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<br />I <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />()6~G <br /> <br />HYDROLOGY <br /> <br />29. <br /> <br />Climate. - ITom its source, the Purgatoire River flows through <br />---'-- <br /> <br />a sheltered mountain valley to Trinidad. Because of the diversified <br /> <br />topography, there is a remarkable variety of climates, great differences <br /> <br />often occurring within short distances. Extreme maximum temperatures <br /> <br />are closely related to elevations; a maximum temperature of 1100 has <br /> <br /> <br />been recorded at Hoehne, located in the plains section (elevation <br /> <br /> <br />5,742 feet), while a maximum of only 860 has been recorded at North Lake <br /> <br />in the mountainous headwaters area (elevation 8,800 feet). The decrease <br /> <br />in average temperatures from east to west is less than might be expected, <br /> <br />because of the moderating effect of mountain apd valley winds. <br /> <br />30. Precipitation ordinarily increases with altitude as indicated <br /> <br />by an average annual of 16.83 inches at Trinidad and 22.25 inches at <br /> <br />North Lake. lhe maximum recorded annual precipitation in the basin was <br /> <br />34.48 inches at Trinidad in 1878. About 61 percent of the total at <br /> <br />Trinidad occurs during the spring and summer months of April through <br /> <br />August. Snowfall is generally heavy over the upper Purgatoire basin and <br /> <br />also increases with altitude. Tne average annual amounts at Trinidad <br /> <br />and North Lake are 57.4 inches, and 113.4 inches, respectively. The <br /> <br />maximum observed annual snowfall of 247.8 inches occurred on the north <br /> <br />watershed divide near Cucharas Camps, Colorado. <br /> <br /> <br />31. The average relative humidity is about 52 percent. The pre- <br /> <br /> <br />vailing lack of moisture in the air contributes to rapid cooling by <br /> <br />evaporation; so that even on the warmest days it is comfortable in the <br /> <br />shade, and the nights are cool. The prevailing wind at Trinidad is <br /> <br />westerly, with the greatest air movement occurring during the spring <br /> <br />months. Detailed climatic data for the watershed are given in appendix B. <br /> <br />32. Storm types. - The influence of the topography of the Purga- <br /> <br />toire River watershed and the geographical location with respect to the <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />".k <br /> <br /> <br />e <br />