IntermtnClimateSummaryJan2008

• Title: Intermountain West Climate Summary
• Date: 1/22/2008
• Description: Water Availability Task Force Meeting Report
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Reports

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST CLIMATE SUMMARY, JANUARY 2008

Temperature 12/1/07 -12/31/07

Monthly average temperature for December 2007 in the
Intermountain West region ranged from 10-40oF (Figure 2a).
The warmest areas (above 250F) were across most of Utah and
eastern and southwestern Colorado. Temperatures across most
of the region were 0-4 of below average, but some areas in each
state were 6-10oF below average (Figure 2b).
Two high temperature records were set in Colorado on
December 4th. Colorado Springs reached a high of 71 of, which
broke the previous record of 690F set in 1999. A high tempera-
ture of 720F was recorded at the Denver International Airport,
breaking the previous high of 690F set in 1980. However, even
with this high temperature, Denver still had a monthly average
temperature of 26.70F for December, which was 3.60F below
average. Several low temperature records over 40 years old
were broken in December. A new low temperature of -21 OF
recorded at the Laramie Airport in Wyoming on December 15th
broke the previous low of -150F set in 1965. A low tempera-
ture of -330F in Alamosa, Colorado, was reported by the NWS
Pubelo on December 29th, breaking the previous record of
-280F set in 1966. The monthly average temperature in Lander,
Wyoming for December was 15.70F was 5.60F below average,
according to the NWS Riverton.
Temperatures in December 2006 were higher than tempera-
tures in December 2007 throughout most of the IMW region
(Figure 2c). Some areas in all three states had temperatures
0-4 OF below average in December 2006, but most of the region
was 0-4 OF above average in December 2006, including some
areas of northern Wyoming that were 4-80F above average. In
contrast, temperatures in December 2007 were all near or below
average.

Notes
Figures 2a-c are experimental products from the High Plains
Regional Climate Center. These data are considered experi-
mental because they utilize the most recent data available,
which have been subject to minimal quality control. These maps
are derived by taking measurements at individual meteorologi-
cal stations and interpolating (estimating) values between
known points to produce continuous categories. Interpolation
procedures can cause incorrect values in data-sparse regions.
For maps with individual station data, please see web sites
listed below. 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.

On the Web
· For the most recent versions of 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
Wyoming, visit: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary.

Figure 2a. Average temperature for the month of
December 2007 in oF.

Figure 2b. Departure from average temperature for the
month of December 2007 in OF.

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Figure 2c. Departure from average temperature in OF
for last year, December 2006.

RECENT CONDITIONS I 5

OF

60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10

OF

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

OF

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