Colorado Springs sees record hot and dry summer

Why it matters: The persistent heat and lack of rain, propelled in part by climate change, worsened drought conditions across south-central and southeastern Colorado and raised the prospect of wildfires and heat-related risks.

State of play: Alamosa and Pueblo endured some of the region's most extreme heat.

• Alamosa logged 10 consecutive days of 90°-plus temperatures, its second-longest streak on record, and its hottest summer ever.
• Pueblo hit 107° on Aug. 3 — a new August record — on its way to its second-warmest summer on record.

The big picture: The August extremes capped a hot, dry summer across the region, an NWS analysis found

• Colorado Springs recorded its third-warmest summer, with 33 days above 90°.
• In those three months, the city received 3.24 inches of precipitation, which is 5.11 inches below normal and the seventh-driest on record.