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The climate in the Otero /Bent County area is characterized as semi -arid continental with ,
<br />low and variable precipitation, low humidity, and wide daily and seasonal temperature ranges
<br />(Berry 1971:1 -2; 1972:77 -79; USACE 1983a:4/3 -4 /S). Weather patterns generally are governed
<br />by dry air from the southwest; however, winter storms emanate from the northwest, and moist air
<br />from the Gulf of Mexico frequently influences weather during spring, summer, and fall. High
<br />winds occur in the spring. '
<br />During December through February, nighttime temperatures are usually below 32 °F while
<br />daytime temperatures generally are above freezing. In June through August, the daily maximum ,
<br />8 '
<br />1
<br />•
<br />,
<br />Year
<br />Avondale
<br />Ne esta
<br />Dam
<br />Junta
<br />Animas; Annotation for floods of record below Pueblo Dam
<br />1969
<br />13,300
<br />5,900
<br />9,130
<br />13,400
<br />3,740
<br />1970
<br />4,800
<br />5,080
<br />7,250
<br />2,090
<br />1,240:
<br />1971
<br />2,950
<br />2,540
<br />2,000
<br />4,070
<br />1,960
<br />1972
<br />15,000
<br />11,900
<br />10,000
<br />9,110
<br />4,130
<br />1973
<br />6,700
<br />6,550
<br />4,850
<br />3,840
<br />No data
<br />1974
<br />2,920
<br />2,870
<br />2,080
<br />1,230
<br />612
<br />1975
<br />6,030
<br />8,310
<br />6,050
<br />4,460
<br />2,760
<br />1976
<br />6,810
<br />8,880
<br />7,400
<br />7,790
<br />3,900
<br />'
<br />1977
<br />6,150
<br />4,250
<br />3,410
<br />8,300
<br />4,300
<br />1978
<br />15,400
<br />12,900
<br />23,300
<br />14,800
<br />6,150
<br />1979
<br />5,020
<br />5,080
<br />4,940
<br />2,770
<br />3,120
<br />1980
<br />10,200
<br />9,740
<br />6,940
<br />8,420
<br />6,610 .
<br />1981
<br />3,790
<br />10,400
<br />8,910
<br />6,690
<br />2,900
<br />'
<br />1982
<br />9,320
<br />10,100
<br />12,700
<br />10,000
<br />5,310
<br />1983
<br />1984
<br />6,820
<br />10,200
<br />6,890
<br />13,600
<br />6,460
<br />7,920
<br />6,690
<br />18,000
<br />5,850
<br />7,150
<br />'
<br />1985
<br />7,000
<br />9,790
<br />5,150
<br />9,230
<br />3,660
<br />1986
<br />5,710
<br />6,300
<br />6,330
<br />3,840
<br />2,450
<br />1987
<br />6,420
<br />5,600
<br />6,410
<br />7,200
<br />6,240
<br />1988
<br />3,270
<br />3,290
<br />2,230.
<br />1,440
<br />522
<br />1989
<br />3,260
<br />3,380
<br />2,680
<br />2,960
<br />1,790 i
<br />1990
<br />4,970 '
<br />4,270
<br />8,100
<br />11,200
<br />2,060
<br />1991
<br />3,940
<br />2,680
<br />5,780
<br />2,960
<br />1,300 .
<br />1992
<br />3,160
<br />2,210
<br />3,460
<br />1,180
<br />930
<br />1993
<br />5,350
<br />3,770
<br />4,010
<br />1,990
<br />1,700
<br />1994
<br />10,600
<br />7,750
<br />9,040
<br />4,540
<br />2,940
<br />1995
<br />6,700
<br />6,000
<br />9,970
<br />6,710
<br />6,390
<br />1996
<br />11,600
<br />4,430
<br />7,040
<br />2,380
<br />2,320 =
<br />1997
<br />1998
<br />8,150
<br />3,990:
<br />5,840
<br />3,550
<br />6,030
<br />3,930
<br />6,130
<br />5,170
<br />5,350
<br />3,980
<br />'
<br />1999
<br />20,900
<br />25,000
<br />26,000
<br />30,000
<br />32,900 Major flood event north and west of JMD.
<br />2.2 CLIMATE
<br />The climate in the Otero /Bent County area is characterized as semi -arid continental with ,
<br />low and variable precipitation, low humidity, and wide daily and seasonal temperature ranges
<br />(Berry 1971:1 -2; 1972:77 -79; USACE 1983a:4/3 -4 /S). Weather patterns generally are governed
<br />by dry air from the southwest; however, winter storms emanate from the northwest, and moist air
<br />from the Gulf of Mexico frequently influences weather during spring, summer, and fall. High
<br />winds occur in the spring. '
<br />During December through February, nighttime temperatures are usually below 32 °F while
<br />daytime temperatures generally are above freezing. In June through August, the daily maximum ,
<br />8 '
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