IntermtnClimateSummaryJan2006

• Title: Intermountain West Climate Summary
• Date: 1/17/2006
• Description: Water Availability Task Force Meeting Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST CLIMATE SUMMARY, JANUARY 2006

Temperature through 12/31/05 Source: High Plains Regional Climate Center

The monthly average temperatures for December 2005 in the
Intermountain West region ranged from lows of OOF -150F in the
Gunnison Valley region of Colorado, north central Colorado
mountains, and western Wyoming mountains to highs of 300F-
400F in southeast Colorado and west central and southeast Utah
(Figure 2a).
Across the region, temperatures were at or near record lows
on some days in early December, and they were at or near record
highs for some days in late December. These extremes averaged
to give much of Wyoming and Colorado December monthly
temperatures within 20F of average. Exceptions included the
Gunnison Valley and north central mountains of Colorado, and
areas of south central and north central Wyoming where tem-
perature were 40F -100F below average. Small regions in central
and western Utah were 40F -60F above average (Figure 2b).
In comparison with the above-average temperatures for almost
all of the tri-state region in December 2004 (Figure 2c) tempera-
tures in December 2005 were generally closer to average. The
exceptions were the Gunnison Valley and north central mountains
of Colorado, where temperatures were 40-100 below average.
With minor exceptions, Utah was 20F -40F above average in both
2004 and 2005. Areas of south central and north central Wyo-

Notes
Average refers to the arithmetic mean of annual data from
1971-2000. Departure from average temperature is calculated
by subtracting current data from the average. The result can be
positive or negative.
These maps are derived by taking measurements at individual
meteorological stations and interpolating (estimating) values
between known points to produce continuous categories. Inter-
polation procedures can cause aberrant values in data- sparse
regions. For maps with individual station data, please see web
sites listed below.
Figures 2a-c are experimental products from the High Plains
Regional Climate Center. These data are considered experimen-
tal because they utilize the newest data available, which are not
always quality controlled.

On the Web
- For the most recent versions these and maps of other
climate variables including individual station data, visit: http://
www.hprcc.unl.edu/products/current.html.
- For information on temperature and precipitation trends,
visit: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/trndtext.htm .
- For a list of weather stations in Colorado, Utah, and Wyo-
ming, visit: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary.

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Figure 2a. Average temperature for the month of Decem-
ber 2005 in OF.

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Figure 2b. Departure from average temperature for the
month of December 2005 in OF.

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Figure 2c. Departure from average temperature in OF
for last year, December 2004.

RECENT CONDITIONS I 5

OF

95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45

OF

10
8
6
1- 4
-2
o
-2
-4
-6
-8
-10

OF

10
8
6
4
2
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-2
-4
-6
-8
-10