IntermtntClimateSummaryJune2006

• Title: Intermountain West Climate Summary
• Date: 6/22/2006
• Description: Water Availability Task Force Meeting Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST CLIMATE SUMMARY, JUNE 2006

Temperature through 5/31/06 Source: High Plains Regional Climate Center

Temperatures for May 2006 for the entire Intermountain
West region \vere above average by 00 to 80 F. Average tempera-
tures were lowest in the mountains of western Wyoming and
north central Colorado and highest in southeastern Utah and
western and central Colorado (Figure 2 a-b). Temperatures in
Utah had the highest departure from average, with some areas
of north\vest and southern Utah recording temperature of 60 to
80 F above average. Of the tri-state area, eastern Wyoming had
temperatures closest to average (+/- 2F), but in the northwest
temperatures \vere 20 to 40 F above average.
In comparison to May 2005 (Figure 2c) ,temperatures for
2006 were, on average, higher for the entire Intermountain West
region, with the greatest difference from last year in northeast
Wyoming and southern Utah.
According to the NWS, Salt Lake City, Utah recorded
seventeen days in May, 2006 \vith above average temperatures,
with records for high temperatures being tied or broken on four
days. There were also five days in May when records were set
for high minimum temperatures (nighttime). However, the last
five days of May recorded belo\v average lows, \vith a record
low maximum temperature on May 28th of 540, breaking an old
record from 1935. The NWS, Denver, reports that the average
temperature for Denver and northern Colorado \vas also on the
warm side, with a monthly average for May 2006 of 3.2 degrees
above normal.

Notes

A verage 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 be-
tween 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.

Figure 2a. Average temperature for the month of May
2006 in oF.

Q
.

.... .
'i!:ODY

-.

I

CHEYENNE
.

.

"
--I

.
CEO..

Figure 2b. Departure from average temperature for the
month of May 2006 in of.

0.

- ... []

~.
SALT
LAKE
CITY

.
DENVER
~

.
GRAND
.JUNCTION

.
CEDAR CITYl:!I

e

Figure 2c. Departure from average temperature in of
for last year, May 2005.

RECENT CONDITIONS I 5

OF

85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35

OF

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

OF

10
8
6
4
2
o
. -2
-4
-6
-8
-10