Manitou and CS Weather (Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs: tornado, statistics, moving to)

[refractedillusions]

I was trying to get an idea of how bad winters and springtimes are in Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs over the last 2 years. We are moving and have been here many times in the summer to see the area but not sure about these times of year. The good bad and the ugly would be appreciated. Thanks!

[otowi]

It is hard to describe Spring - anything goes - snow, 80+ degrees, rain, hail, drought, fire - anything can happen in spring. We tend to have a later start in terms of greening up, flowers blooming than some other regions of the country.

[Marcar12]

It depends on where you are moving from and what constitutes a "bad" winter or spring for you.

For me, the winters and springs here are great.

I love snow, though. But you know what? I love snow that falls one day, leaves enough to play in the next day, and then melts the following day. That's what the snow is like in Colorado. Also, I like winters that aren't FREEZING. Colorado has some cold snaps, (around 0-degrees), but they only last like 3 days. I have spent years of my life in locations where those cold snaps last 6 weeks! It makes it VERY hard for the snow to melt in those places, and also VERY hard to enjoy playing in the snow. So, for me, Colorado winters are wonderful.

For me, any spring that doesn't include a ton of humidity and tornado warnings is a great spring. Colorado does get snow in the spring. But it melts in a day or 2. And then it's back into the 70's...

[refractedillusions]

Thanks for the comments. We are moving from the midwest so it sounds like more enjoyable winters than 3 months of 0 temperatures. Sounds like if your out and about be prepped for some bi polar weather.

[lurtsman]

Originally Posted by refractedillusions

Thanks for the comments. We are moving from the midwest so it sounds like more enjoyable winters than 3 months of 0 temperatures. Sounds like if your out and about be prepped for some bi polar weather.

We are much warmer than the Midwest during the winter. I HATED the winters in the Midwest. They are actually quite nice here. Some cold snaps, but most days it gets over 40F with strong sunshine. I'd say at least 1/2 of days there is a time during the day where you would not miss a coat if you decided to just run errands in jeans and a sweater.

To compare to Iowa's weather. In January around 66% to 75% of days in Co. Springs will be nicer than the absolute nicest day in Iowa for January. Don't believe the weather statistics too much. I spent 5 winters in Iowa and 4 were significantly colder than the reported statistics would indicate. Thus, the improvement when moving to Colorado was even larger.

On average we get about 3 days in January where the high for the day breaks 60. There will be a cold snap where it may not get over 5 or 10 for a day or two. When it ends, it will be nice winter weather again and such a cold snap seems to often include getting some beautiful snow which is thoroughly melted within a week. Most snowfalls melt within 1 to 2 days for the sunny areas. The shaded areas will hold the snow for a while.

[TCHP]

There is some good insight on the overall feel of winter here form the previous posts. I would add that it is dry. Bone sucking dry. That's why we have that awesome powder skiers enjoy. We do have to occasionally water the yard in Jan-Feb, which as it implies, means it is warm enough to do so without freezing a hose. Winter in CS and Manitou is typically not very snowy or very cold. We do get the occasional storm through here that will make things messy for a few days, but most of our snowfall will occur in March and April.