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<br />The Trinidad area also is semiarid due to the mountains to the <br /> <br /> <br />west and south. These mountains present an orographic barrier to <br /> <br /> <br />the two principal sources of moisture, the Pacific Ocean and the <br /> <br />Gulf of Mexico. Much of the moisture from these sources is precipitated <br /> <br />before crossing the crests of the mountains immediately west and south <br />of Trinidad. <br />The greatest precipitation in the basin occurs during the period <br />April through August and averages about 62 percent of the total at <br />Trinidad, and about 59 percent at North Lake. Most of the fall and <br />winter precipitation occurs as snow, which does not produce appreciable <br />runoff until the spr ing IOOnths. <br />(2) Snowfall. Heavy snowfall in general in the <br />mountainous area of the upper watershed. In the higher elevations, <br /> <br />snow sometimes remains on the ground throughout the year. The average <br /> <br />annual snowfall at Trinidad FAA Airport is 35.7 inches and at North <br />Lake about 108 inches. <br />(3) Temperature. Temperatures are characteristic <br /> <br /> <br />of a high altitude, dry continental climate. The average annual <br /> <br /> <br />maximum and minimum temperatures at Trinidad FAA Airport are 67.9 <br /> <br /> <br />and 32 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. The diurnal range of <br /> <br /> <br />temperature is relatively high, averaging about 34 degrees. A wide <br /> <br /> <br />range exists in the absolute extremes, which are 110 and minus 32 <br /> <br /> <br />degrees Fahrenheit. , <br /> <br /> <br />(4) Frost. The average frost-free period at <br /> <br /> <br />Trinidad is 156 days. The average last day of frost is 7 May and <br /> <br /> <br />the average first day of frost is 10 October. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />.. .,~.;.;:;:::ll <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />II-6 <br />