-25. Snow ratios were close to 10:1 for most = wet snow to shovel today! #COwx pic.twitter.com/jumf1gxoXW
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 9, 2023
❓ The million dollar question: How far behind are we on snowfall this season? Well, in #Boulder the answer is "We aren't behind anymore!". 22.1" season-to-date is 112% of normal (median). Hooray! ☃️ #COwx pic.twitter.com/wMfyFGm86g
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 9, 2023
November 2023 #Boulder weather highlights:
🌡️ 3.1°F above normal (28th warmest since 1897)
❄️ Only 7.3" of snow (5.4" below avg)
🥵 Record high: 78°F Nov 5th
🏜️ Still no drought in Front RangeCheck our full graphical recap –> https://t.co/7o7uC5A7uT
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 10, 2023
Despite what has been perceived as a dry year, #Boulder has already exceeded its annual average precipitation, sitting close to 2" above normal through the end of November. In fact, we've been running a surplus since nearly 5" of rain that fell over a few days back in May! #COwx pic.twitter.com/wZ6uH4ZE2u
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 12, 2023
📡🌨️ 4:30 PM: Anticipated light snow band amassing to the south. It will be moving into the Metro area over the next 1-2 hours. Flurries and light snow with a dusting to 1" expected, possibly a bit more for southeastern burbs #cowx pic.twitter.com/6GaMax7hbq
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 13, 2023
❄️📊 It 'twas barely a snow event, but here are the totals from yesterday. A trace (north) up to 2" (south). Officially 1.0" in #Denver. Still waiting for #Boulder report, but likely ~0.1".
Check out all the snowstorms so far this season here –> https://t.co/d4IBiunmgI #Cowx pic.twitter.com/LqDO4ojic3
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 14, 2023
Not too shabby for mid December out here! #cowx pic.twitter.com/ZKyc91jOwm
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 16, 2023
This beauty is still going strong a day later! 😍 #Cowx https://t.co/2wodvDddkI pic.twitter.com/9Bz436cLDm
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 19, 2023
#Boulder's record is 69°F today set in 1979. That's not going to happen… we've stalled out around 64°F under copious wave clouds. #Cowx https://t.co/crihBGMdyp pic.twitter.com/vnjRKIC3g5
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 19, 2023
Latest Euro model run showing a mild case of the Fujiwhara effect unfolding over Colorado as the two approaching mid-level low pressures orbit around each other before merging over Colorado. This weekend is going to be a fun forecast for the Front Range… #COWx pic.twitter.com/Aqwoss6X0z
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 20, 2023
El Niño primes the atmospheric setup across North America for big Front Range snowstorms. Despite one of the strongest El Niños on record raging right now, things have been rather mundane so far this season. Still five months to go though… #COWx #Boulder #Boulderwx pic.twitter.com/Ac4XkePLET
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 21, 2023
🌞☃️ Happy Winter Solstice! It's the shortest day of the year for the entire Northern Hemisphere, but let's not forget it's only shortest by a few seconds or less…
At least days will be growing longer now! #COWx pic.twitter.com/sK3yTgqho6
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 21, 2023
☃️🎄Holiday Snow Update: Rain changes to snow Saturday evening, most accumulation over by Christmas Eve morning
Here's the latest details on the change-over timing, snow amounts, travel impacts, and our "white" Christmas chance –> https://t.co/Dmem5Uxk5R #COwx #Boulder #Denver pic.twitter.com/a6oMbbNBMP
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 23, 2023
🔢 Back by popular demand, here's our latest thoughts on snow amounts for some specific Front Range cities. Most accumulation will occur between 9PM Saturday and 9AM Sunday #COwx pic.twitter.com/La1McLpD1i
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 23, 2023
'Tis a low-grade winter wonderland outside on this Christmas Eve in #Boulder! ☃️🎄 #COWx pic.twitter.com/mgqWqsNkoK
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 24, 2023
Still snowing lightly in the Foothills and Mountains this afternoon. Roads mostly just wet, but are snow covered on the higher passes. Snow will be tapering off by this evening up there #cowx pic.twitter.com/7SeVpxCG9B
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 24, 2023
And there we have it… the coldest morning of the season so far — 11°F in #Boulder. Hard to believe THAT is the coldest temperature we've had so far this season. Last year we'd already had -18°F by this point, with -30° (or worse) wind chills! #COwx
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 25, 2023
🎅 The Christmas Eve snow totals are in! Generally a trace to 4" of snow across the lower elevations, with 4 to 11" in the Foothills.
Officially 2.1" in #Boulder & only a trace in #Denver (DIA). Still TBD if we officially have a white Christmas or not (1"+ snow on ground) #COWx pic.twitter.com/2YymCeIuzZ
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 25, 2023
Enjoy the time today with you friends and family (and the lovely weather)!
From all of us at BoulderCAST, we wish you a Merry Christmas! #COwx pic.twitter.com/vak3pMDL1V
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 25, 2023
With 1" of snow on the ground Christmas morning, #Boulder officially reported its second white Christmas in a row on Monday, and fifth in the last 10 years. #COWx pic.twitter.com/qaGPpR7yyb
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 26, 2023
A light dusting of Dip N' Dots (graupel) in the Broomfield area this morning! #cowx pic.twitter.com/kwpoWbHCn8
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 26, 2023
Who is ready for some sunshine again?! 🌞
*Premium* BoulderCAST Daily – Wed 12/27/23 | The stalled-out, blizzard-inducing low pressure finally loosens its grasp on Colorado –> https://t.co/g4cYULQvpd #COwx #Denver #Boulder #Blizzard pic.twitter.com/zKe9pKlk5J
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 27, 2023
Skies clearing this afternoon giving us a clear look at the lack of snow cover in the Metro area, except to the southeast. Also the snow sublimating and melting off the tree tops in the Foothills #COWx pic.twitter.com/QcXBW9HARE
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 27, 2023
Did you know ⁉️
One year ago today we were getting hammered by one of the wettest (and snowiest) December storms on record in what turned out to be our worst (BOOMING) snow forecast of the season: https://t.co/GWZ3Pe4hx8 #COwx pic.twitter.com/XyIC6IQnM6
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 28, 2023
Last sunset of 2023 over Longs Peak is a goodie! #cowx pic.twitter.com/mOqdaegi3H
— BoulderCAST Weather (@BoulderCAST) December 31, 2023
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