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<br />00123~ <br /> <br />Dr a ft - 9/ S 1 <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />elevations. <br /> <br />The coldest temperatures occur during periods of <br /> <br />atmospheric temperature inversion when cold air is trapped in <br /> <br />mountain vaileys and parks, producing temperatures that may fall <br /> <br />below -50.F. <br /> <br />Prevailing westerly winds may be very strong at <br /> <br />times, especially at high elevations. <br /> <br />The growing season is <br /> <br />short, averaging only 37 days, for example, at Leadville. <br /> <br />The Western Plateau <br /> <br />Temperatures are generally cooler in the western region than <br /> <br />t. <br /> <br />at simIlar elevations east of the Continental Divide. <br /> <br />Sunshine <br /> <br />is abundant, humidity is low, and strong winds are less common <br /> <br />than in the mountains and plains. <br /> <br />The growing season ranges from <br /> <br />only about a month in high elevat ions to about 190 days at Grand <br /> <br />Junction. <br /> <br />Ge n e.r a 1 <br /> <br />) <br />'"C;7 <br /> <br />In general, 'precipitat ion increases with altitude, but this <br /> <br />is not aiways the case. <br /> <br />The state's driest area is the San Luis <br /> <br />Valley, where the annual precipitation averages under seven <br /> <br />inches in places, even though the elevation is around 7,000 feet <br /> <br />or mort'. <br /> <br />Precipitation may exceed 50 inches in the high moun- <br /> <br />tains. <br /> <br />The greatest amount of precipitat ion in Colorado occurs as <br /> <br />snow in the months of January, February and March. <br /> <br />Runoff caused <br /> <br />by snowmelt in spring and summer may represent 65 to 70 percent <br /> <br />of the state's renewable water in any given year. <br /> <br />During the summer months, westerly winds weaken and air <br /> <br />mdsses containing considerdble moisture push in from the Gulf of <br /> <br />"- <br />