October looks mild, drier than normal

There was some rainfall in the Rockies during September, but October looks to be a drier-than-normal month across most of Colorado as an upper-level ridge is expected to dominate over the western U.S.

The normal October precipitation in Denver is 1.02 inches with 0.82 of an inch in Colorado Springs and 0.72 of an inch in Pueblo. October’s amounts are expected to be lower than that.

The dryness means that high fire danger conditions will persist across the Rockies.

The state is likely see a later-than-normal start to the snow season in the mountains, though a possible brief shift in the pattern late in October may lead to some snow chances.

As far as the fall colors in the Rockies and the Foothills go, expect an earlierthan-normal peak in the foliage. Colors should peak in early October in the central part of the state, to just after mid-month in the central and eastern part of the state. Temperatures will tend to remain above normal during the bulk of October as well.

Denver’s normal high and low temperatures will decrease from a high of 72 and a low of 42 on Oct. 1, down to a high of 59 and low of 31 at the end of the month.